ANI-MOVIES, *Liz And The Blue Bird

Several properties like Star Wars take minor or background characters and give them their own outlet, as was the case with Sound! Euphonium. The anime TV series based on a novel went on for two seasons, and then spun-off an original story set in the same fictional universe. Liz And The Blue Bird is a full-length theatrical release that spotlights two of the cast members from the show's second season. Kyoto Animation used a subtle minimalistic approach to this production directed by A Silent Voice's Naoko Yamada and written by Reiko Yoshida that works as a companion piece to the original anime, but at the same time being its own entity, not making it necessary to have watched the TV series.

Mizore and Nozomi are best friends during their final year in high school. Mizori is a timid oboist, while Nozomi is an extraverted flutist, and both of them are part of the school's music club seeking recognition with an upcoming band competition. Their main piece is centered on an original fairy tale titled "Liz And The Blue Bird" about the title character forming a loving relationship with a blue-haired girl who is secretly a transformed blue bird. The story sets a reflection of Mizore fretting over her relationship with Nozomi as she fears they will separate after graduation. Mizore is offered a spot at a musical college, but only wants to attend if Nozomi goes as well, where Nozomi doesn't consider herself becoming a professional musician as Mizore is the one who has the raw talent to achieve it. This indecisiveness causes a rift between them, even though you can clearly see how the two keep in sync with each other, especially when they are the only band members playing during their solo performance in the Liz music piece. The duo eventually work out their differences as their relationship achieves a new resolve secure in the fact that they will still be friends no matter where they go.

Liz And The Blue Bird might seem profoundly similar to the Kase-sand And Morning Glories OVA that came out in the same year in which two girls in their senior year come to terms about their futures going in opposite directions, although Kase-san is more of a confirmed yuri anime, where Liz has a less romantic relationship between its main characters. The movie has a superb soundtrack, notably the scenes where the band is actually performing, and great detail was given into showing how even when they are separated that Nozomi and Mizore have a strong effect on the other. Again, you don't need to have seen anything of Sound! Euphonium to be able to keep up with the plot, even though it does make you curious as to why it tends to introduce so many additional characters from the TV series.