Anthem of the Heart is an animated film from Japan which was released in 2015. This anime, produced by A-1 Pictures, was directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai and written by Mari Okada. This anime, which carries the fantasy romance genre, tells the story of Jun Naruse, a girl who used to be talkative and liked to talk without thinking.
However, his life changes when he sees his father with another woman at the hotel and Jun tells his mother. This caused his parents to divorce, and his father blamed Jun for their separation. Feeling guilty, Jun meets an egg-shaped fairy who takes away his ability to speak.
As a result, Jun couldn't speak without experiencing severe stomach ache, and he believed this was the best way to prevent himself from hurting others with his words. While in middle school, Jun and three of his classmates, namely Takumi Sakagami, Natsuki Nito, and Daiki Tasaki were chosen by their homeroom teacher to join the Charity Committee.
They have to determine projects for community events. Initially, all committee members rejected this assignment. However, after being taught about the power of music, Jun proposes that their class perform a musical. Takumi, who is talented in music and can play the piano, is in the perfect position to help Jun.
Their challenge is to convince the class to take part in this musical project and help Jun convey his feelings through singing. Anthem of the Heart has several elements of Japanese culture that are less understood by international audiences. For example, Jun's mother sees her daughter as a disgrace to the family because Jun refuses to talk.
Although the film explains the context, some viewers may remain confused if they are not familiar with Japanese culture. The fairy characters in the story are also a highlight, although they don't detract from the story significantly. Fairies only appear at the beginning and end of the story, and while they serve a purpose, the same idea could probably be conveyed without them being present.
This film stands out in its use of music to convey emotion. Takumi explains that music can express feelings that are difficult to express, and this concept really helps Jun in dealing with his problems. Apart from that, this film has strong characters with their own problems.
For example, Daiki, who is on the baseball team, has to face the ridicule of his teammates after an injury, which makes him unable to play. The animation produced by A-1 Pictures is also excellent, with special attention paid to Jun's facial expressions. The music in this film was composed by Masaru Yokoyama and Mito, producing a fitting soundtrack with sweet piano music.
The voice actors also give strong performances, especially Inori Minase who plays Jun and Koki Uchiyama who plays Takumi. Overall, Anthem of the Heart is a touching story of teenage growth with relatable characters and a clear message. While there are some debatable elements, the film is nearly perfect and highly recommended viewing.
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