Story: 11/10 S
Animation/Art: 8/10 B+
Sound: 6/10 C+
Characters: 9/10 A
Acting(subbed): 10/10 A+
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 10/10 A+
Story:
One of the greatest stories ever told. The story of a boy trying to redeem himself after nearly ruining a girl's life is a great idea in concept and is phenomenally well executed here. His story of redemption takes time and he deals with the fact that his past is unchangeable and will always have consequences. The other characters each play important roles in shaping who he tries to become and how he interacts with the world. It has aspects of many genres such as comedy and romance. It is also very tragic with darker themes and actions taking place throughout the film A slow but still well-paced lead-up to his final evolution as a person by the end of the movie.
Animation/Art:
Very good animation and I love the art style but it isn't phenomenal. It looks better than the average show but not as good as the best-animated movies. It's mostly smooth and well done but there were a few scenes where I thought it looked strange.
Sound:
Nothing incredible but nothing horrible. The music helps the audience understand how the character is feeling and also matches each scene quite well.
Characters:
The characters here are top-notch writing. The main character Shouya is well-developed throughout the film and has a very realistic reason to try and redeem himself. He becomes a new person because he understands that he is a problem, something which I can relate to. His attempt to commit suicide early on in the movie hits especially close because my friend nearly did the same for the same reason. The love interest Shouko is a kind and sad character. She is very sympathetic and doesn't at all feel like a plot device although she certainly is. The side characters are fun and relatable although some are underdeveloped and could be removed from the plot entirely. The biggest problem is how Shouko is sometimes kinda pathetic. She just lets everyone walk over her without doing anything about it, unrealistic.
Acting(subbed):
The acting in this is phenomenal. Emotions come through clearly through the actor's voices. Shouko especially has a great VA, portraying emotions despite using sounds more than words. Shouya has a great actor who can express a wide range of emotions realistically while also dramatizing them. Each of the side characters doesn’t really get a chance to express themselves and challenge the VAs but they seem quite good.
Enjoyment/Overall:
One of the greatest movies I’ve ever watched and one of the most enjoyable times I’ve had watching anime in a while. An emotional roller coaster that is on par with some of the best storytelling in history. Characters that can move you to your core and acting that supplement that wonderfully.
