“I intended to listen to your voice, but it really was nothing but intentions. It's pretty obvious, huh? Of course there's more going on than what people choose to tell you... But I convinced myself that was all there is to a person. I knew that, but still I interpreted the stuff I didn't understand about you in ways convenient for me... That's just how I am.” Ishida
Finally! After waiting for months, I’ve finally got the chance to watch this movie. So, I’ll be giving my very personal review/opinion about the movie.
Story
I finished the manga way before the announcement of the movie. And still, it strikes straight to the kokoro! Koe no katachi’s execution is truly flawless! I just love it! It is a truly great anime adaption from the manga. I’m glad they stick faithfully to the manga. The story is not that unique but it’s interesting enough to make you want to watch it and keep on watching it until the very end.I knew it would be an open ending, but yet I had hoped that maybe they’ll kinda push my ship IshidaxNishimiya more, but sadly, no. (Goodbye my ship).
Honestly, I have a very few problems with the movie. There are a lot of cute scenes. Well, yes, I know you can’t really put everything into a two hours movie, yet… some important scenes were cut off! At least put the important parts, you know? The fighting scene that happened before their pretend friendship got ruined and such. Also, I am quite disappointed that the character developments (aside from Ishida and Shoko) were left out! They never explained why some certain characters acted the way they did. Like, Nishimiya’s mom’s past. And why she’s kind of a bitch to everyone. Also, the things that really pushed Nishimiya to commit suicide were never showed. Gladly, I’m not as confused as others because I have read the manga but I’ve seen some people being confused about the pacing of the story. Anyways, the story is truly amazing. Kyoto Animation did an excellent job! I’ve been a fan of KyoAni for a long time and they never fails to amuse me. Anyways, I live in a place where Anime is a rare fragment so I’m shocked that the cinema was almost full.
Art&Animation
I just really have to say this, the art is the strongest point of this movie. The art is perfectly made. It’s a carbon copy of the manga. I’ll give this section a 10/10.
Sound
Theme song weren’t actually used at all. Although I have to say, the theme song is really great and I think I’ll add it on my itunes. The background music is fitting to every scene especially the emotional scenes. It added feelings to the scenes. Characters voices are just average, nothing special.
Characters
Some characters were not given enough screen time they deserved. It was disappointing, but then again, you can’t really put everything into a two hours movie.
Ishida: The typical bully. He bullied Shoko which causes Shoko to lose at least 6(?) of her hearing aids in just 6 months and mind you, hearing aids are really expensive shit. He is also the reason why Shoko transferred school. In the manga, I was convinced that he had fallen in love with Shoko, although it was vaguely stated still they’ve given quite few hints about it. I love Ishida’s attitude, it kinda reminds me of Hikki from Oregairu. But, I really wanted to say, “Ishida-kun! You’re such a heartless bastard!”
Shoko: She’s deaf and bullied by Ishida. Even though she was being bullied, she kept on smiling and apologizing to every little thing which triggered her classmates to hate her. She’s so cute and so kind! I, too, am a heartless bastard because I can’t help but laugh whenever she tried to talk. Her voice is so squishy and so weird. I’m so sorry Shoko-chan! It was Shoko that had given me mostly all kind of feelings while watching. I felt sadness, happiness, doubtfulness, angriness (:p), and hopeless ness while watching her.
Yuzuru: Shoko’s younger sister. At first she was mistaken to be a boy because of the way she talks and the clothes she wears. She has a fetish of taking photos of undead creatures/animals. I was kinda hoping they would at least show the non-manga readers the reason why she liked to photograph undead animals. At first, I thought it was a weird hobby not until the manga (which the movie failed to do so) explained why she did those kinds of things. It was all for Shoko. She loved her sister.
Ueno: She didn’t really make great impact to the movie. She’s somewhat a questionable antagonist. I don’t really know what she’s supposed to be. Let’s just leave her be. In the manga, it was shown that she’s in love with Ishida and she hates Shoko just because Ishida won’t look her way.
Mashiba: He wasn’t given enough screen time. It’s like he’s just another side character. People deserve to know how badass Mashiba is! He’s also a good friend to Ishida too.
Nagatsuki: Another great and important character that becomes somewhat of a side character. He made me laugh my ass off, seriously. I was laughing so hard at almost all his scenes. And I can see others laughing too!
Kawai: This stuck up bitch deserves my middle finger. I hated her from the bottom of my heart. And she’s not Kawaii at all! She’s such a hypocrite that I hated how the movie didn’t show how much of a bitch she really is. Fuck her.
Overall
All throughout my watching experience, I had to fight off my bathroom urges just to not miss out any scene. The movie made me laugh, made me cry a little (not as hard as I did when I first read the manga), made me angry at some characters selfishness, and most importantly, the movie made me genuinely smile at how beautiful the story is. Koe no Katachi showed what people with disability experiences on their everyday life. This movie is an eye-opener to those who like to bully, belittle, and disregard people with disability. If I were to compare this to Kimi no Na wa, I;m sure that Koe no Katachi will win in terms of story. It have more substance that Kimi no Na wa.
Time to let people know that Anime isn’t just about romance, ecchi, fantasy, and friendship. It could also work as a medium of inspiration, like a “silent Voice”
