The first part of " Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movement," a theatrical film adaptation of "Sound ! Sound! Euphonium 3," the third season of the TV anime " Sound! Euphonium " based on the novel by Ayano Takeda , will be released on April 24th. Approximately 11 years have passed since the start of the first season of the TV anime, and the "final movement," which will serve as the conclusion, is finally being released. We asked Tomoyo Kurosawa, who plays the main character Kumiko Oumae, about her thoughts on " Sound! Euphonium."
◇Words that capture the moment of life
"Sound! Euphonium" depicts the growth of the brass band members, including euphonium player Kumiko Oumae, at Kitauji High School. The first season of the TV anime aired from April to June 2015, the second season from October to December 2016, and the third season from April to July 2024. "The Final Movement" is a compilation of edited footage from the third season of the TV anime, with many new scenes added.
"Sound! Euphonium" has previously had theatrical releases such as " Sound! Euphonium: Welcome to Kitauji High School Concert Band" and " Sound! Euphonium the Movie: May the Melody Reach You." While "Welcome to Kitauji High School Concert Band" and "May the Melody Reach You" are theatrical versions that reconstruct the TV anime and add new scenes, they did not just include the lines from the new scenes, but re-recorded all the lines. The same applies to "The Final Movement."
"In the third season, we ran without knowing what would happen next. There were things that were only possible because of the bond we've built over 10 years. I felt it was an incredible luxury to be able to perform the roles again, and I wanted to fully savor it. Sound director Tsuruoka (Yota) told me, 'Let's make the sound worth re-recording,' so I approached the recording with the feeling that it was a sequel that directly connected to 'The Melody I Want to Deliver.' In fact, it starts right from the last scene of 'The Melody I Want to Deliver.' For the narration, instead of choosing words that look back on the past from the future, I was told to use words that are 'present in progress,' 'words that capture the moment we are living,' so I explored different approaches."
Kumiko grew stronger as she overcame numerous difficulties. In "The Final Movement," she became a third-year student and club president. Cherishing the feelings she had accumulated up to that point, Kumiko once again faced the work head-on.
"We were told that the theme was 'freshness,' so we tried to carry on the acting by looking back at our first year. We all re-acted while reminiscing about the past. Kumiko is now a third-year student, and we've also spent time together during that period, so the relationships between the characters and our relationships (as voice actors) have become closer. We've had the opportunity to meet the staff and the instrumental performance team over the past 10 years, and a really great atmosphere has been created. We were acting while feeling that connection."
◇Tears at the same point... Behind the scenes of the legendary episode
Season 3 produced many memorable scenes. The feelings of not only Kumiko but also various other characters intertwined, and the story progressed towards its climax. There are some scenes that particularly stand out in her memory from the re-recording process.
"There's a scene where I deepen my relationship with Reina (Kosaka), but in the TV series, other characters' episodes were interspersed throughout. This time, the story is condensed from Kumiko's perspective, so I was able to strongly feel the relationship between Reina and Kumiko. I was once again reminded of how amazing Hanada (Toki)'s script is. I think the scene that was particularly worthwhile to re-record was the one where the two of us listen to 'The Poem of a Year' with earphones. There aren't many lines, but it felt like it fit perfectly. It created an atmosphere between the two of us that we could only create now, and I was happy that we were able to do it again."
In the third season, the scene where Reina tells Kumiko, "Then you're not fit to be club president," was particularly memorable. It was a painful scene to watch.
"In the TV series, I was acting without knowing what was going to happen next, and I felt a strong sense of emptiness. This time, with the added direction, the way we see Reina and Mayu (Kuroe) is a little different, and Kumiko's perception when she confronts Reina also seems a little different. Rather than despair, I felt a strong sense of conflict. When she was told, 'You're not fit to be department head,' she had the feeling of stopping in her tracks, but this time, while feeling the weight of it all, she continues to search for a reason to move forward. The way her struggle changes with the addition of Mr. Taki's (Noboru) words is vivid, and I think it will be refreshing and enjoyable for viewers to see in the theater."
Many fans were moved to tears by the scene in episode 10, "The Arpeggio That Conveys," when Kumiko expresses her feelings in front of the other club members. It's one of the most memorable scenes of the third season and is often referred to as a "legendary episode."
"I was excited to see how similar the play would be if I performed it again, but because of the memories and the power of the words, I found myself crying at the same point. It was strange, but no matter how many times I did it, it was the same. I can still cry at it now. Ten years of emotions come together, and in the face of Mr. Takeda's and Ms. Hanada's powerful words, we feel powerless and overwhelmed. There's little I can do, and when I utter those lines, it just happens naturally."
Kurosawa continued, "It's strange, but..."
"As Kumiko, I don't want to cry, and I'm acting with that feeling in mind. But it feels like the tears are just coming out. We recorded the lines after the video was finished, and when I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, the Kumiko in the video also looked like she was about to cry, so it matched naturally. That's why I think the staff were just playing me around (laughs). I'd like to compare the TV series and the movie version."
◇Kumiko is like a teacher to me.
Approximately 11 years have passed since the first season of the TV anime began. For Kurosawa, "Sound! Euphonium" has become one of her signature works.
"I've been playing her since I was 19, so she represents 'everything in my twenties.' She's influenced my personality development, and as a tomboy, I feel like I learned about communication skills by voicing and tracing her thoughts. It might give you a stomachache, but you have to swallow it once. Just try it. Isn't that how Kumiko is? So maybe Kumiko is like a teacher to me."
For Kumiko, high school was a turbulent three years. Kurosawa, who has played Kumiko for about 11 years, also has some thoughts on the matter.
"Thankfully, by continuing to be at the center of things, I feel like I've come to understand the joy of doing voice acting with everyone better than before. I've come to truly feel that I want to move forward as a work, not alone. I'm feeling the joy of running together with everyone. Even if I stumble, it's okay as long as the team wins. I've had many experiences that made me feel that way. And I've grown up, too. I was only 19 at the beginning, after all. Kumiko had three years of being very forward-thinking, but I've come to be able to look at things from a slightly broader perspective."
At the time of the interview, the second part of "The Final Movement" had not yet been recorded.
"When we finish recording the second part, I think I'll really feel like it's all over... ' Sound! Euphonium' is a place where we challenge ourselves. I'm scared that it's all coming to an end. We've all faced the project together, it's been fun, and we've done everything we could, but there are still things I feel like I could do better, and the thought of that place disappearing... it's beyond sad, it's scary. I have to do something about it myself. I have to grow up."
"The Final Movement" is the culmination of the journey that Kurosawa and Kumiko have taken. I hope you will enjoy it thoroughly on the big screen with superb sound. (Man Animai/MANTANWEB)
