I found out about Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop a few months ago, when the trailer appeared. It immediately caught my attention and I couldn't wait for the movie to appear. Even though I had other expectations, I was pleasantly surprised after I finished it. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a music love based anime movie, in which Cherry, a shy boy who expresses his emotions by writing haiku, accidentally meets Smile, an online personality who hides his bucked teeths behind a mask, because she's afraid of what people think of them. They both have insecurities, and maybe that's what brings the two closer together.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop's story is like a light spring breeze. It's a movie with which you can relax, where you can laugh and cry, and where you can empathize with the characters. It's not one of those movies that makes you cry like a baby, like Maquia, and it's not one of those movies that thrills you to the bone, like Koe no Katachi, but it's an invigorating movie.
At the beginning of the film I thought it would be strictly about the love story between Cherry and Smile. It was like a slice of life with their lives in the foreground and how, slowly, they intersect. But then much of the plot began to constitute in searching for old Fujiyama's record. To be honest, I liked this plot device and I liked how it was executed.
Even if the movie didn't end with the two of them being together, we can imagine what happened next, given Cherry's confession. Even though I was able to predict many things that happened, being clichés, I still liked the story, how it unfolded and how it ended.
The characters in this movie are like two-edged swords. The other characters, apart from the two protagonists and the old Fujiyama, have not been explored at all and are therefore one-dimensional. But even so, I don't feel like it's a big deal, and I think this has its own special charm.
I liked Cherry, Smile and their interactions. Many times I was so impatient to see what they will do next and how things will evolve between the two of them, but also with the search for the old Fujiyama's record. For me, old Fujiyama is an empathetic character. When he cried because he didn't want to forget the memories of his wife, he made me cry too.
I liked the fact that Cherry expresses his feelings through haiku. He made me see haiku in a different way and be more interested in this art. The fact that he overcame his fears and insecurities in the end motivated me a little in life. Smile, even if she is an online personality, is just an ordinary teenager from nowadays, which is seen in her behavior during the film.
Basically, Cherry and Smile are two characters who helped each other in overcoming insecurities and fears.
It was animation the first thing that attracted me to this anime. It has bright, vivid colors, and it s fluently elaborated. I really like it's unique and weird (in a good way) style.
The music, along with the animation, gave life to the film. I really liked the soundtracks. They were suitable for the situation in which they were played. And the song on old Fujiyama's record left me pleasantly surprised and matched beautifully with what happened in the background.
Even with its mistakes, the film was fun to watch and I was able to experience various emotions during it. Maybe it was too optimistic, but that's what it gave me a good mood.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is an easy to watch anime movie which will bring a smile on your face. It will not change your life, but it s still worth watching, despite its simplicity.
