Hit Japanese animations recently have been receiving U.S. releases to the applause and happiness of many American viewers, with the best examples being Your Name and Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Yet another is in the process of being released in American theaters, as A Silent Voice, awarded Anime Film of the Year from the Tokyo Anime Festival and Animation of the Year from the Japan Movie Critics Awards, will be released in theaters on October 20th, according to CartoonBrew.
A Silent Voice tells the story of a boy named Shoya Ishida, a school bully, and Shoko Nishimiya, a mute and deaf girl who becomes one of the many victims of Ishida. This story continues and follows the two as they grow together and eventually start a relationship.
The film is directed by Naoko Yamada (K-On!) and is written by Reiko Yoshida (Girls Und Panzer, Digimon). It is based on the manga of the same name written by Yoshitoki Oima.
The film earned over $20 million while in theaters in Japan, landing a spot as the tenth-highest grossing Japanese-made film in 2016. Hopefully the film has the same success internationally as it had in domestic markets.
Eleven Arts, the company that is distributing A Silent Voice to the U.S, has also announced a two-day theatrical release of Miyazaki’s first film Lupin III: The Castle of Calgiostro, which will be released on two days in September.