"The Shape of Sound" is the third film of female director Naoko Yamada, and the theme is quite rich, not only vividly reflecting the impact of guilt on personal life, but also a thought-provoking focus on atonement and social fear, while still telling a sweet and touching love story.
When "The Shape of Sound" was released in China in 2017, it was always compared to the previous year's "Your Name", but in my opinion, "Shape of Sound" is obviously more infectious. Based on the manga of the same name, The Shape of Sound is presented in superb animation and is the best example of Japanese anime cinema.
The Shape of Sound is not the kind of exaggerated animation that features giant robots, exaggerated action scenes, and female characters that cater to the fantasies of otaku men. And it's more like "Grave of the Fireflies" - words have things, emotions, and talk, enough to tear your heart and lungs.
The story of the film is simple, but the treatment of the characters and themes is very subtle, not simply exposing and criticizing. This non-judgmental narrative gives the audience a comprehensive understanding of the male protagonist Ishida, who suffers from the consequences of self-inflicted evil. For the first twenty minutes, we witness him doing something heinous but would any child could do, while for the rest of the film he tries to make up for his mistakes.
Just like the tangled experience of Asha Farhati's films, the audience's empathy objects change many times during the process of watching The Shape of Sound. To some extent, it's also a critical and self-critical experience, and as you watch it, you can't help but think back and reflect on how you treated other people as a student.
The freedom to voice the male protagonist is excellent, but Saori Hayami, who voices the female protagonist, is even more praiseworthy, and her imitation of the voice of a deaf mute does not sound exaggerated or funny. The heroine's character design is beautiful, and these characters look more real and plump than many live-action movies today, and there is no doubt that the screenwriting and animation departments are indispensable.
Perhaps because the subject matter is too sensitive, the domestic version has made some unnecessary deletions, so that when you first watch it, you will feel that the plot is a bit jumpy, and even confused about some time and place. So, whether or not you've been to the cinema to contribute to the box office before, it's recommended that you be sure to watch the full version for more than two hours.
Bullying is a topic that exists anytime and anywhere, and The Shape of Sound deals with this subject both acutely and occasionally visibly glorifying it. In any case, it can bring a strong emotional impact, which is the best animation.