Reiko Yoshida Archives | Otaku No Culture

Beyond the Spectrum: The Colors Within Unveils a Picture of Self-Discovery

The Colors Within is a heartwarming “Iyashikei” anime that explores self-discovery and communication through the journey of a young girl. Despite being unsure of herself, what she learns can teach viewers too.

The Colors Within Blu-ray release — **Available to purchase on Amazon USA**

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.

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Science Suru’s Ride Your Wave Splashes Onto Shore Aug 4th!

To make Ride Your Wave stand out needs more mysticism to help this film’s heroine find her way.

Ride Your Wave Home Video — Available on Amazon USA

Home Video Release Date:
August 4, 2020

GKIDS & Shout! Factory

Hinako (Rina Kawaei) is a charming young lady in Ride Your Wave. After moving to a small beach-side town to attend a local college, she thinks life will be easy. However, to go surfin’ every day and be carefree will not cut it in this modern age. The Beach Boys song may have been an influence in the design of this anime, because she meets a charming and soft-spoken firefighter, Minato (Ryota Katayose), to whom she falls in love with.

However, to date individuals in a hazardous line of work is not without caveats. Every time he’s out on the job, it’s possible he may not come home. In the most cliche ridden moment, he dies rescuing a jet skier in a dark and stormy night.

This anime is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Its colour palette is important to note, and the art style is very Impressionistic. It’s a cute Shōjo tale for much of the first act. To see her experience joy is sweet; to see her heartbreak is painful. But to see the spirit of her beau in random bodies of water, she soon questions why he’s not ready to move on.

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To Wax Philosophy or Sociology in A Silent Voice, Where Forth Art Thou?

The motley crew in Ōima’s A Silent Voice manga gets greater study in the seven-volume series and the 130-minute film is just as impressive.

Spoiler Alert

A Silent Voice is coming to home video in North America on April 2nd courtesy of Shout! Factory. This movie based on Yoshitoki Ōima’s manga of the same name arrived at Japanese theatres back in late 2016, toured film festivals the subsequent year and took a rest period before getting a localized release. The extras in the region one issue are the same as the Japanese, meaning music videos and trailers (no directors commentary was made). I would love to hear about the challenges of adapting the longer printed material to film, and that can still be offered if a special edition release is being considered for later.

Life was tough for young Shōya Ishida. As he looks ready to commit suicide, other forces are at work to show life is not completely hopeless. He made mistakes. He realizes how they have affected the lives of others and himself. He seeks amends. Back in elementary school, he had a cadre of pals–Naoka Ueno, Miki Kawai, and Kazuki Shimada–but he never fully understood what friendship entailed. When his class gets a new student, Shōko Nishimiya, her disability made her a target for jokes, and he was amongst those who bullied her. They made her life difficult because she is deaf.

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A Silent Voice to Make Itself Heard April 2, 2019!

Silent Voice Blu-ray + DVD Case The captivating anime feature A Silent Voice will be released on Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack, DVD and digital download on April 2, 2019 from ELEVEN ARTS Anime Studio and Shout! Factory. Winner of the 40th Japan Academy Award for Excellent Animation of the Year, this release will be presented in Japanese with subtitles, and with an English dub

This work comes from the lauded director Naoko Yamada (Liz and the Blue Bird) and writer Reiko Yoshida. Among the film’s many accolades are Tokyo Anime Awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay and the Japanese Movie Critics Award for Best Animation.

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