Note: I tried to keep things spoiler free until the spoiler warning below Liz to Aoi Tori Liz and the Blue Bird is a movie by Kyoto Animation part of the Euphonium series. The story centers around Mizore and Nozomi two best friend and members of the schools brass band club. 400https://ur.com/zGW2k9l.png The movie takes place after the events in the second season of Hibike Euphoniumhttps://anilist.co/anime/21460/HibikeEuphonium2/. Mizore Yoroizuka is a shy introspective and extremely talented oboe player who has in Nozomi her best if not only friend. 400https://ur.com/ysJ67fB.png Nozomi Kasaki on the other hand is an extroverted and easygoing flute player with lots of friends the kind who is easily the center of attention and a target of admiration for her juniors and classmates. 400https://ur.com/GlwXzzI.png The plot itself centers around the fairy tale of Liz and the Blue Bird. The tale is used as a backdrop and framing device for the story of the girls and their friendship being presented in glimpses as the main story progresses. 400https://ur.com/yXI51QP.png Lets get the basic stuff out of the way first This movie is beautiful. The story alternates between the real world and scenes from the fairy tale story. The fairy tale scenes use pastel tones and a drawing style reminiscent of a childrens book while normal scenes use Euphoniums basically Kyotos signature style. In both styles we have the highest caliber of Kyoto animation excellence. 400https://ur.com/X6dKkYY.png The story follows a slow and deliberate pace where each scene is full of meaning and detail. Characters convey their emotions with each movement expression gesture. Background scenes and objects are used to the fullest to enrich the story telling. In many moments the perfect synchronized background music elevates a scene being a core part of setting its mood and tone. 400https://ur.com/XpVHn38.png Talking about music the soundtrack is exquisite. Lot of the background music comes from incidental sources further improving immersion. And then we have the Liz and the Blue Bird theme which is something of beauty being prominent in the movie emotional climax. 400https://ur.com/WfXhCRT.png Characterwise we have a lot of the characters from the main series making a mostly background appearance as most of the attention is given to the protagonists. 400https://ur.com/tywnvYg.png The level of character development is excellent something already expected of the Euphonium series as we relate to the characters feelings and motivations on a deep personal level. The direction here must be praised as a lot is conveyed from the subtle cues in the animation backgrounds and music working in tandem. 400https://ur.com/j2ng7aZ.png Be warned spoilers ahead The meaning behind Now for the main reason for me to write this review. Liz and the Blue bird the movie is above all a story about love and interdependence. Let me expand and come back to that In the fairy tale Liz befriends a girl that appears collapsed in her yard after one stormy night. The two develop a deep friendship until after being revealed that the girl is in fact a blue bird a brokenhearted Liz makes her fly away to her freedom. The gesture although painful to both is a loving one: Liz would not be happy keeping her friend caged and the bird girl realized that giving away her freedom even willingly would only bring pain to Liz who above all desires for her friends happiness. 300https://ur.com/nkHH9CE.png The tale is a very close analogy to the relationship between the protagonists. The shy indecisive and lonely Mizore can be though as Liz while the extroverted and happy Nozomi as the bird. That analogy is reflected both on their characters traits and their relationship e.g. Mizore dependence and total devotion to Nozomi and Nozomi high spirits and confidence. In a crucial point for the above argument Mizore decides to attend a music college based solely on Nozomis whims of going to said college. Her own desires notwithstanding. 600https://ur.com/n6BYddt.png Mizore also has no real friends besides Nozomi. She repeatedly turns away invitations and approaches from her sectional mates particularly Ririka Kenzaki acting coldly and keeping distant from anyone else that is not Nozomi. 600https://ur.com/ltUF02p.png And this is where things take a turn because the abovementioned analogy hides a lot more than whats on the surface: The fact is that Nozomi whims of taking a music college were derived entirely from a desire to force herself to the same standing as the much more talented Mizore an oboe player recognized even by her teachers as having a bright professional future and also to not be left behind. Further evidence comes when Ririka slowly chinks away at Mizore armor and the two become closer: Nozomi hints of jealousy and possessiveness flash through the cracks and she starts to lose confidence eventually going as far as ostracizing Mizore. 600https://ur.com/ZLak2UF.png In the end it is Mizore who is the actual caged bird and Nozomi the one who does not want to let go. In fact they both dont want to let go. It is that realization that allows the duo to come to terms with themselves and move forward at the end of the movie. 600https://ur.com/FLGNXyU.png But in contrast to the fairy tale there was no need for the metaphorical flight of the bird. After coming to terms with their reality the two girls leave with a stronger bond and a deeper sense of being. Finding themselves they come back and vow to each other and to their friendship while still tracking their own path. 600https://ur.com/cVZtBdf.gif And now I come back to what I said about interdependence and a most important take from the movie: Being happy with oneself is what allows one to be truly happy with another. In a relationship where there is only dependence where one side surrenders its freedom and becomes caged theres a lot of pain to be had. Independence is a necessary step before becoming interdependent. Interdependence is a decision and it is where a relationship finds its utmost happiness. As the Liz story tells sometimes letting go is the only albeit sad choice and part of loving is being able to. But regardless figuring that out and making that decision for oneself is the true path as the alternative is a lie. 300https://ur.com/SuN1GSH.png Conclusion and parting thoughts Liz to Aoi Tori is an absolute masterpiece in all aspects: animation soundtrack characters storytelling. It is Kyoto Animation pulling out all the stops to masterfully craft a beautiful deep and emotional movie with lots of important insights. As a fan of the Euphonium series this was more of an awesome series that I love deeply and a precious look into two characters that were explored far too briefly in the anime. But even for those who dont know the main series this is a beautiful story that can easily stand on its own.