Kyoto Animation (Hyouka, Hibike! Euphonium) previously announced a project to celebrate the birthdays of their characters from the anime adaptation of Ayano Takeda and Nikki Asada’s Hibike! Euphonium (Sound! Euphonium). It began in May 2016 in anticipation for the birthday of none other than Kumiko Oumae. And today, it still continues on to celebrate all their birthdays.
In the month leading up to each character’s birthday, the project will have a series of products available for fans to purchase. It includes a:
- 318mm×410mm Canvas Art – ¥5,400 (~ US$49.00)
- Acrylic Stand – ¥1,620 (~ US$14.70)
- A 76mm badge – ¥864 (~ $US$7.85)
The products can only be ordered a month in advance where it will be delivered in time for the characters’ birthday. At the moment, the project is currently celebrating Yuuko Yoshikawa’s upcoming birthday. So who has had their birthday concert so far?
Kumiko Oumae
Kaori Nakaseko
Haruka Ogasawara
- Canvas Art
- Acrylic Stand
- Badge
Sapphire Kawashima
- Canvas Art
- Acrylic Stand
- Badge
Asuka Tanaka
- Canvas Art
- Acrylic Stand
- Badge
Hazuki Katou
- Canvas Art
- Acrylic Stand
- Badge
Yuuko Yoshikawa
The final characters who will be celebrating their birthdays are:
- Reina Kousaka, Late January 2017
- Natsuki Nakagawa, Early March 2017
The anime’s main cast includes:
- Tomoyo Kurosawa (Miria Akagi in The [email protected]: Cinderella Girls) is back to voice Kumiko Oumae
- Ayaka Asai (Mio Naruse from Shinmai Maou no Testament) as Hazuki Katou
- Moe Toyota (Sakura Inami in Kyoukai no Kanata) who voices Sapphire Kawashima
- Chika Anzai (Chaika Travant in Hitsugi no Chaika) is voicing Reina Kousaka
- Minako Kotobuki (Tsumugi Kotobuki in K-ON!) returns to voice Asuka Tanaka
- Saori Hayami (Yukino Yukinoshita from Oregairu) as Haruka Ogasawara
- Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) voices Kaori Nakaseko
- Konomi Fujimura (First Major Role) back as Natsuki Nakagawa
- Yuri Yamaoka (Choi Mochimazzi in Tamako Market) is going to voice Yuuko Yoshikawa
Hibike! Euphonium: Kitauji Koukou Suisougaku-bu e Youkoso (Sound! Euphonium) is a music novel series written by Ayano Takeda and illustrated by Nikki Asada. The series began in December 2013 being published by Takarajimasha. To date a total of 4 volumes have been published. A manga adaptation of the series was launched in November last year, by Ayano Takeda and Hami that is being published in Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web magazine. An anime adaptation of the series was produced for the Spring 2015 anime season by Kyoto Animation (Hyouka, Amagi Brilliant Park) with Tatsuya Ishihara (Clannad, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) directing. The anime ran for a total of 13 episodes.
Here is a synopsis of the series from MAL:
Hibike! Euphonium begins when Kumiko Oumae, a girl who was in the brass band club in junior high school, visits her high school’s brass band club as a first year. Kumiko’s classmates Hazuki and Sapphire decide to join the club, but Kumiko sees her old classmate Reina there and hesitates. She remembers an incident she had with Reina at a brass band club contest in junior high school.
The Hibike! Euphonium Birthday Concert project is underway selling various products to celebrate the characters’ birthdays. Currently, the project is celebrating Yuuko Yoshikawa’s birthday. Next up will be Reina Kousaka later this month.
Here is the project’s website: http://www.kyotoanimation.co.jp/shop/bd2016/euph/
You can visit the anime’s website here: http://anime-eupho.com/
And follow their Twitter: @anime_eupho
“Hibike! Euphonium”, “Sound! Euphonium”, images, video and all associated brands and titles © 2017 Ayano Takeda, Takarajimasha, Kyoto Animation and the Hibike! Production Committee