[Movie Review] : Koe no Katachi

Koe no Katachi or A silent of Voice is an anime based on Manga with the same name. It was released around 2016. Because of some Youtube magic algorithm, a review of this animation was suggested to me this year. So, I try my luck to watch it and it did not disappoint me. This movie tackles some heavy issues like bullying, depression, and even suicide though. Yet like the poster, the production managed to balanced the heavy theme with their "cinematic shot", music and color choice of the animation. 

What makes me love about this animation is the way the production choose "cinematic shot" to portray the character animation. Like the title, some of the scenes in this animation do not need voice or conversations to describe the scene. Each shot is able to convey its own story. At the beginning of the story, the main character, Shoya did not say it loud that he decided to end his life but based on his action like selling his things in his room, giving his salary to his mother, and tear his calendar, we as the viewer able to understand that Shoya wanted to suicide. 

The whole story is about Shoya's journey to reconnect with his friend that he bullied during middle school. His friend, Shouko is a deaf girl unable to communicate with voice. Shouko transferred to other school after being bullied by Shoya and interestingly, Shoya's classmates turn back from him and start bullying him because they do not want to associate with a person who bullies a deaf girl. Growing up, Shoya become more timid, afraid to have friends because he think he did not deserve it. 

In real life, you may though that a bully did not deserve a second chance. There are few characters in this movie questioning Shoya's intention to reconnect with Shouko. It is a complex issue and personally, I think that the victim is the one who has the right to judge. In this story, Shouku also wants to reconnect with Shoya.

So these are a few spoilers I guess from this movie. It is an animation with an interesting storyline that delivered a good message. Definitely recommended if you guys like to watch a slice of life genre.