The Anthem of the Heart
Details
- Directed by: Tatsuyuki Nagai
- Produced by: Shunsuke Saito
- Screenplay by: Mari Okada
- Story by: Chōheiwa Busters
- Music by: Mito, Masaru Yokoyama
- Cinematography: Hiroyuki Moriyama
- Edited by: Shigeru Nishiyama
- Production company: A-1 Pictures
- Distributed by: Aniplex
- Release dates: September 19, 2015 (Japan)
- Running time: 120 minutes
- Country: Japan
- Language: Japanese
Synopsis
From MyAnimeList:Jun is a girl whose words have been sealed away. She was once a very happy girl, but because of a certain thing she said when she was very young, her family was torn apart. One day, the egg fairy appeared in front of her and sealed away her ability to talk in order to stop her from hurting anybody else. Since this traumatic experience, Jun lives in the shadows away from the limelight. But, one day, she is nominated to become an executive member of the "community outreach council." On top of that, Jun is also appointed to play the main lead in their musical...
Story
At first, it presented itself to be one of those cheesy romance dramas. The pacing was slow, and all the correct tropes to make a cheesy romance are complete. But, somehow, I became dumbfounded to watch it all go along. Positively, of course.One of the most brilliant things this animation can offer you is the plot development. It all started like what you can expect them to be, but slowly it began to alter its path until finally it became something that was similar to your original guess, but in a different way.
I don't think there's anything more I can say about the plot though. You can pretty much work out the equation even after reading the synopsis. Love the musical theme given to this film for it added a whole new level, both from the melodies and from the lyrics. But, hate the fact that it was quite predictable from the start.
It has quite a good social moral message, which is a rather rare trait to be found one of these days. I discovered afterwards that indeed, singing and talking both activate separate brain lobes, so it makes that Jun can substitute talking by singing. There is even a medical condition for that called Expressive aphasia. An acquaintance of mine rarely talks to other people, a condition which she attributed to her being shy and meek, but very vocal when chatting using messenger, like Jun herself. So, I give a two-thumbs up for bringing this social issue that is quite common in Japan, even in my country, but not really thoroughly exposed by most.
Visual
Well, to compare it to the works of masters would be an overestimation. This is an animation that you should get from paying the tickets or buying the DVD. I love how fluid the animation moves though. This is the same staff that brings you Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, so I guess that means something. Like I said, the animation is not over the top but also not disappointing. The way the emotions of the characters are portrayed has to be commended, though. There is one scene where the male protagonist gave the female protagonist a look from his eyes, hinting a whole wide range of emotions, from sadness, regrets, ashamed, pity, and also his thanks. This is something new for me who usually can't really read the atmosphere.The visual backdrop is nevertheless realistic enough. One thing that really bugs me out is the usage of CG in the transportation. I know that using CG saves more time and money, but they can at least try to blend it with the surrounding, not plainly present it.
Audio
This is where the film also shines. Musical has always been a favorite of mine, so forgive myself for being biased. Smooth blending of the musical production and the characters' daily lives make somewhat quite a fitting experience. Truth is, I like the musical songs better than the score. It's because they can portray the feelings of the characters who sing them. It's quite a clever idea to make "a musical" within "a film", rather than making a musical film right from the start.Characters
Characterization surely is one those shining traits. Each main characters are well defined. We are given the background story of how those characters act the way they do. They have their downs and ups. They even have their own problems and flaws, which are good to remind us that they are still humans. I love characters like this, because it is easier for us to relate.The best, however, is the character development. Although I can predict by picking up the clues along the way what the outcome of the romance is, it doesn't change the fact how the director managed to pull all of them together with a smooth thread, leaving no trace at all. I admit, I was having a hard time figuring out the motives of one of the couple's pair (because actually there are 2 couples!). But, after watching it the second time, I've found something that I missed at my first run.
I especially salute the growth of Jun's behavior. The fact that she in the end opened up and became "normal" again is a great example of character development. We see her as someone who used to be talkative, became quiet, reserved, and closed her heart, until finally her feelings burst into tears and she showed her real self. Her inner conflicts, especially, are one of the most intense monologue I've ever seen, although as you can tell by reading between the lines, she managed to overcome all of that not by herself.