Review of A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016) by Degeneracy — 14 Nov 2020

Visually, this film is a triumph. The bright color pallet, the fluid motion, and the beautiful cinematography make it a feast for the eyes.

The story touches on many themes, such as depression, suicide, self-worth, and it tackles ideas that are very relevant in the real world. This movie is real. That's its main strength. The story is real. The characters are real. Their struggles and flaws are real. The themes are real. You could really connect and resonate with this movie, because of the fact that it focuses on relatable characters, who all grow in some way.

I enjoyed the way the story was presented. No needless exposition, no contrivances. It flows with such cohesion and fluidity. The pacing is excellent. It gives the movie time to flesh out themes and characters, while at the same time holding the viewer's interest. As for the flaws, I think that some themes were not well-developed, some characters are either bland or unlikable, and the plot itself is really nothing all that special on paper.

Overall, I think that this movie is excellent, and achieves what it set out to and more. A must-watch if you love anime like I do, and even if you don't, I have a feeling that if you just give it a shot, you'll be pleasantly surprised.