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A Silent Voice A comprehensive review of this outstanding film.
Let me tell you this straight: A Silent Voice isn’t your typical anime movie.
It’s not about fantasy, battles, powers, or anything flashy.
Instead, it hits you in the heart in a quiet, painful, and beautiful way.
This movie deals with the stuff most films avoid — guilt, bullying, disability, redemption, loneliness, and the desperate desire to feel like you’re worth something.
And honestly?
It hits hard… like really hard.
The movie was released in 2016, directed by Naoko Yamada, and instantly became one of the most emotional anime movies ever made. And trust me, that’s not an exaggeration.
It’s one of those movies that stays with you long after the credits roll — the kind of story that makes you sit silently, staring at the screen, feeling things you didn’t expect.
So yeah… buckle up.
This movie isn’t light.
But it’s 100% worth watching — and worth talking about.
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Plot Summary: A Story About Mistakes, Pain, and the Hope for Redemption
The story centers around Shoya Ishida, a guy who starts the film as a young boy who bullies a deaf girl named Shoko Nishimiya. When Shoko transfers to his classroom, she becomes a target for bullying, mostly led by Shoya.
But here’s the twist:
- As the bullying continues, things flip.
- Everyone turns against Shoya, and he becomes the outcast.
- He becomes the lonely one.
- He becomes the kid who can’t look people in the eyes anymore.
Fast-forward a few years…
Shoya is now a teenager dealing with depression, guilt, and social anxiety. He can’t even look people in the face — the film literally blurs out the faces of characters to visually show how disconnected he feels.
And he decides he needs to fix what he broke.
He wants to apologize to Shoko… to make things right… to give himself a chance to live again.
The rest of the movie follows their journey — awkward, emotional, silent, and powerful.
It’s not a love story in the traditional sense — it’s a story about healing.
About forgiveness.
About trying again.
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Themes: The Movie Is DEEP, Like Really Deep
1. Bullying and Its Long-Term Consequences
The movie doesn’t sugarcoat anything.
Bullying destroys people — the victim AND the bully.
Shoko loses confidence, happiness, and stability.
Shoya loses friends, dignity, and self-worth.
The film shows how one mistake can snowball into a lifetime of pain.
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2. Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
One of the strongest parts of the film is how honestly it portrays depression.
Shoya’s journey is full of:
- isolation
- regret
- self-hatred
- fear
- loneliness
Even the opening scene hints at something dark: Shoya is considering ending his life.
And Shoko too reaches a point where she almost gives up completely.
The movie doesn’t glamorize suicide — it shows the horror of it, the pain behind it, and the importance of reaching out for help.
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3. Forgiveness — The Hardest Thing Ever
- Forgiveness here isn’t easy.
- It’s not quick.
- It’s messy.
- It takes time… effort… pain… tears.
- Shoko wants to forgive.
- Shoya wants to be forgiven.
But both of them struggle — deeply and honestly.
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4. Disability and Communication
Shoko’s character brings a whole new dimension to the story.
- She’s deaf, but she isn’t weak.
- She’s quiet, but not silent.
- She speaks — but the world refuses to listen.
The film makes you think about how we treat people who are different.
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5. Self-Worth and Healing
Every character in this movie is broken in their own way:
- Shoya hates himself.
- Shoko hates that she causes pain.
- Yuzuru fears losing her sister.
- Nagatsuka is lonely.
- Naoka hides behind a harsh personality.
Everyone is fighting their own battle, and that makes the story unbelievably human.
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Characters: Beautifully Written, Deep, and Real
Shoya Ishida — A Broken Boy Trying to Become Whole
Shoya’s arc is one of the strongest character arcs in anime.
- He starts as a bully…
- Then becomes the victim…
Then becomes a young man trying to fix everything he destroyed.
- His guilt eats him alive.
- His loneliness defines him.
- His pain feels real.
But his journey is beautiful because it’s not about becoming perfect — it’s about becoming better.
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Shoko Nishimiya — Stronger Than She Looks
- Shoko is one of the most emotional characters in anime.
- She apologizes even when it’s not her fault.
- She blames herself for things she didn’t cause.
- She tries her best to smile through the pain.
- Her disability doesn’t define her — her heart does.
She’s gentle, emotional, and unbelievably kind — and that kindness hurts because the world wasn’t kind to her.
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Yuzuru Nishimiya — The Protective Sister
- Yuzuru acts tough, almost boyish, because she’s terrified of losing her sister.
- She’s one of the emotional pillars of the film and adds a lot of depth to Shoko’s story.
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Naoka Ueno — A Complicated Character
Naoka is stubborn, bratty, rude, and sometimes downright cruel…
But she’s REAL.
She’s a reminder that some people hurt others because they can’t face their own guilt or emotions.
Her character adds conflict but also makes the movie emotionally richer.
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Tomohiro Nagatsuka — The Loyal Friend
- He’s the awkward but lovable guy who becomes Shoya’s first real friend in years.
- His presence brings warmth and light to a very dark story.
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Symbolism: The Movie Speaks Without Words
1. X Marks on Faces
Whenever Shoya avoids people, their faces are covered with giant X marks, symbolizing his fear and inability to connect.
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2. Water and Drowning
Water represents depression — the feeling of drowning, of sinking deeper into darkness.
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3. Silence
Silence in the film is powerful.
Not just because of Shoko’s deafness, but because silence represents the things we can’t say, won’t say, or don’t know how to say.
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Animation: Kyoto Animation at Their Absolute Best
Let’s be honest — KyoAni doesn’t miss.
And this movie proves it.
The animation is:
- soft
- emotional
- full of symbolism
- full of color and life
- realistic
- beautifully detailed
- Every frame feels like a painting.
- The facial expressions alone can make you cry.
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Soundtrack: Haunting, Emotional, and Heartbreaking
- The music in this movie isn’t loud or dramatic — it’s soft.
- Quiet.
- Emotional.
It’s the kind of soundtrack that gets under your skin and stays with you.
Especially the piano pieces — they hit right in the heart.
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Why A Silent Voice Is So Powerful
- It’s raw
- It’s painful
- It’s human
- It’s relatable
- It’s honest
- It’s emotional
- It’s inspiring
- The movie doesn’t try to be perfect — it tries to be real.
- And that’s why it resonates with so many people.
- If you’ve ever felt lonely…
- If you’ve ever regretted something…
- If you’ve ever wanted forgiveness…
- If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning emotionally…
This movie will speak to you.
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The Ending: Painful but Beautiful
The ending is simple, but it hits deep.
- Shoya finally lifts his eyes.
- The X-marks disappear.
- He sees people…
- And people see him.
- He’s not fixed.
- He’s not perfect.
- He’s not healed completely.
- But he’s trying.
- And he’s alive.
And sometimes… just trying is enough.
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Final Thoughts: A Silent Voice Isn’t Just a Movie — It’s an Experience
If you haven’t watched A Silent Voice, you’re m
issing out on one of the most emotional journeys in anime history.
This movie teaches us:
- mistakes don’t define us
- people can change
- forgiveness is possible
- healing takes time
- kindness matters
- It’s heavy.
- It’s sad.
- It’s beautiful.
- It’s unforgettable.
And honestly… it’s one of the best anime films ever made.
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