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In the anime industry, only a few anime films have managed to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of its viewers like Naoko Yamada’sA Silent Voice.Though the film lacks a formal ambition, its harrowing theme of bullying and disability is set around Shoya Ishida, who regrets his actions of bullying Shoko Nishimiya, his deaf classmate, and seeks to make amends with her.
The redemption film is considered to be a masterpiece that depicts a haunting picture of trauma that exists in our lives. Since the film has featured such an authentic storyline, Yamada-San received praise from countless people worldwide, and it looks like one of her projects has a distinct admirer. Makoto Shinkai, the writer ofYour Name,has come forward to express his deep admiration for one of her works.
Makoto Shinkai Has Words of Praise forA Silent Voice’sDirector’s 2011 Film
Naoko Yamadastands tall as one of the few anime directors who has consistently managed to give birth to alluring projects in different genres. Works such asK-On!,Tamako Love Story, andLiz and the Blue Bird, of course, A Silent Voicestand as her most distinct works that focus on the subtleties of the characters,and the bewitching animation adds to the charm of the story.
The list adds another popular title, where the director has yet again come up with a new film that has taken her fans by surprise.Kimi no Iro,orThe Colors Within, centers around three high school students who decide to form a band together.
A Silent Voice May Not Deserve to be so Glorified by Anime Fans
The protagonist, Totsuko Higurashi, can see the colors of the emotions around the people that surround her. Thus, she would constantly read situations and keep smoothening things over to hold them still in peace.
During an exclusive interview withEiga, both directors, Makoto Shinkai and Naoko Yamada, sat down to discuss the newly released title. The director ofYour Nameexplained how he came across her 2011 film that evoked all kinds of emotions within him. He said,
The first time I came into contact with Yamada’s work was through K-On! It was a huge social hit, but the newness, fun enjoyment, and cuteness of the animation itself was such a shock to me at the time that I thought, “I hope it’s made by someone far away from me, someone with a different career or generation.
He further explained how he watched the film with jealousy because of how talented Yamada-San was. He added,
If it was made by someone with completely different attributes than me, I might be able to tolerate it, but my first impression was that I would be extremely jealous of the talent itself.
However,K-On!is not the only film that has got the veteran director’s attention. Her recent film,The Colors Within,also evoked the same musical feeling, making theSuzumedirector praise the film.
The Colors Within’sUnique Elements Made Makoto Shinkai a Fan of Naoko Yamada
In the same interview, the 51-year-old director explained how the 2024 film resonated with the same emotions and musical theme as the 2011 title. The key reason behind this belief is that the movie too follows a plot where three school students form a band together, each having a distinct personality.
There were many moments I liked while watching The Colors Within, but my favorite was the scene right before the live performance at the school festival.
However, what took him totally by surprise was how each character had each other’s backs while giving an instance from the film. He said,
Before the performance, Kimi-chan is nervous, wondering if it’s okay to perform [live]. Totsuko says to her, ‘What are you talking about? You look so motivated.’ When Kimi-chan [hears this and] stands up, her fashion is definitely rock. I thought it was a wonderful way to handle the comical characters.
“It’s a lot more than just a girl with a disability”: Fans Defend A Silent Voice as $31 Million Movie Faces Backlash for Poor Representation
With such distinct ideas that leave a lasting impression in the minds of the viewers, no wonder the film grossed $296,843 thousand at the worldwide box office viaThe Numbers, making the anime connoisseurs sing praises of her; some evencall it an Oscar-worthy film.
K-on!can be bought on Apple TV.
Tushar Auddy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1784
Tushar Auddy is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, primarily covering WWE. He has contributed to anime, MCU, DCU, animation, and TV Series, giving sharp insights and coming up with his own unique theories, which take the fandom by storm.
