ANI-MOVIES, *A Silent Voice: The Movie

Despite being overshadowed by Your Name during the year of its release, A Silent Voice is a dramatic anime movie based on the 7-volume manga of the same name, although adapted into an extra full-length feature. Kyoto Animation crafted this masterful take on Yoshitoki Oima's comic, directed by K-On's Naoko Yamada, and centers on the complex dealings of personal anxiety.

During his years in elementary school, Shoya would bully a newly arrived deaf girl named Shoko, mostly because he thought that her handicap was graining on his schoolmates who tire of helping her to keep up with the rest of the class. Shoko is harassed to the point where she has to change schools, and all of Shoya's friends turn against him to pass the blame for their involvement. This branding has him ignored by his former mates as they go into middle school, so Shoya sinks into depression throughout high school, leaving him suicidal. Before he attempt this, he tries to make amends with Shoko by returning her old notebook that she used to communicate with others in elementary school. Shojo seems to find a new lease on life after she reciprocates his peace offering by befriending him. Shoya's refreshing outlook allows him to begin seeking out his outcasted schoolmates, while befriending others who are also victims of bullying. Shoya and Shoko's budding relationship causes insecurity in their doubting friends and family. Many of the members of their growing circle still can't get past their personal history with either Shoya or Shoko, either accepting any of the blame of past actions, or willingness to accept the intentions of Shoya's attempts for redemption, which makes others question their own worth as a person.

It should be pointed out that this is not a romantic movie, but a dramatic slice-of-life. There are strong passionate emotions between the characters trying to get passed their own handicaps or social anxieties. The major draw of this film is its enchanting soundtrack which echos the mix of emotions fitting each scene. The dub is profoundly strong to include hearing-impaired actress Lexi Cowden as the deaf Shoko. Despite its lengthy runtime, the overall narrative makes for a true to form masterpiece to anyone who can comprehend how the hefty subject of bullying can take its toll on its victims.