is a 2024 Japanese animated drama film. Directed by Naoko Yamada and produced by Science Saru, it was released in Japanese theaters in August 2024.
Premise High school student Totsuko has the ability to see people as colors, and is particularly fascinated with the color she sees in her classmate, Kimi. After following Kimi to a used bookstore, Totsuko accidentally implies she can play piano, leading to her joining a band with Kimi, who can play guitar, and Rui, a boy who collects musical equipment and plays the theremin. The trio's friendships develop as they write music and confront issues in their home lives.
Voice cast Character Japanese English Kimi Sakunaga Akari Takaishi Kylie McNeill Totsuko Higurashi Sayu Suzukawa Libby Rue Rui Kagehira Taisei Kido Eddy Lee Sister Hiyoshiko Yui Aragaki Eileen Stevens Saku Momochi Yasuko Hinano Kuzukawa Shiho Nanakubo Aoi Yūki Eden Harker Sumika Yatsushika Minako Kotobuki Maxine Wanderer Shino Sakunaga Keiko Toda Lani Minella
Production In November 2022, Naoko Yamada stated in an interview with Anime News Network that she was working on a film with Science Saru. The title was announced in December; it was also announced that Reiko Yoshida would be writing the screenplay and that Kensuke Ushio would be composing the music.
Release The film was originally set to be released in Japanese theaters in Q4 2023. In August 2023, Toho announced that the film would be delayed until 2024. The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2024. The film was released in Japanese theaters on August 30, 2024.
Internationally, Encore Films released the film in India on November 22, 2024. GKIDS released an early screening of the film in IMAX on January 23, 2025, in North American theaters with an English dub. It was subsequently released in standard screenings in North America on January 24th, 2025. The film was released in the United Kingdom by Anime Limited on January 31, 2025.
Manga adaptation A manga adaptation, written and illustrated by Sanami Suzuki, began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Comic Newtype website on July 16, 2024.
Reception Critical reception Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Some viewers have interpreted Totsuko's fascination with Kimi's color as a subtle depiction of same-sex attraction. In particular, this theme was directly raised during Yamada's interview with the British publication Dazed, when the interviewer spoke to the director about queer readings in general and how some people have taken the protagonist's synesthesia as a metaphor for her queerness in particular. Yamada was "baffled and pleasantly surprised" upon hearing this, but noted that "sometimes people come up with (interpretations) I haven't thought of".The Colours Within: A new anime about music, synesthesia and lonely teens
Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Shanghai International Film Festival June 22, 2024 Best Animation FilmThe Colors Within Animation Is Film Festival October 22, 2024 Audience Award 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards May 25, 2025 Film of the Year 53rd Saturn Awards March 8, 2026 Best International Animated Film
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