Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
CyanCheetah
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…
Read at the sourceBenx2019
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
Read at the sourceAnaelAnimanga
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.
Read at the sourceAppleDangani
(Kono Oto Tomare Season 1 and 2 by Amyū Sakura) Non-Spoiler Review
(March 21, 2022)
Have you ever felt the excitement and joy of doing what you really love? Facing your weakness head on, admitting that you are hundred or thousand steps away from what you want, but you still take each and every experience to learn and be better. Loving the process with unwavering belief that you can reach what you're aiming for.
Kono Oto Tomare is a story about high school kids who came to love playing a Koto. A traditional Japanese instrument which also called “Kin”. Koto is a long Japanese board zither having 13 silk strings and movable bridges. The library's makers describe the Koto's sound thus: "It has a lightness of flying butterflies and the sputtering of fish, but has the strength of thunder.” Fo…
Read at the sourceakmal8
I had been looking for a laid back comedy/slice of life type anime after finishing a few other titles. I came across Kono Oto Tomare by chance after watching a different anime in the same genre, and seeing this title in the recommendations list.
I was hooked by the end of the first episode of the first season and binged this series in less than a week. This anime is deeply moving. I'm a 33 year old man and no other work of fiction has brought me to tears as much as this series. This anime is not principally about music, or musicians. Music is the medium used to tell a story. But it's not some run of the mill coming of age story either. Each episode leaves you wanting more. The characters grow with each episode. I was totally sucked into this world, and I felt a strong protective instinct…
Read at the sourcevault-dweller
Just one of the most likeable main casts in any anime in years. That right there should be the reason you watch this show. I could end the review there and 90% of my entire point will be reached. But I'll flesh things out a bit.
The plot, honestly isn't important. It's about a struggling high school classical music club and their dreams to reach nations. But honestly, even though this is the story we follow throughout the two seasons, it's not why you're watching and not what truly matters. It all comes down to a genuine, pure, lovable group of characters that all have their struggles, be it big or small, and how they overcome them together. They believe in, support and care about one another in such an honest way that you can't help, but feel the same towards them. So you rout for them.…
Read at the sourceijen
This review is based on the whole 26 episodes.
Let me give you some touch of reality, sugar+spice+everything nice = powerpuff girls, is only fiction not reality. When you mix Music+ Shounen+ Sports?= Diarrhea, that's the reality.
Kono oto tomare is nice anime but the tags of the genre and concept, is really flawed. I guess i have to be blame the original mangaka and the producer for this, for them being out of touch with how the world works. You see, it's hard to feel something if you don't get involved with field and mangakas who does research with google to get ideas and watch his or her predecessors, get only the outline not the actual themes. And with no experience and just the shallow ideas plus wild imagination= Diarrhea.
Get these points, as a jack of all trades, I'm saying this,…
Read at the sourceLoneAce
I did a review on the first season. I did it for both seasons so might as well copy paste:
When i first heard of Kono Oto Tomare, I was quite curious as to how the anime would fare in comparison to Your Lie In April. I am thoroughly surprised at how the story developed, and simply how deep each character development is. The prejudice that hovers around each character is slowly but surely unpacked and what you get is a masterpiece in terms of character development.
Unlike Your Lie In April, there are just so many competitors which viewers might adore and despise in the Koto Club's journey to the Nationals. Some of the issues that are addressed very well in Your Lie In April are also explored and addressed beautifully in Kono Oto Tomare, from parental expectations to not liking one's own p…
Read at the sourceMisbah_shah
Highly recommended! Go for it!
A good story with a unique theme always catches the attention.✔️
STORY: 10/10
I'll only explain 6 points regarding story.
1. REALLY INTERESTING THEME, That is "Koto Club"
Now what exactly is this koto? It's a musical instrument and focus of this anime is Music. Members of this Club play this instrument KOTO, since all of them have their reasons to be in this club because this club is quite underrated in the school. Once they join the club, they get along well, due to the president of this club Kurata. 2. 7 Members of Koto Club:
Kurata, who's a very well spoken and mannered guy. He wants to collect at least 5 members in order to save this club from being disbanded from the school since a club must have at least 5 members to be recognised. The person who…
Read at the sourceveemon23
I will put spoiler warning because I will talk about what I like and didn't like about this show. I want to honestly believe this is a 10/10 but I can't find myself to say it is. Since there's just one part of it that really didn't sit too well with me.
As for the plot of the anime, it's nothing special, pretty typical and predictable but I watched it not because of the plot but because of the characters. I think that's the main reason I really kept watching because I enjoyed the characters. This mainly meaning I enjoyed Chika and Hozuki a lot! I honestly thought the President was kinda of boring lol.... no offense to those who like him. I treated the three friends as side character or supporting more then main. The other characters I really like are the teacher, Kurusu, and Akira. I lik…
Read at the sourceTomoe_Hotaru
As for me, it must be said that it's almost the best anime I've seen last year.
It wouldn't be so bad though the tempo is too fast. Both the youth atmosphere and the characterization are excellent. Although there are some regrets about the cheap ppt production, the interweaving of the mutual support atmosphere in the community and the story of the character itself conveys the charm of the whole work. Whether it's narrative or character setting, it's a bit reminiscent of Chihayafuru. And it feels like the best youth group besides Chihayafuru. The division of CP is simple, the conflict of story is simple, some old-fashioned plots make me laugh bitterly, but generally speaking, the ramarkable characterization still keeps it a good look and feel. All supporting actors have a fresh personality…
Read at the sourceAgileAstonish
I completed this series on 4/2/2020 6:29pm
The progress of time; a tale of change
This anime was a well needed change of pace, skimming through my list for something new and coming to watch this goes to show that we don't know everything in the sense of what's "good". The show I had no previous reason to watch it, but the preview frame caught my eye and I gave it a shot.
C H A R A C T E R S
I want to talk about the most important aspect of this show, which is the characters. I didn't really care for any of them when I first looked at them, which is a common theme in this anime for me personally. My favorite aspect when it comes to the characters is that the anime makes you get to know each and individual person who has even a fraction of a major role. There isn't a single protagonist in…
Read at the sourceflazzing
The anime is a wonderful piece of storytelling, which really touch me personally. The story means a lot to me in some way, because it relates to me during my early phase of childhood. That being said, without any spoiler, I do really hope that someday, when I grow older, I will be able to have the opportunity to watch another season of the anime. It really touches me, the storytelling is amazing and it may be biased of me to say this but because it tells a story which I personally can relate to at the beginning of my music learning experience.
Read at the sourceDNGlist
When I found this anime, I thought. Will traditional anime music be as good as some drama music anime such as "Hibike euphonium" or "Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso" which is very popular, especially seeing studios where there are not many projects like this, but I was wrong.
Art 8: In my opinion the colors shown are a bit too faded even for the bluray version. This is not a mistake, because it adapts to the art in the manga. But still the audience will compare it to the anime music drama of "Kyoto animation" which we know is very impressive visualization.
Story 9: I like this, for those who don't know the "Koto" music instrument. You don't need to worry, this anime introduces you to the musical instrument "Koto" well. the division between music and romance is also very interesting, the romance…
Read at the sourceFearedKnight
This is just my personal opinion and review of the anime/series.
This season definitely lived up to the first season in every aspect and gave life to the series. I'm not one for instrumental/musical anime, however this series definitely gave me a lot of excitement to continuously watch it and jump for the next episode release every week.
The story drives you into each and every episode and feel connection with each character and plot. The sound of the music, gave you life and emotions you won't feel in a lot of other animes. Rivalries that makes you cheer for each team, due to their efforts and connections with each other, with their peers and rivals.
Read at the sourceJiangHaoyi1979
As this anime that has given us a breath of fresh air for this last season of 2019, I just can't help but be amaze that something like this was aired, so kudos for Platinum Vision and Original Creator, Amyuu Sakura for coming up with something like this, so here are my ratings for this "Very Good" anime:
Story- Very Good 8: Unlike animes with a slice of life genre this basically takes the cake , though this is a continuation from the 1st season, it still hasn't lost it's touch as the member of the Tokise High School koto club aims for the nationals and it wasn't just that, this was also how them underdogs got to prove themselves to other school with renowned koto club members that even the underdogs can have it's day of victory........
Art-Decent 4: Frankly I really hate the boy's school…
Read at the sourceBabyGirl06301
How is it that an anime this peaceful can exist? Someone tell me, because I always click away from each episode feeling happy.
Diving straight in, the art in the anime is gorgeous, no? The character designs, especially, stand out to me. There aren't dark lines or harsh colors; the style it presents is lovely and one of the reasons I love this anime so much. The sound as well is... like, damn. Not only the koto music (which I've come to love since finding this anime), but the BGM as well. The pieces they put into this anime enhance each and every scene wonderfully.
I can't remember if I mentioned this with the previous season, but Kono Oto Tomare! does remarkably well with its character development. This season was able to highlight characters within their stories without showing all tha…
Read at the sourceShingster
Please note this review is intended to be read by those that have finished watching Kono Oto Tomare and while care has been taken to minimise story related spoilers there may still be spoilers within character analysis. You have been warned.
Intro and premise
Based off a popular manga of the same name Kono Oto Tomare is a music, drama and school-based anime that gives us the unique opportunity to see the kinds of challenges that Tokise high schools Koto club faces in an era where ancient instruments like the koto are increasingly being forgotten by their fellow students and worst its players being seen as nothing more than jokes who are wasting their time with ancient instruments. While music and school-based animes themselves are not a rare occurrence as shown by the popularity of the…
Read at the sourceEthan_07
Music is a strange thing. Sometimes, its melody carries a bit of fun and sweetness, making everyone listening immerse in the happiness. Sometimes, it is tinged with a bit of sadness, a pain and hidden feelings bursting out to be heard. But as the melodies intertwine, they bring forth a mixed feeling. As if, the sky is crying.
And this is the embodiment of Kono Oto Tomare.
It's a story composed of romance, drama, slice of life and music without the sadness in that April. A story where romance doesn't dominate and comedy doesn't take away the serious tone it is set for. It's balanced, it's refreshing and it's damn touching.
As it continues from that dreadful cliffhanger, the characters are still up with their quirky interaction. And each frustration and subtle support they have for each o…
Read at the sourceKANLen09
2019 has been a blessing for musical anime, not so much on the Idol side of things, but purely on the sensational rides of emotional feels. With the introduction of Kono Oto Tomare's 1st cour in Spring to set up for the lesser of things, then in Summer, Given's Shoujo-ai outclassed adaptation of a masterpiece, and then back towards this series' 2nd cour to finish up the race that has been built up from the 1st half. And I'd have to say that the experience is totally worth it from start to finish, I can still readily and heartily give this a 10/10 just like the 1st half for the same exact reasons it hooked me in the first place: the musical scores of the Koto and its players' many diverse skills that create lasting impact in tears.
The series overall had such a good story plot and better c…
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