Hibike! Euphonium Series Prepares for Finale: Special Screening Held for the First Part of the Final Film
The staple of music and youth-themed anime, Hibike! Euphonium (Sound! Euphonium), is taking steady steps toward its grand finale. A special completion screening for Final Chapter Part 1 (Saishū Gakushō Zenpen), the first part of the series' final installment, was held on April 15, 2026, at the Shinjuku Piccadilly cinema in Tokyo. The main cast and the director of the series attended the event to share in the fans' excitement.
Taking the stage during the screening, Tomoyo Kurosawa, the voice actress for Kumiko Oumae, expressed that she has mixed emotions about reaching the end of this journey that has spanned over a decade. Kurosawa emphasized her bond with the character, stating, "The completion of the series makes me both very happy and fills me with a deep sense of loneliness." The event was also attended by Chika Anzai (Reina), Ayaka Asai (Hazuki), Moe Toyota (Midori), Haruka Tomatsu (Mayu), and director Taichi Ogawa.
Fans who head to the cinema can expect not just the film, but special gifts as well. For the first two weeks of the film's release, special visual cards will be distributed to viewers. In these cards, the characters are depicted in elegant white dresses instead of the series' usual school uniforms. While cards featuring lead characters like Kumiko and Reina will be given out during the first week, different designs featuring other members of the concert band club will meet collectors in the second week.
Produced by Kyoto Animation, this production, while serving as a summary of the series' third season, contains many surprises for fans. Enriched with new scenes by screenwriter Jukki Hanada, the film will also include performance scenes not featured in the TV series. The Hibike! Euphonium legend, which began in 2015, will bring Kumiko's final year of high school and the Kitauji High School Concert Band Club's national competition dreams to the big screen with this two-part final project.
Final Chapter Part 1 will be released in over 200 cinemas across Japan on April 24, 2026. Following this first part, fans of the series will begin waiting for the second part, which will bring the true end to the story. With Kyoto Animation's meticulous craftsmanship and emotional storytelling, this finale seems poised to be a farewell that will be talked about in the anime world for a long time.
