GKIDS & Shout! Studios
When I’m a fan of Science Suru’s films, especially when dealing with fantasy, The Colors Within is a change of pace. This sentimental work directed by Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, Liz, and the Blue Bird) and writer Reiko Yoshida differs significantly from this studio’s other works. While some similarity exists with Lu Over the Wall and Inu-Oh on the surface level, because music is central in both works, the narrative arcs are very different.
Their latest home video release is for fans who enjoy slice of life moments. The bit of magic used here concerns Totsuko Higurashi (Sayu Suzukawa), a high school student, who sees other people’s auras. I use this description over simply saying colors, because the difference between reading auras and seeing varied tones is negligible.
When one shade makes up some aspect of a person’s personality, another tone may twinkle out. Whatever part of the rainbow is visible, they can make up part of the personality of an individual. But for this lead with this gift, she can use it to her advantage or not.
However, when she is not sure about how to present herself, she can use it to see if her new friends believe her or not. When she mistakenly says she can play the piano, she doesn’t say a thing when her friends Kimi (Akari Takaishi) and Rui (Taisei Kido) suggest they should form a band! I can relate as I went through that moment in my life too; the friends I made were more into playing music than role playing. Although I went along, I was not passionate.
Like Higurashi, I shied away. Unlike her, I embraced another hobby which I truly loved and made new friends. What this beautiful anime teaches is how to manage communication. If I had watched this film decades ago, I would have learned how to express myself too. This movie is a thoughtful discourse which offers insights on how to be true to yourself and also how to talk to others.
However, to see how this trio figures out how to stay together is heartwarming. This movie belongs to a rare subgenre I rarely look at. Iyashikei (癒し系 “Healing”) anime usually deals with helping viewers out. The purpose is to provide a situation to help folks understand life. As for whether the producers know cultivation (as it’s known in Buddhism), the chances are high because what this film teaches is more than wisdom, but just how to let it be, as The Beatles once sung it.
3½ Stars out of 5
The Colors Within Trailer
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