Dhruv Sharma
‘Kono Oto Tomare!’, for the most part, is a music anime in a typical high school setting. But apart from all the good music that is featured in the show, it’s the characters who make it worth watching. Through music, these characters connect with one another and not only grow as individuals but as a group as well. Music is indeed an essential part of this anime but it never really drives the plot, instead, it acts more as a mechanism for developing all the characters. The entire plot of the series is heavily character-driven and as each of their commitment towards music increases, even their bonds are further cemented. Undoubted, the premise of this show will seem quite cliched to most viewers but it manages to break new ground with its not-so-typical characters.
You’ll never find a dull moment in the entire span of the show and many of its accurate depictions of adolescence will remind you of your own school days. When it comes to the art style and animation, there’s nothing too impressive about it but the art style just feels right in context with the whole setting. Overall, ‘Kono Oto Tomare!’ is a great slice-of-life anime that has a lot more than just impressive soundtracks. It’s not the kind of show that will make you cry but when you’re watching it, be prepared to be captured by its portrayal of a world where is music is life.
Kono Oto Tomare! Season 2 Release Date: When will it premiere?
‘Kono Oto Tomare!’ season 1 premiered on April 7, 2019 and with a total of 13 episodes, it ended on June 30, 2019. Just recently, it was confirmed that its ‘Kono Oto Tomare!’ season 2 will premiere on October 6, 2019. Assuming that this season will also have 13 episodes, we can expect it to end by January 2020.
Kono Oto Tomare! English Dub:
The English dub of ‘Kono Oto Tomare!’ is available on Funimation.
Kono Oto Tomare! Plot:
After all the senior members of the “Koto Club” graduate, Takezou is the only one left in his school who can play the Koto, a traditional Japanese instrument. But to make sure that the club does not get terminated, he must find new members who are capable of playing the instrument. This is when Kudo, an infamous delinquent, tries to force his way into the club. Knowing that Kudo even destroyed his own grandfather’s Koto Shop, Takezou feels very apprehensive about him. But he takes him in and soon, a few other members join in making his club safe from getting terminated. While all the members of the club have their own personal reasons for playing the instrument, they are all united by their hunger for winning the National Koto Competition.
Kono Oto Tomare! Characters:
Chika Kudo
Chika Kudo is one of the members of the Koto Club who never really had too many friends throughout school. That’s one reason why he chose to become a delinquent. He’s quite straight-forward with his words and is not able to express himself to his friends. But later, he starts to change and starts playing the Koto for his Grandfather. He really enjoys helping his friends at the club and even feels really shy when they thank him.
Despite being the least experienced Koto player in the group, he is able to learn the instrument really quickly just by watching others play. After he realizes that Satowa is quite a prodigy at playing the Koto, he starts looking at her as his rival and aims to reach her level. Later, he even starts liking her but is not able to understand his own feelings. When it comes to his appearance, he has soft features with light pink hair. He has a very innocent smile and is usually seen in his school uniform.
Takezo Kurata
Takezo, before the events of the anime, was a prominent member of the Koto Club but after his seniors graduate and leave school, he becomes the President. Takezo is also a beginner when it comes to playing the Koto so initially, he feels really pressurized when he is appointed as the president. But he later calms down he realizes that he has to manage a whole team of musicians. From being a coward who lacked confidence, he later becomes a dependable leader who is willing to do anything for his Club members. He also starts liking Kurursu and she also feels the same. But in the first season of the anime, both of them are unaware of each other’s feelings and don’t even make any attempts to express any of it. Takezou looks pretty ordinary for his age with his black hair and deep dark eyes. He sports a pair of glasses all the time and like all the other characters, he is usually seen in his school uniform.
Satowa Hozuki
Satowa is one of the new members of the Koto Club and she is a musical prodigy. She is by far the best Koto player in the Club but acts a little stuck up when she first joins. After a while, she gets used to everyone’s presence and gets along with all the members. She can play any kind of music on the Koto and her approach towards the instrument is very technical. She believes in hearing a song first and then analyzing it to figure out the best possible way to play it. Playing the Koto comes so naturally to her that she is usually not even able to teach others how to play it. She has been playing the Koto since she was a kid and has also won several contests. Later in the series, she starts liking Kudo but tries really hard to hide her feelings. In appearance, she is cute and has long brown hair with big hazel eyes.
Tetsuki Takaoka
Tatsuki is a very close friend of Kudo who is always looking out for him. He is the one who explains Kudo’s situation to Takezo and helps him get into the Koto Club. He even tries to cheer up Kudo whenever he feels low and also becomes his cram teacher before exams.
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