Date: 2025 January 27 19:48
Posted by Joe
The Colors Within is the latest cinematic offering from director Naoko Yamada. Animated by studio Science SARU (Dan Da Dan, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off), we were looking forward to catching this highly anticipated movie, so before it hits the big screens across the UK and Ireland on Friday 31st January 2025 lets take a look at the film!
Full Story
The film tells the story of teenage girl, Totsuko, who sees people as colours. It is like their whole body has a certain colour. She is drawn to the colour of fellow student, Kimi and then they both decide form a band with another boy that they meet who is called Rui.
The Colors Within is a very gentle affair. It's a fun movie about forming a band, which has a wholesome innocence to it. The movie is pitched as a coming of age story, but it's less about teenage angst, romance and first crushes, and more about who you are and who you want to be and finding independence.
Main character Totsuko is a bit ditzy, giving her a sweet an endearing feel. She comes across as someone you'd want as a friend. This forms a fun contrast with Kimi, who comes across as the cool girl who is a bit of a rebel. Rui quietly rebels in his own way. Each of these characters is searching for their own little bit of independence as they're growing up.
You may be familiar with Naoko Yamada's other popular works as a director which include K-On!, Tamako Market, A Silent Voice, Sound! Euphonium and the Heike Story. She has directed both TV series and the movie version of these franchises. Many of these shows share the common theme of a musical school club: Music. K-On! Is about a light music club, Sound! Euphonium is about the adventures of a concert band, while the The Heike Story has the musical performer Biwa at centre stage of the saga. This makes her a natural choice to tell this story.
The Colors Within is beautifully animated, with lots of fun and playful elements in its animation. We particularly liked the beautiful amount of detail put into the characters' eyes. Whoever did the fabric animation was having the time of their lives animating spinning dresses as a great call out to the Sound of Music.
Direction wise, with the exception of Totsuko seeing colours, it very much feels like you're watching a live action movie and perhaps could have been even made as one. The world of a Catholic Girls boarding school got the balance right between realistic and idealised. It is populated by a wide cast of characters, who are all presented with engaging and realistic detail. This brings depth to the world Yamada presents us with. The movie also gets bonus points for featuring a theremin!
The Colors Within is a light hearted, feel good movie. It's the perfect pick me up for dark winter days. The world isn't at stake; it's just the simple adventures of 3 teens trying to find their way. I think it has great potential to be one of those pick me up movies for when you're feeling down, or just want something sweet and fun to enjoy.
The Colors Within hits cinemas around the UK and Ireland on Friday 31st January 2025 It's distributed by Anime Limited. To find a screening near you visit ColorsWithin.co.uk