Image from: https://myanimelist.net/anime/28851/Koe_no_Katachi
Name: A Silent Voice 聲の形 Koe no Katachi
Status: Completed
Episode: Movie
Release date (for eng subs): -
Summary:
Ishida Shouya bullies the deaf transferred student, Nishimiya Shouko, during the 6th grade of elementary school. However, after being found out by the teacher, he became the target of bully, and this incident broke his relationships with his friends and classmate. He deeply regrets what he did, and lived his life trying to make up for his doing. One day, he reunited with Nishimiya, and slowly, his life changes.
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Personal Ratings: 4.5 / 5
It finally shows in Singapore (although I'm a bit late). Have been looking forward to this show ever since I saw the PV, and I actually went to check out the manga, but I didn't quite liked it. That being said, the movie was really a different experience, packed with emotional scenes.
Idea: 4.5 / 5
It's not a very unique idea of showing a bullying take place in school, especially in elementary school. But showing that from the bullier's point of view was something different. In addition to that, making the heroine as someone who is deaf and can barely speak because that, and actually focusing on that to give birth to a story that interacts with voices and hearings is a very good idea.
In addition to that, they also deal with many different types of unique characters in the show itself. With many different people who come together during the process of the show. But the most unique thing I found about this show is their focus on family members, and not just within the school compound, which is something I feel most animes lack.
Execution:
Development: 4 / 5
The development was deep and intense in some parts, and I feel that it did have a nice build up. But I felt like there were some important details which were skipped through the movie, which gave off a very incomplete feel.
Although there wasn't a very clear motive as to what they wanted to tell the viewers through this show, because there were just too many things jumbled into the movie. But I feel that the main point was put across, though I felt that it could have been a lot better. But most of it lies in the animation, and the selection of the parts to be cut off.
I loved the parts where the crossed (x) sticker came off and on. It really gave a visual picture of what the main character was feeling towards the person, and told a lot more than what was shown.
Emotions: 5 / 5
I liked the mixture the different scenes, which gave off different emotions throughout the whole show which gave an overall balance to the movie, which made it easier to sit through despite it being a very heavy and long show (about 2 hours and 10 minutes).
It was a very intense 2 hours show, which really builds up an accumulative amount of sadness throughout the show through the experience in which the main character went through. Even though there were many more negative emotions throughout the anime (which I people who don't really like a sad show probably wouldn't like), but there was always some sort of positive energy which kept the show going. With regret, comes a positive change in a person's action; with suicidal thoughts, comes a hope in living on; and among everything else, the show focuses on 2nd chances.
Planning: 5 / 5
Planning was good. I liked how they rearranged the scenes to make the movie a lot more interesting than the manga itself (although the manga had more detailed scenes, which I felt backed fired).
Main Character Development: 4 / 5
The development of the 2 main characters were superb, especially for Ishida. Although I did find it a disappointment that they didn't quite show his gradual change from elementary to middle to high school. It was just a jump from elementary to high school, with bits and pieces of middle school fitted in wherever possible. But still, the change in his attitude, and the way he thinks and treated people was really well done.
Nishimiya on the other hand, although she had a great development with her family, too, involved in the whole situation (especially her sister), I felt like there was a huge cloud of mystery shrouded over her, and after the whole movie, I felt that I didn't quite understand her character. There wasn't much said about her main reason for attempting suicide, and there were also no signs given prior to the incident, except for the loss of hearing in her right(?) ear, and the death of her grandma. But her character itself was well developed throughout the whole show.
Side Character Development: 3.5 / 5
There were many side characters involved in the movie, and they were all very unique and different type of characters which came together because of both Ishida (mainly), and Nishimiya. It was nice to see how the different characters came together and find their places with each other.
The side characters were mainly divided into characters that went to the same elementary school, and characters which he met in high school. The elementary school group had a bigger role to play because they were involved in the bullying incident in different ways. They try to realize and correct the way they are throughout the movie.
Although the different side characters had a different role in the movie, I felt like there wasn't enough development for most of them, but I also understand that it is impossible to finish the movie within 2 hours if they weren't cut off.
Seiyuu: 4 / 4
Great selection of voice actors, I think we really have to praise Saori (Nishimiya's voice actor) for the great acting. I was constantly being surprised by the way she voiced a deaf person.
Also applause to Ono Kensho, because I didn't think he could sound that way, but he proved me wrong with his superb acting throughout the whole anime.
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Art Ratings: 5 / 5
The art and animation was really good. The animation especially really gave off a 3D effect, and really helped a lot with the emotional aspect of the movie.
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Similar Animes:
Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda
Although not exactly similar, the two anime are similar in having different characters with unique personality come together, and also the fact that the heroines in both movies can't talk, although one is a true deaf while the other was forbidden to speak through a trauma that occurred when she was young.
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Recommended for:
Gender: Both
Age: 13 and above
My Ratings: PG
