“I deliberately didn’t read it”: Naoko Yamada on Why She Didn’t Read ‘A Silent Voice’ Deliberately Before Making the Film

SUMMARY

• A Silent Voice is a movie that tells the story of Shoya Ishida's journey through guilt and redemption.
• However, the fascinating thing is that, Naoko Yamada didn't read the original manga of this movie beforehand.
• On the contrary, she intentionally avoided reading it before the movie's production to make her work unique and individualistic.

Naoko Yamada is one of the most celebrated directors in the anime industry, renowned for her ability to bring profound emotional depth and visual storytelling to her works.

Her adaptation of Yoshitoki Oima’s manga A Silent Voice has not only become a worldwide hit but also demonstrated her talent and vision perfectly. However, Yamada’s approach to this movie was totally unconventional, as she deliberately chose not to read the manga before beginning production.

Shoko Nishimiya from A Silent Voice movie | Credit: Kyoto Animation

This creative decision is bound to spark intrigue and debate among fans and critics alike, however, she offered a fascinating insight into her creative philosophy in this regard as well as the challenges of adapting a beloved source material.

Naoko Yamada’s creative vision for A Silent Voice movie

In an interview conducted by Gloria Daniels-Moss via HeyUGuys in 2017, Naoko Yamada shared her motivations and tidbits of her creative venture for A Silent Voice movie. When asked whether she was familiar with the original A Silent Voice manga before directing the film, Yamada’s response was striking. She admitted to intentionally avoiding the source material, stating,

This decision wasn’t born out of disregard for the manga’s fans or its creator. On the contrary, Naoko Yamada’s choice stemmed from a desire to approach the story with a fresh perspective and to craft a movie that could stand independently of its source material.

A Silent Voice movie is a journey to redemption for Shoya Ishida | Credit: Kyoto Animation

In this regard, Yamada’s goal was clear: she didn’t want to create a “fan movie”. While she acknowledged the manga’s substantial fanbase, she emphasized that the movie wasn’t intended to cater exclusively to them. Instead, she wanted to focus on the core story of Shoya Ishida, the protagonist, and allow his journey to resonate with audiences on its own terms. 

This approach allowed Yamada to craft the movie with her unique directorial style and artistic sensibilities, making sure that A Silent Voice would be accessible to newcomers while still honoring the manga’s themes and emotional core.

How Naoko Yamada’s approach shaped A Silent Voice?

Despite Naoko Yamada‘s decision to avoid the manga initially, she expressed immense respect for Yoshitoki Oima’s work. After completing the film, she read the manga and fell in love with the story, reaffirming her admiration for the original creator. In this way, the movie A Silent Voice remained a distinct artistic work while still paying homage to the manga’s essence.

Shoya apologizing to Shoko | Credit: Kyoto Animation

This decision allowed her to focus more on visual storytelling as Yamada’s signature use of cinematography and subtle visual cues brought emotional depth to the film, conveying themes of guilt, redemption, and forgiveness in ways that words could not. Moreover, her emphasis on Shoya’s perspective ensured that the story remained deeply personal and relatable; making his journey resonate with a wide audience.

The movie A Silent Voice‘s ability to stand on its own merits further attracted viewers who had never encountered the manga, broadening its reach and acclaim. Ultimately, her approach left an indelible mark on the world of anime with this legendary work; proving that sometimes, a fresh perspective is the key to creating something truly extraordinary.

A Silent Voice is currently available to watch on Netflix.

Written by Moumita Chakraborty

Articles Published: 399

Moumita Chakraborty is an experienced content writer with a deep love for the colorful world of the Japanese anime industry. With an attention to detail and a solid understanding of anime culture, Moumita creates engaging articles, and analyses that hold readers' attention. Her writing explores the complex plots and character arcs that represent the genre in addition to highlighting the most recent releases and trends. Moumita hopes to foster ties with other anime lovers and add to the growing fandom through her work.