Welcome back for Part 6 of our Kyoto Vacation, entitled ‘Yamada Naoko Strikes Back; or, I Have no Voice and I Must Sound! Euphonium.’ And while most of this part will deal with the second half of that title, today’s subject is all about the aforementioned Yamada Naoko, the Kyoto Animation wunderkind behind K-On! and Tamako Market, and the director of what might well be the best thing we’ve watched all season: The 2016 movie A Silent Voice – aka The Shape of Voice – based on the manga by Ōima Yoshitoki. It’s an absolute masterpiece, a stunningly animated story tackling some very intense subject matter – including bullying and suicidal ideation – with incredible amounts of empathy, sensitivity, humor, and humanity.

Enjoy, and come back next week for our review of the first season of Sound! Euphonium.

Time Chart:

Theme Song: 0:00:00 – 0:01:30

Intro & History: 0:01:30 – 0:54:31

Eyecatch Break: 0:54:31 – 0:55:09

A Silent Voice Review: 0:55:09 – 3:24:29

End Theme: 3:24:29 – 3:25:59

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“re:CAPTURE” and “ice” – Original Music & Lyrics by Thomas Lack, featuring Hatsune Miku & Megurine Luka. https://www.thomaslack.com