A Silent Voice

Bullying is a worldwide phenomenon. In Japan, it is a significant problem in schools and has been the subject of hundreds of films and television shows. Made in 2016, A Silent Voice is one of the most powerful anime films to deal with this topic. The film follows Shoya Ishida, a teenage boy who is haunted by his guilt for bullying and tormenting a deaf girl, Shoko Nishimiya, in elementary school. Now in high school, the two cross paths again and Shoya has a chance to make up for his misbehavior. But the course of redemption does not run smoothly, and both Shoya and Shoko must first come to terms with their own demons. Nominated for the 2017 Japan Academy Film Prize’s award for Best Animated Feature Film, A Silent Voice was directed by Naoko Yamada and is based on the manga series by Yoshitoki Oima.

Watch the trailer here.
Directed by Naoko Yamada
PG; 130 minutes; Japanese with English subtitles

Welcome to Anime Fest at the Modern! See the full schedule and more information here. This year we feature two films by Naoko Yamada, one of Japan’s leading anime directors. To showcase her amazing work, we are excited to present Yamada’s award-winning classic, A Silent Voice (2016), and her newest feature film, The Colors Within (2024). Three additional films—Satoshi Kon and Kô Matsuo’s Millennium Actress (2001), Yôko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s Ghost Cat Anzu (2024), and Makoto Shinkai and Yoko Suzuki’s The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004)—highlight the range and depth of twenty-first century anime. Whether you are a longtime fan or new to anime, this selection invites you to explore the captivating worlds and intricate storytelling that these films offer.

All film screenings will be held in the Modern's auditorium. Tickets are $10 ($7 for all Modern members). Cinephiles who plan to enjoy the weekend’s entire selection of films will receive a discount for pre-purchasing all of their tickets at once.

Dr. Marc Hairston, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Dallas, will introduce each film. A professional space physicist, part-time anime scholar, and Fort Worth native, Hairston has hosted annual Japanese animation festivals at the Modern since 2012. He is one of the founding editors of Mechademia, the first academic journal focused on anime and manga studies, and has written numerous scholarly articles about anime. With Dr. Pamela Gossin, also at UT Dallas, he has co-authored two books about anime and manga aimed at high-school-age readers, Cultural Guide to Anime and Manga (2023) and Exploring Anime and Manga (World of Art) (2024).