Notice: There are spoilers in this review watch out!

A Silent Voice, otherwise known as Koe no Katachi, was one of the more empowering and emotionally moving movies that I have ever watched. I've watched this movie three times, and let me tell you it really makes you think about the people in your life. Many people often say that this movie was a "tear-jerker" or "depression ride" or just a really emotional movie, but my personal thoughts are that aside from the sadness in this movie, it teaches you how to be a respectful, genuinely kind human being.

Bullying is a serious topic in the real world, and it is portrayed in this movie as well. And it doesn't matter if you're in elementary school or college or a grown adult, it shouldn't be tolerated at all times. What young Ishida did as a kid to Nishimiya instantly made him the most hated character of all time. Pulling out expensive hearing aids and screaming in her ear was arguably the worst thing that he's done the entire movie. However, I felt that the bystanders (Ishida's "friends"' and classmates) were worse because they never stood up for the deaf girl trying to fit in with new people at school. I was amazed at how Nishimiya never externally expressed her frustration more even though I wouldn't be surprised that she would be crying everyday she came home from school. If you've seen the movie, you probably know that this whole section of the movie was during Ishida's flashback when he was trying to commit suicide as a high school student. This movie teaches us to not bully others in all circumstances, but also teaches about the things that you do as a child will transfer over to your future. The main reason why Ishida tries to kill himself is because of the things that he's done in the past. And I think that everyone who watches this movie can learn from that, and especially learn that everybody is a different human. Whether the new student in class is a deaf, blind, paralyzed person, everybody is equal and should be treated equal.

Now, the movie then transitions over to Ishida's redemption phase, clearly shown when Ishida encounters Nishimiya unexpectedly. Oh yeah just a side note, notice how Ishida is attending a sign language class now that he regrets his actions back in grade school. Anyways, Ishida is now a completely different human being because of the things he's done in the past, and he's now almost ashamed to show his face to others. Our main character tries to kill himself after ripping out a calendar and jumping off a bridge, but notices fireworks by the river. In my opinion, the fireworks represent fear, but also hope that persuades Ishida to change his mind about commiting suicide. What the movie has done with the crossed out faces was a brilliant idea, and a great way to represent Ishida's mind and inability to look at others directly.

This is where my main point comes in, when people like Nagatsuka, Sahara, and even Kawai (even though she's wack cause she told everybody that Ishida bullied Nishimiya in grade school) get introduced into the movie. Every single side character in this movie played such an impactful role which helped lead Ishida to become a better person. And that's why the movie is such a great example of bonds, because teaches you that it's important to have people in your life that can support you, are there for you, and can help you overcome your difficulties. If you think about it, Ishida would have gone into a worse mental state if it weren't for these side characters supporting him and Nishimiya being the most kind girl in humanity.

Another thing that I feel like the movie tells us viewers is to be yourself. Although Nishimiya was unable to talk and hear, she had the most courage out of everyone in the movie perhaps, and she didn't give a f**k about what others thought of her. Throughout the movie, this was moving to most because of her disabilities, but the movie teaches us that no matter who you are, you can still be as good or better than others.

Since this review is getting long, I'll end my review on this paragraph. The main climaxes/events of this movie were the balcony scene where Nishimiya tries to kill herself (because she thought she was a burden) and Ishida finally breaking out of his internal struggle hole at the very last scene of the movie. And these two scenes were so powerful to me because of the emotional impact of both the protagonists, and how I could connect to their pain, sadness, and desperation. For me, these two parts were enough to convince me that this movie is a masterpiece that all people should watch, whether or not they like the style of anime. The movie connects us to these two very wholesome human beings, that go through tough times and having suicidal thoughts, and by doing that, we get this emotional appeal and sort of spark that makes us think, "I should never judge another person ever again." Overall, the story of Ishida's redemption with nishimiya was truly one to remember, and one that if every person watched, the world would be a much better place than it is now. I honestly don't know how "boss baby" was nominated over this movie at the awards lol.