Like so many music anime, you might expect Sound! Euphonium to be just one or two seasons of story, and if you want more you have to retreat to its source material. However, Sound! Euphonium has something that is very powerful in the anime world when it comes to getting adaptations – very cute girls.
By their cute powers combined, Sound! Euphonium managed to snag almost enough seasons to be a full adaptation as well as a few OVAs and spin-offs.
Jokes aside, Sound! Euphonium not only has very marketable characters, but the drama of the show is visceral and interesting without being too hammy, and that is probably more the key to its success. You may not be too invested in orchestra band, but you become invested in your favorite characters.
However, in order to keep up with your favorite characters in full, Sound! Euphonium has gotten to the point where it is long enough with enough side content that some potential viewers could really benefit from a watch order.
Sound! Euphonium Watch Order
How to Watch Sound! Euphonium in Order
Sound! Euphonium is one of those anime series that looks more complicated to watch than it actually is. However, due to some movies being recaps, the watch order for Sound! Euphonium is actually easier than it looks. The hardest part is knowing what movies you do need to watch.
- Sound! Euphonium (TV)
- Sound! Euphonium OVA Ready, Set, Monaka (Optional, Canon, Recommended)
- Sound! Euphonium Specials (2-minute Comedic Skits, Optional)
- Sound! Euphonium Movie 1: Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band (S1 Recap, Not Recommended)
- Sound! Euphonium 2 (TV)
- Sound! Euphonium 2 Specials (3-minute Comedic Skits, Optional)
- Sound! Euphonium Movie 2 : May the Melody Reach You! (S2 Recap, Not Recommended)
- Liz and The Blue Bird (Movie) (Spin-off, Recommended)
- Sound! Euphonium Movie 3: Our Promise – A Brand New Day (Sequel to S2, Must Watch*)
- Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest Arc (Movie) (Movie 3 Sequel, Must Watch*)
- Sound! Euphonium 3 (TV)
* When I say “Must Watch,” I mean that you need to watch it because it contributes to the main storyline of the series. Not just because it is a good watch.
Do I Need to Watch The Sound! Euphonium Movies?
The existence of the movies is really why Sound! Euphonium needs a watch order.
As you can see above, you don’t need to watch the first two movies. They recap season one and season two, do so speedily, and it is generally just better to watch the TV anime if you enjoy the story.
However, after those two recap movies, the movies stop becoming optional. So you need to watch movie 3 and will need to watch the Ensemble Contest Arc movie.
What is Liz and the Blue Bird?
Since it doesn’t bear the Sound! Euphonium brand, it is easy to overlook Liz and the Blue Bird. As it is a spin-off, it is completely fine to skip it as well.
However, Liz and the Blue Bird is a lovely story that focuses on Mizore and Nozomi. It explores their relationship and brings you more of that Sound! Euphonium brand drama that you have come to appreciate.
It takes place after Season 2 of the anime and the story sort of happens at the same time as the third movie. You can watch it before or after watching the third movie if you watch it at all.
