A Silent Voice [Review]
“A deaf elementary school girl, Shoko Nishimiya, upon transferring, meets a boy named Shoya Ishida in her new class. Shoya, who is not deaf, leads the class in bullying Shoko, because she is deaf. As the bullying continues, the class starts to bully Shoya for bullying Shoko. After graduating from elementary school, Shoko and Shoya do not speak to each other… until later, when Shoya, tormented over his past, decides he must see Shoko once more. Shoya wants to make amends for what he did in elementary school and be Shoko’s friend.” -from Manga
A Silent Voice has a valuable lesson for anyone who watches it. Though it may be different for each person, it is something that will touch your heart no matter who you are. It’s been so long since a movie has moved my heart so much, the story and characters resonate within my conscious, reminding me that everyone is human and so are you. Everyone should be treated with love and compassion.
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Story:
A Silent Voice is a tsunami of emotion, wave after wave of painful storytelling through the eyes of Shoya, our protagonist. A Silent Voice is a powerful movie that deals with many very difficult topic such as disability, bullying, depression, and even suicide. What goes through the mind of those around us? It is hard to say, there is no way for any of us to know. The movie follows Shoya on his journey of atonement. As the story progresses but, it is not only a journey of repent but also a journey to find his self-worth. The strong narrative by Shoya, as well as the many symbolisms in the movie, emulates the way he sees the world, how it’s become distorted in his eyes.
Artwork & Animation:
Stunning, beautiful, magnificent, are all understatements to the level of detail and beauty in the artwork and animation of A Silent Voice. Shoko may not have many lines but her facial expressions spoke louder than any lines in the movie. The attention to detail in not only character designs, but also the backgrounds as well, is what makes KyoAni, well KyoAni. Each individual character is designed no matter how small their role is. It also shows how to creative an animation studio can be. The streets, Shoyo’s house, the bridge where they would meet, the festival, each of the scenes had its own atmosphere and felt alive. With art like this, even IF the story wasn’t good, it’s hard NOT to fall in love.
Character(s):
Shoyo, as our main protagonist, is popular but I find Shoko much more interesting. Shoko, even with the limited amount of lines she had, was the most dynamic character in the entire movie. All the character in the movie are also phenomenal, it was clear to see what each one was thinking, their intent, goal, thought process. How they all want to change and leave the past behind them. Although I will say one thing, Mashiba looks like a total bad guy….but he’s not and that throws me off!
Sound (OST & Voice Acting):
The soundtrack is very lovely, gentle, and sweet, like the first blossom of spring. The amazing songs were a tremendous help on the setting the mood throughout the entire movie. Voice acting was impeccable, and Shoko’s voice is magnificent, Saori Hayami did an amazing job on portraying Shoko.
Enjoyment:
I teared up a lot more than I expected to, I was assuming I would only do it once at the end but so many things happened throughout the movie that it’s hard to keep it all in. But I enjoyed every minute of it!
Overall: score 10
A Silent Voice isn’t just an anime movie or a manga, it’s a lesson that everyone should know and learn. It’s a masterpiece that’ll forever be engraved in the hearts of those who watch. Whether you are an anime fanatic or a curious bystander, please don’t pass up the opportunity to watch this movie and experience it for yourself.
KiritoNarukami 