A Silent Voice

A Silent Voice

movie

M, 2016, Animation, Drama

WISE
71%

WISE Score

95

Avg. Tomatometer

Gorgeous, gut-wrenching anime about a former bully seeking redemption from the deaf girl he tormented—not for the faint of heart.

IMDb8.1
RT Critics95%
MC78
Common Sense Media
Where to Watch
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Screenwise Verdict

A Silent Voice is a masterpiece that will wreck you in the best and worst ways. It's one of the most emotionally honest films about bullying, disability, and mental health you'll find—but that honesty comes with scenes that are genuinely difficult to watch.

This isn't entertainment in the popcorn sense. It's a film that asks teens (and adults) to sit with uncomfortable truths about how we treat each other and what it takes to make things right. The animation is gorgeous, the character work is deep, and the emotional payoff is real. But you need to be ready for suicide attempts, cruel bullying, and a protagonist who spends much of the film in a dark place.

If your teen is 13+ and emotionally ready for heavy themes, this is the kind of film that changes how they see the world. If they're younger, sensitive, or dealing with their own mental health struggles, hold off. This one demands readiness.

Age Fit

This is firmly for teens 13 and up who have the emotional maturity to process suicide attempts, severe bullying, and depression. Younger teens who are sensitive or have experienced bullying should probably wait. It's not gratuitous, but it's genuinely intense.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
72

This film models redemption, accountability, and genuine emotional growth through Shoya's journey from bully to someone seeking forgiveness. It portrays disability with respect and shows the long-term consequences of cruelty. However, the heavy themes of bullying, social isolation, and depression mean it's emotionally intense rather than light-hearted—wholesome in its message about making amends, but the path there is painful to watch.

Imaginative
78

Kyoto Animation delivers visually stunning work with creative use of X marks on faces to show social anxiety, expressive sign language animation, and dreamlike sequences. The film explores communication beyond words and invites viewers to consider how people connect across different abilities. It's not fantasy or world-building imagination, but psychological and emotional creativity in storytelling.

Safe
45

Multiple sources confirm suicide attempts are depicted on screen, and the film centers on severe bullying of a deaf child, depression, and self-harm themes. Common Sense Media rates it 13+, and parent guides note these scenes can be 'very intense for young viewers.' This isn't gore or violence for entertainment—it's meaningful but genuinely triggering content that requires emotional readiness.

Enriching
88

This is a powerful exploration of empathy, disability, atonement, and mental health that stays with viewers long after. It builds understanding of deaf culture, the lasting impact of bullying, and the difficult work of forgiveness. The 95% RT critic score and 8.2 IMDB rating reflect its depth. Teens who are ready for it will gain genuine insight into accountability and human connection.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • One of the most honest portrayals of bullying consequences and the hard work of making amends
  • Beautifully depicts deaf culture and sign language with genuine respect and research
  • Tackles teen depression and suicidal ideation in a way that validates these feelings while showing paths forward
  • Kyoto Animation's visual storytelling is stunning—the X marks on faces, the underwater metaphors, the silent moments
  • Opens crucial conversations about disability, empathy, and mental health that teens need
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What to Watch For

  • Suicide attempts are shown on screen—this is the big one, and it's not subtle or metaphorical
  • Extended sequences of cruel bullying toward a deaf child that are genuinely hard to watch
  • Themes of depression, self-harm, and social isolation throughout—this isn't a light watch
  • Some parents may want to watch first or co-view with sensitive teens

Conversation Starters

  • "How do you think Shoya could have handled things differently when Shoko first joined his class?"
  • "What did you think about how the movie showed Shoya's depression and anxiety? Did the X marks on faces make sense?"
  • "Do you think Shoko should have forgiven Shoya? What does real forgiveness look like?"
  • "Have you ever seen someone being left out or bullied at school? What makes it hard to step in?"
  • "The movie shows how one person's actions can affect someone for years. Does that feel true to you?"

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