GKIDS announced the acquisition of a pair of director Naoko Yamada’s acclaimed films, 2016’s A Silent Voice and 2018’s Liz and the Blue Bird. In addition to the licensing news, GKIDS revealed plans to bring A Silent Voice back to cinemas in North America this December.A Silent Voice will screen in North America on December 15 and 16, 2024.
A Silent Voice Trailer
Kyoto Animation produced both films, featuring Naoko Yamada as director and Reiko Yoshida as screenwriter. GKIDS also previously licensed Yamada’s short film, The Garden of Remembrance. Here’s how both are described:A Silent Voice synopsis:
After transferring into a new school, a deaf girl, Shoko Nishimiya, is bullied by the popular Shoya Ishida. As Shoya continues to bully Shoko, the class turns its back on him. Shoko transfers and Shoya grows up as an outcast. Alone and depressed, the regretful Shoya finds Shoko to make amends. “A Silent Voice” is a moving coming-of-age drama that depicts the struggles of adolescence through its memorable characters and beautiful animation.
Liz and the Blue Bird synopsis:
Students and best friends Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki prepare to play a complex musical duet, “Liz and the Blue Bird”, for oboe and flute.Though they became teammates in their middle school brass band and have played beautifully together ever since, Mizore and Nozomi find that with graduation from high school looming and the duet proving difficult, their friendship begins to buckle under the pressure. Interspersed with the story is the fantasy tale of Liz, drawn like a storybook, contrasting with the crisp realism of the school. These two distinct styles weave with stirring music to tell a touching coming-of-age story.
Source: Press Release
