The latest feature from the popular anime series Sound! Euphonium gets a stateside screening on July 11th (Sub) and July 15th (Eng dub). Eleven Arts partnered with Fathom Events look to bring Sound! Euphonium The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day to US fans, as the film was already released in Japan this past April. One of the most recently prevalent shojo franchises, A Brand New Day features a returning cast and staff which is directed by Tatsuya Ishihara.
The film’s story revolves around Kumiko, who is a second-year student and a senior member of the euphonium brass section. Kumiko is given more responsibility when she is granted to advise and coach the younger members of the Kitauji High Music Club. Along with maintaining her own relationships and guiding the freshmen students, Kumiko feels the impending pressure of her own path. Overwhelmed by the burdens of adolescent high-school life, Kumiko will have to find a way to juggle and deal with all the new personalities and her future.
Unlike the previous film derived from the series, A Brand New Day introduces many new characters from the freshman group. The new recruits include a euphonium player Kanade, Mirei and Satsuki both tuba players and bassist Motomu. Each newbie is struggling with their own dilemmas and find it difficult to fit in. Surprisingly the new characters fall a little flat as the film doesn’t allow you to truly delve into their issues and frankly come off severely undeveloped. Although even with this hinderance, your main focus is on the personal growth of Kumiko, who wields her power to bring her classmates together to reach their goals, which is making it into nationals.
The final sequence features the highlight of the film and that is of course the concert performance. The framework is emotional and powerful. The band being featured as one unit is captivating to watch, as you witness the essence of the individual contributions coming together to form a single entity. As a former band geek, I can truly tell you that when it all comes together, it is absolute magic.
In the end, A Brand New Day manages to carry the same core feeling that fans will appreciate. Sure most of the conflicts are trivial and unresolved, which probably would be better off to be set in the actual series. However the main focus being the journey Kumiko is on, serves as the correct theme, and that is where our attention is directed. When it comes to being one of the best teen anime, Sound! Euphonium continues to hit every note.
Purchase tickets for the screening here!