Kono Oto Tomare! Part 2

The Tokise High School Koto Club has courageously pushed through their fractured and unsynchronized performance at the Kanto Region Traditional Japanese Music Festival. Club members Chika Kudou, Satowa Houzuki, Takezou Kurata, Hiro Kurusu, Kouta Mizuhara, Saneyasu Adachi, and Michitaka Sakai are devastated to learn the negative results of their performance, leaving them crushed. Nonetheless, the group recognizes their potential and enthusiastically agree to collectively sharpen their skills, improve their flaws, and develop higher caliber playing to succeed in the upcoming national qualifiers in winter.

With the help of their now willing club advisor Suzuka Takinami, the group's goal gradually becomes achievable as they begin to grasp the foundations of good music and refine their koto-playing abilities, with the suggestion of performing more often to gain what they lack most—experience.

However, as their journey to nationals is underway, the koto club members face challenges that obstruct their focus and progress. Not only does the threat of other powerhouse schools and musicians remain, but the high school issues of budding romance and soon-to-be-graduating seniors also begin to push the limits of the determined group of teenagers and the future of the koto club.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kudou, Chika Main

Uchida, Yuuma Japanese

Houzuki, Satowa Main

Tanezaki, Atsumi Japanese

Kurusu, Hiro Main

Matsumoto, Sara Japanese

Kurata, Takezou Main

Enoki, Junya Japanese

Takinami, Suzuka Main

Namikawa, Daisuke Japanese

Mizuhara, Kouta Main

Iguchi, Yuuichi Japanese

Adachi, Saneyasu Main

Ishiya, Haruki Japanese

Sakai, Michitaka Main

Furukawa, Makoto Japanese

Takaoka, Tetsuki Supporting

Hosoya, Yoshimasa Japanese

Doujima, Akira Supporting

Touyama, Nao Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Yonezawa, Emi Producer

Herek, Samantha Assistant Producer

Mizuno, Ryouma Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Nov 25, 2023

CyanCheetah

Recommended

Kono Oto Tomare was a magical anime. There are only half a dozen music-focused animes that I can think of:

Bocchi the Rock
Your Lie in April
Hibike! Euphonium
K-On
Belle
Bang! Dream.

These are the ones I can think of. But Kono Oto Tomare is the ONLY anime that not only focused 100% of its energy on the actual music but also was very good at it. Bocchi the Rock was hilarious but not as music-focused. YLIA was depressing but again not as music-focused as Kono Oto. I know YLIA had some AMAZING Piano music selection, but not as focused on the music as Koto. K-On! was a cute Moe anime ... that had amazing moments but then again that was a Slice of Life with not as much focus on music. Belle was a dramatic movie but did not as much focus on music as it did not just save the world. Finally, Hibike Euphonium did have a music focus but in my opinion (cancel me) it was not that enjoyable and frankly was quite boring.

This one though, this one had a ton of emotional baggage. The sheer backstories of these people are amazing. From the delinquents to the main lady, they were all amazing!

The teacher had an amazing backstory, hell the rivals EACH had their own amazing backstories. It was all scripted PERFECTLY with little-to-no time wasted, it was truly magnificent.

The animation is beautiful. Many times I see animes not actually sync the music played to the animated note played. This one however did. The character designs are nice, and everything from the backgrounds to the Koto's string shining when played were beautifully and meticulously animated.

The Music: Need I say anything else. Nope. The final performance was some of the best music in anime. Not the best sounding per say, but the most emotional baggage in ANY music piece. Akin to the final YLIA piano performance when Arima played his heart out.

The Plot: Amazing. The Koto club at their high school wanted to go to nationals so they all practiced their hearts out. In that time they were improving a ton! I liked this season since it had this focus unlike the first one where the plot moved at a snails pace.

The Bad; WHERE IS MY SEASON 3. Also while this is amazing, I feel like there couldve been a little more plot in the season.

Final Score: 8/10

Thanks!
-CyanCheetah

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Feb 9, 2023

AnaelAnimanga

Recommended

I'm not a big fan of anime talking about music (apart from Bocchi The Rock).
I never thought that '' Kono Oto Tomare '' would prove me wrong.
I was able to discover a new instrument and the ost are fabulous especially "Tenkyuu" which is sublime.
The characters are endearing and have their own story that influences the way they play and their feelings about the koto.
There is humor and more serious moments, and we can, according to our own experience, identify with a character, which intensifies my interest in this work.
I can only recommend seeing this anime can't wait to see a third season.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jun 16, 2023

Benx2019

Mixed Feelings

Issues from season 1 are pretty much the same. More pointless depth is given to side characters, but on the other hand main characters feel a little less superficial in their depth given we have actually been properly introduced to them now. The op and ed are slightly better than season 1. Otherwise in all other regards season 2 retains the same issues and promise as season 1. Season 2 holds up well to the expectations season 1 set, not that they were particularly high. The soundtrack is a big reason this anime is as enjoyabe as it is, but I don't really thing it's ... a "good" anime. It is enjoyable despite being flawed. 6.35/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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