stars
150k 5 star reviews | 20M+ downloads

A Silent Voice reviewed

Cliff Weitzman
By Cliff Weitzman Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify in Reviews on March 06, 2023

    A Silent Voice (Japanese: 聲の形 or Koe No Katachi) is a critically acclaimed manga series written and illustrated by Yoshitoki Ōima. It has also garnered success with its anime adaptation. Recently, the anime adaptation of A Silent Voice has become available on Netflix.

    This article will delve into the world of A Silent Voice to discover why you should read and watch the story.

    About the author

    Yoshitoki Ōima is a Japanese manga artist and author best known for her work A Silent Voice. She was born on March 15, 1989, in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. A Silent Voice was developed from a pilot manga she made in 2008, which won the 80th Annual Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award.

    In 2013, A Silent Voice first appeared in the Weekly Shonen Magazine, published by Kodansha, and continued as a full series. It was also released digitally by Crunchyroll Manga. The manga series was a massive success, receiving critical acclaim in Japan and internationally.

    A Silent Voice, or The Shape of Voice, was adapted into an anime film in 2016.  It was produced by Kyoto Animation, directed by Naoko Yamada, scripted by Reiko Yoshida, and distributed by Eleven Arts in North America.

    The film was also a box office success, grossing 283 million Yen within two days following its premiere in Tokyo.

    Aside from A Silent Voice, Ōima has also produced other manga series, such as Mardock Scramble (an adaptation of a novel with the same title) and To Your Eternity. A Silent Voice has been translated into several languages, including English, French, and Spanish, and gained a large following worldwide.

    Yoshitoki Ōima was awarded the New Creator Prize in 2015, at the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, for A Silent Voice. She is one of the best manga artists in Japan and a rising star in the industry.

    A review of A Silent Voice

    A Silent Voice is captivating manga series that tells the emotional story of Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya. This manga is a poignant exploration of the themes of bullying, redemption, and forgiveness.

    The story begins with Shoya Ishida, a young boy who bullies his classmate Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl in elementary school. This behavior continues until Shoko transfers to another school. Years later, when Shoya is in high school, he is plagued by guilt and decides to make amends for his past actions. As he reaches out to Shoko, the two characters form a tentative friendship.

    One of the strengths of “A Silent Voice” is its ability to address complex themes in a sensitive and nuanced manner. The story explores the impact of bullying, not only on the victim but also on the perpetrator. Through Shoya’s journey, the manga shows how one’s past actions can shape their lives in the future and how making amends can lead to personal growth and healing.

    Another central theme of the story is communication. The manga delves into the challenges of communication and the barriers that exist when language is not universal. It also highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and acceptance in fostering relationships and connections.

    The characters in A Silent Voice are well-developed and complex, each with their own struggles and flaws. Shoya Ishida, the main character, is initially portrayed as a bully but gradually undergoes a transformation as he tries to make amends.

    On the other hand, Shoko Nishimiya is a deaf girl who struggles with communication and the isolation that comes with it. Other supporting characters, such as Yuzuru, Shoko’s younger sister, and Tomohiro, Shoya’s best friend, add depth to the story and help to flesh out the world.

    The visual style of A Silent Voice is also noteworthy, with Ōima’s detailed character designs and emotive facial expressions adding to the emotional impact of the story. The anime version was on top of the list of highest-rated anime movies in MyAnimeList, higher than Demon Slayer.

    The A Silent Voice anime received several nominations, such as the Japan Academy Film Prize for Excellent Animation of the Year and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film, but lost to In This Corner of the World and Your Name, respectively.

    Some of the main voice actors in the anime are Miyu Irino (as Shoya Ishida), Saori Hayami (as Shoko Nishimiya), Kensho Ono (as Tomohiro), Yui Ishikawa (as Miyoko Sahara), Megumi Han (Miki Kawai), Yuki Kaneko (as Naoka Ueno), and Toshiyuki Toyonaga (as Satoshi Mashiba).

    A Silent Voice (Spanish: Una Voz Silenciosa) is a touching and thought-provoking manga that tackles complex themes with sensitivity and nuance. The story of Shoko and Shoya is a must-read and a must-watch for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a story of redemption, forgiveness, and human connection.

    Differences between the manga and the anime

    Here are several differences between the manga and anime versions of A Silent Voice:

    • Pacing: The anime adaptation condenses some of the manga’s content, leading to a faster-paced story.
    • Characterization: Some of the characters in the anime have slightly different personalities or character arcs than their manga counterparts. Additionally, the characters’ backgrounds are explored deeper in the manga version.
    • Storyline changes: The anime cuts certain parts of the manga to make it more concise, but it makes the film hop around more frequently.
    • Language: While the manga is only available in Japanese and translated versions, the anime also comes with an English dub, making it more accessible to a broader audience worldwide.

    Listen to riveting stories by Japanese authors with Speechify Audiobooks

    Speechify is an audiobook service that offers an extensive library of titles, including riveting stories by Japanese authors, such as Musashi, Bullet Train, Confessions, The Street of a Thousand Blossoms, and more.

    The platform provides natural-sounding voices that you can change according to your liking. It also allows you to adjust the playback speed, making the stories more comfortable to follow.

    To get started with Speechify, you need to download the app, sign up for an account, and browse the library to find your favorite audiobooks.

    Give it a try and discover a new and convenient way to enjoy great stories.

    FAQ

    Is A Silent Voice a sad anime?

    A Silent Voice is an emotional yet beautiful film to which most people can easily relate.

    Is there A Silent Voice Part 2?

    There are no more stories to be adapted since the film incorporates all seven volumes and 64 chapters of the original writing.

    Does A Silent Voice have a happy ending?

    It has a pleasant ending, opening a room of reflection for the readers.

    Why is A Silent Voice so good?

    One of the reasons is its ability to delicately and nuancedly explore complicated issues.

    Cliff Weitzman
    Cliff Weitzman

    Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

    footer-waves