Anime Lovers

GKIDS announced its acquisition of the North American theatrical rights to Naoko Yamada’s A Silent Voice and Liz and the Blue Bird on November 14. Via a press release, A Silent Voice will return to theaters in English subbed and dubbed on December 15-16, 2024. No release date was confirmed for Liz and the Blue Bird. Tickets for A Silent Voice are already on sale.

Some anime fans had already suspected GKIDS’ acquisition of A Silent Voice following a theatrical placeholder on AMC Theaters last week. Eleven Arts gave it as well as Liz and the Blue Bird limited North American screenings in 2017 and 2018, respectively. GKIDS had previously acquired Yamada’s short film, The Garden of Remembranceand her latest feature film The Colors Within. Anime Corner interviewed Yamada on The Colors Within last month, where she spoke on the film’s origins, and her longstanding relationships with screenwriter Reiko Yoshida and The Colors Within anime studio Science Saru. It’s worth noting that Science Saru was recently acquired by TOHO, which was followed by Toho’s acquisition of GKIDS last month.

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Yamada’s A Silent Voice and Liz and the Blue Bird were both animated by Kyoto Animation. GKIDS’ acquisition for the former was negotiated with ABC Animation, while the latter was with Pony Canyon. You can check out their synopses below.

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
A Silent Voice © Yoshitoki Oima・Kodansha/A Silent Voice Production Committee
Liz and the Blue Bird © Ayano Takeda・Takarajimasha/Liz and the Blue Bird Production Committee