Ahead of the nationwide release of The Colors Within, GKIDS is bringing director Naoko Yamada’s previous acclaimed animated feature A Silent Voice back to theaters across more than 60 U.S. cities on December 15. The distributor announced in November it had acquired rights to this film as well as Liz and the Blue Bird; both films are directed by Yamada and produced by Kyoto Animation.
Based on the manga created by Yoshitoki Oima, A Silent Voice was originally released in 2016 and earned top awards from the Japanese Movie Critics, Japan Academy, Tokyo Anime Award Festival and Japan Media Arts Festival.
Synopsis: After transferring into a new school, a deaf girl, Shoko Nishimiya, is bullied by the popular Shoya Ishida. As Shoya continues to bully Shoko, the class turns its back on him. Shoko transfers and Shoya grows up as an outcast. Alone and depressed, the regretful Shoya finds Shoko to make amends.
A Silent Voice is a moving coming-of-age drama that depicts the struggles of adolescence through its memorable characters and beautiful animation.
Directed by Yamada from a script adapted by Reiko Yoshida (The Colors Within, Blue Period, The Heike Story), A Silent Voice is produced by Kyoto Animation, Pony Canyon, ABC Animation, Quaras, Shochiku and Kodansha, with animation production by Kyoto Animation.
The film’s creative team also included character designer Futoshi Nishiya, art director Mutsuo Shinohara, color key artist Naomi Ishida, settings by Seiichi Akitake, director of photography Kazuya Takao, sound direction by Yota Tsuruoka and music by Kensuke Ushio. The theme song “Koi wo Shita no ha” was performed by aiko; music production by Pony Canyon.
