A Silent Voice (2016)
2016 • TMDB 8.4 • 2h 9m • Animation, Drama, Romance
Overview
A Silent Voice is one of the most emotionally honest anime films ever made. In elementary school, Shoya Ishida torments Shoko Nishimiya, a new classmate who is deaf, until the cruelty turns back on him and he becomes the outcast. Years later, isolated and weighed down by guilt, Shoya sets out to make amends — starting with the apology he never gave Shoko. What follows is not a simple redemption story but a tender, painful look at forgiveness, friendship, and learning to live with yourself. Director Naoko Yamada and Kyoto Animation craft every glance and gesture with extraordinary care: sign language is woven into the storytelling, Shoya’s anxiety is visualized as faces crossed out around him, and the quiet moments land harder than any speech. The film treats bullying and its aftermath with rare maturity, never excusing Shoya while never denying him a path forward. A Silent Voice will move you, and it earns every tear.
Director & Cast
- Director: Naoko Yamada
- Miyu Irino as Shouya Ishida (voice)
- Saori Hayami as Shouko Nishimiya (voice)
- Aoi Yuki as Yuzuru Nishimiya (voice)
- Kensho Ono as Tomohiro Nagatsuka (voice)
- Yuki Kaneko as Naoka Ueno (voice)
- Yui Ishikawa as Miyoko Sahara (voice)
- Megumi Han as Miki Kawai (voice)
- Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Satoshi Mashiba (voice)
- Mayu Matsuoka as Shouya Ishida as an Elementary School Boy (voice)
Why Watch A Silent Voice?
A Silent Voice stands apart because it refuses easy answers. It does not frame Shoya as a villain or a hero — it shows a young person learning, slowly and imperfectly, how to be decent to others and to himself. The animation is luminous, the score by Kensuke Ushio is haunting, and the portrayal of deafness and sign language is handled with genuine respect rather than sentimentality. If you want an anime film that stays with you long after the credits, one that understands guilt, friendship, and second chances better than most live-action dramas, this is essential viewing.
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer on YouTube: A SILENT VOICE | Official English Trailer (GKIDS Films)
Where to Watch
In the US, A Silent Voice streams on Crunchyroll and the Crunchyroll Amazon Channel. It is available to rent for $2.99 on Amazon Video and $3.99 on Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home, and to buy for $6.00 on Amazon Video, $11.99 on Apple TV Store, and $12.99 on Fandango At Home. Check current availability on JustWatch US.
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Poster: TMDB. Rating and runtime verified on TMDB. Streaming status checked on JustWatch US, October 29, 2026.
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