The Colors Within – Watch the trailer for the new film from Naoko Yamada
Combining catchy songs, beautiful pastel colours, and an emotionally resonant story, The Colors Within is the latest film from director Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice), and was selected for the BFI London Film Festival.
Totsuko is a high school student with the ability to see the ‘colours’ of others. Colours of bliss, excitement, and serenity, plus a colour she treasures as her favourite. Kimi, a classmate at her school, gives off the most beautiful colour of all. Although she doesn’t play an instrument, Totsuko forms a band with Kimi and Rui, a quiet music enthusiast they meet at a used bookstore in a far corner of town. As they practise at an old church on a remote island, music brings them together, forming friendships and stirring affections. Will they discover their true ‘colours’?
Naoko Yamada is one of the most celebrated directors working in anime today, widely recognised for her ability to create emotionally genuine characters, and a directorial eye that blends the sensibilities of animation and live-action cinema. Yamada previously directed the award-winning A Silent Voice, widely regarded as one of the best anime films of recent times. Her other popular works include the character drama Liz and the Bluebird, the beloved television series K-On!, and the historical fantasy series The Heike Story.
The Colors Within marks Yamada’s highly anticipated first feature film at Science SARU (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Inu-Oh), and sees her reunite with regular collaborators screenwriter Reiko Yoshida (A Silent Voice) and composer Kensuke Ushio (Chainsaw Man, DAN DA DAN) to create an enchanting and sweet film with surprising emotional depth.
The Colors Within had its world premiere at Annecy International Film Festival and was selected for the BFI London Film Festival. The film won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film at the 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival, and tied for the Audience Award at the 7th Animation is Film Festival.
THE COLORS WITHIN is releasing in cinemas in Japanese with English subtitles, and an English-language dub, from Friday 31st January.