The Best Anime Film Of The Past Decade Is Leaving Netflix, Watch It While You Can
A Silent Voice is leaving Netflix on June 5.
The much-loved anime, A Silent Voice, is preparing to part ways with Netflix come June 5, a date that’s just around the corner. The movie, which is highly-acclaimed for its dealing with themes such as bullying and redemption, is definitely a must-see for anime lovers. If you’ve been unsure about diving into this gripping and emotional tale, you’d best jump on the opportunity while you can.
Boasting a more intricate plot than most anime movies on Netflix, A Silent Voice centers on two primary characters: Shōya Ishida and Shōko Nishimiya. Shōya, during his elementary school days, bullies his new classmate, Shōko, who is deaf. Shōya’s relentless torment leads to Shōko’s transfer to another school and subsequently, Shōya is ostracized and held solely responsible for the bullying.
Years later, as a high school student, Shōya lives as a depressed loner burdened by guilt. On the brink of suicide, he decides to reconcile with those he’s wronged, starting with Shōko. Shōya returns Shōko’s notebook, which she had left behind when she transferred schools, and she accepts his apology.
Along the way, Shōya befriends Tomohiro Nagatsuka, another loner, creating a new social circle. However, a misunderstanding occurs which results in Shōya’s suspension, causing further complications in their lives. During a fireworks festival, Shōya lands in a coma after stopping Shōko from taking her own life, setting off a series of deep conversations, acts of forgiveness, and an enhanced comprehension of their individual struggles.
Adapted from Yoshitoki Ōima’s manga of the same name, A Silent Voice was directed by Naoko Yamada. The young Japanese filmmaker has worked on a slew of critically acclaimed anime features over the course of her career, including K-On! and Liz and the Blue Bird. Considering Netflix has worked hard to broaden its anime collection, it wouldn’t be surprising if a collaboration with Yamada for a future project occurs on the streaming platform.
In A Silent Voice, the characters Shōya and Shoko are voiced by renowned anime actors Miyu Irino and Saori Hayami, respectively. Irino also lent his voice to the character Yasha in the Netflix film Child of Kamiari Month. Meanwhile, Hayami is the voice behind Yumeko Jabami in the series Kakegurui, also featured on Netflix.
A Silent Voice features a talented supporting cast, including notable anime voice actors such as Aoi Yuki as Yuzuru Nishimiya, and Kensho Ono as Tomohiro Nagatsuka. Their performances, together with the main cast, have been lauded for bringing the film’s complex characters to life. Reiko Yoshida wrote the script for the film, which won Best Screenplay at the 2017 Tokyo Anime Awards.
The film hit the screens in 2016, several years prior to its inclusion in the expansive catalogue of anime content on Netflix. During its theatrical run, the movie earned a mere $764,000 at the domestic box office. Yet, A Silent Voice managed to gross approximately $30 million from overseas markets, cementing its status as a commercial hit.
A Silent Voice is widely hailed as one of the greatest anime films ever made. With that said, it comes as no surprise that the film resonated strongly with both critics and audiences. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts an impressive 95 percent approval rating from critics, while audiences have also embraced it with a solid score of 93 percent.
With a wide array of anime movies to choose from on Netflix, discovering a film as captivating as A Silent Voice might prove to be a challenge. This exceptional masterpiece transcends the boundaries of the genre, delivering a deeply compelling experience. We highly recommend pausing everything and immersing yourself in this enthralling journey before it leaves the streaming platform on June 5.
