Sing a Bit of Harmony

{{short description|2021 Japanese animated film by Yasuhiro Yoshiura}}

{{Infobox film

| image = Sing a Bit of Harmony.png

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox Japanese

| kanji = アイの歌声を聴かせて

| revhep = Ai no Utagoe o Kikasete

}}

| director = Yasuhiro Yoshiura

| producer =

| story = Yasuhiro Yoshiura

| screenplay = {{ubl|Yasuhiro Yoshiura|Ichirō Ōkouchi}}

| starring = {{ubl|Tao Tsuchiya|Haruka Fukuhara|Asuka Kudo|Kazuyuki Okitsu|Mikako Komatsu|Satoshi Hino|Sayaka Ohara|Kenji Hamada|Kenjiro Tsuda|Miyu Sakihi|Kazlaser}}

| music = Ryo Takahashi

| editing =

| studio = J.C.Staff

| distributor = Shochiku

| released = {{Film date|2021|10|29}}

| runtime = 108 minutes

| country = Japan

| language = Japanese

| budget =

}}

{{nihongo|Sing a Bit of Harmony|アイの歌声を聴かせて|Ai no Utagoe o Kikasete|{{lit|Let Me Hear Ai's Singing Voice|lk=yes}}|lead=yes}} is a 2021 Japanese animated slice of life musical science fiction{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Victoria|title='Sing a Bit of Harmony': The Rise of Music in Anime|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sing-bit-harmony-rise-music-anime|website=Animation World Network|access-date=February 11, 2022|date=January 21, 2022|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211101457/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sing-bit-harmony-rise-music-anime|url-status=live}} film, produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura. It premiered in Japan in October 2021.

Plot

The film takes place in a unspecified near future in a small Japanese town, which the technology company Hoshima uses as test site for multiple AI controlled systems and robot. The story follows high school student Satomi Amano, who lives with her mother, Mitsuko Amano, a Hoshima-employed AI specialist.

After a past incident, Satomi is isolated at school, shunned by her classmates, and estranged from her childhood friend, Tо̄ma Suzaki. Her mother is preparing a secret test of a newly developed AI system, which is supposed to be indistinguishable from humans. In this test, the AI is to spend a few days in Satomi's class in a realistic looking robotic body as exchange student Shion Ashimori. Shortly after having been introduced to the class, Shion surprises everyone by recognising Satomi, asking her whether she is happy, and breaking into song.

In the following days, Shion is bent on making Satomi happy. She helps Satomi find friends, helps these friends with their own problems, and goes on to fix Satomi's relationship to Tōma, all with the power of song. Meanwhile, it becomes clear that someone mysteriously manipulates the recordings of the school's security system and Shion's telemetry results to hide Shion's unconventional behavior from Hoshima.

When the company eventually gets wind of this, Shion is violently taken in and prepared for deletion, and all the devices containing footage and memories of Shion are seized. Following the discovery that Shion is a modified AI gifted to Satomi by Tо̄ma when they were children, Satomi, Mitsuko, and her friends decide to rescue her, and break in to Hoshima. They are confronted by Hoshima's security, but Satomi and her friends take Shion to the roof of the building, where Tо̄ma links Shion to the building's antenna. Shion uploads herself to a satellite. Encouraged by Shion, who is watching over Satomi from orbit, Satomi and Tо̄ma reconcile.

Characters

;{{Nihongo|Shion Ashimori|芦森詩音|Ashimori Shion}} / {{Nihongo|Shion|シオン}}

:{{animevoices|Tao Tsuchiya{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Funimation, J.C. Staff's Sing a Bit of Harmony Original Anime Film Unveils Trailer, Cast, Staff|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-04-06/funimation-j.c-staff-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-original-anime-film-unveils-trailer-cast-staff/.171512|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 24, 2021|date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=April 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406204008/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-04-06/funimation-j.c-staff-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-original-anime-film-unveils-trailer-cast-staff/.171512|url-status=live}}|Megan Shipman{{cite web|last1=Mateo|first1=Alex|title=Sing a Bit of Harmony Film's English Dub Cast, January Release Date Briefly Listed|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-14/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-film-english-dub-cast-january-release-date-briefly-listed/.180615|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 14, 2021|date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214171610/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-14/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-film-english-dub-cast-january-release-date-briefly-listed/.180615|url-status=live}}}}

;{{Nihongo|Satomi Amano|天野聡美|Amano Satomi}} / {{Nihongo|Satomi|サトミ}}

:{{animevoices|Haruka Fukuhara|Risa Mei}}

;{{Nihongo|Tōma Suzaki|素崎十真|Suzaki Tōma}} / {{nihongo|Tōma|トウマ}}

:{{animevoices|Asuka Kudo|Jordan Dash Cruz}}

;{{Nihongo|Sadayuki Gotō|後藤定行|Gotō Sadayuki}} / {{nihongo|Gotchan|ゴッちゃん}}

:{{animevoices|Kazuyuki Okitsu|Ian Sinclair}}

;{{Nihongo|Aya Satō|佐藤綾|Satō Aya}} / {{Nihongo|Aya|アヤ}}

:{{animevoices|Mikako Komatsu|Alexis Tipton}}

;{{Nihongo|Koichiro Sugiyama|杉山絋一郎|Sugiyama Kōichirō}} / {{Nihongo|Thunder|サンダー|Sandā}}

:{{animevoices|Satoshi Hino|Kamen Casey}}

;{{Nihongo|Mitsuko Amano|天野美津子}}

:{{animevoices|Sayaka Ohara|Laila Berzins}}

;{{Nihongo|Nomiyama|野見山}}

:{{animevoices|Kenji Hamada|Richard L. Olsen}}

;{{Nihongo|Saijō|西城}}

:{{animevoices|Kenjiro Tsuda{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Sing a Bit of Harmony Anime's Trailer Reveals More Cast, October 29 Opening|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-14/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-anime-trailer-reveals-more-cast-october-29-opening/.175140|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 15, 2021|date=July 14, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715004750/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-14/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-anime-trailer-reveals-more-cast-october-29-opening/.175140|url-status=live}}|David Wald}}

Production

Sing a Bit of Harmony was announced by Funimation, as a co-production with J.C.Staff, on September 10, 2020.{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Funimation, J.C. Staff Co-produce Sing a Bit of Harmony Original Anime Film|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-10/funimation-j.c-staff-co-produce-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-original-anime-film/.163856|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 24, 2021|date=September 10, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211639/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-10/funimation-j.c-staff-co-produce-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-original-anime-film/.163856|url-status=live}} The film was directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura. Yoshiura and Ichirō Ōkouchi co-wrote the script, Kanna Kii drew the original character designs, Shuichi Shimamura designed the characters for animation and is also the chief supervising animator, and Hidekazu Shimamura served as supervising animator. Ryo Takahashi composed the music and Yohei Matsui wrote the songs. On April 6, 2021, Funimation posted a trailer for the film.{{cite web|title=Funimation Co-Production 'Sing a Bit of Harmony' Reveals Latest Trailer, First Cast Info|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-04-07/funimation-co-production-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-reveals-latest-trailer-first-cast-info/.171531|website=Funimation via Anime News Network|access-date=June 24, 2021|date=April 7, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205626/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-04-07/funimation-co-production-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-reveals-latest-trailer-first-cast-info/.171531|url-status=live}}

Release

Sing a Bit of Harmony premiered in Japan on October 29, 2021. The film had its international premiere on October 2, 2021, at the Scotland Loves Animation film festival, held at the Glasgow Film Theatre.{{cite web|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|title=Scotland Loves Anime Glasgow Line-Up Confirmed|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-25/scotland-loves-anime-glasgow-line-up-confirmed/.176643|website=Anime News Network|access-date=November 9, 2021|date=August 25, 2021|archive-date=November 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109054546/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-25/scotland-loves-anime-glasgow-line-up-confirmed/.176643|url-status=live}} Funimation screened the film, in both subbed and dubbed formats, in the United States and Canada on January 23, 25, and 26; in Australia and New Zealand starting on January 27; in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting on January 28.{{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=Liam|title=Sing a Bit of Harmony Reveals English Dub Cast and Release Date|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2021/12/14/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-reveals-english-dub-cast-and-release-date/|website=Funimation|access-date=December 14, 2021|date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215015702/https://www.funimation.com/blog/2021/12/14/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-reveals-english-dub-cast-and-release-date/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Funimation Announces Sing a Bit of Harmony Film's English Dub Cast, January Release Date (Updated)|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-14/funimation-announces-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-film-english-dub-cast-january-release-date/.180615|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 13, 2022|date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=December 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220032104/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-14/funimation-announces-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-film-english-dub-cast-january-release-date/.180615|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|title=Sing a Bit of Harmony Opens in U.K. and Ireland Cinemas on Friday|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-01-24/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-opens-in-u.k-and-ireland-cinemas-on-friday/.181853|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 24, 2022|date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124164146/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-01-24/sing-a-bit-of-harmony-opens-in-u.k-and-ireland-cinemas-on-friday/.181853|url-status=live}}

Manga adaptation

A manga adaptation, illustrated by Megumu Maeda, was serialized in Kodansha's Seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon from June 24, 2021,{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Funimation, J.C. Staff's Sing a Bit of Harmony Anime Film Gets Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-24/funimation-j.c-staff-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-anime-film-gets-manga/.174370|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 24, 2021|date=June 24, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624064848/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-24/funimation-j.c-staff-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-anime-film-gets-manga/.174370|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:医療ソーシャルワーカー描く新連載＆「アイの歌声を聴かせて」マンガ版がアフタで|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/433983|website=Comic Nalalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=July 6, 2021|language=ja|date=June 24, 2021|archive-date=June 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629161222/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/433983|url-status=live}} to July 25, 2022.{{cite tweet|author=Yoshiura, Yasuhiro|author-link=Yasuhiro Yoshiura|number=1550314699769667584|user=yoshiura_rikka|script-title=ja:アフタヌーン9月号にて漫画版『#アイの歌声を聴かせて』ついに完結！前田めぐむさん、素晴らしいコミカライズをありがとうございました！|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|language=ja}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:アフタヌーン 2022年9月号|url=https://afternoon.kodansha.co.jp/afternoon/2022/09.html|website=Monthly Afternoon|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=May 22, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=May 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522113955/https://afternoon.kodansha.co.jp/afternoon/2022/09.html|url-status=live}} Its first {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume was released on October 21, 2021.{{cite web|script-title=ja:ポンコツなAIが織りなすハートフルストーリー「アイの歌声を聴かせて」マンガ版1巻|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/450303|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 6, 2021|language=ja|date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106083744/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/450303|url-status=live}}

Reception

In October 2021, Sing a Bit of Harmony won the Audience Award at the Scotland Loves Animation film festival.{{cite web|last=Hazra|first=Adriana|title=Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Sing a Bit of Harmony Anime Films Win Scotland Loves Anime Festival Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-31/fortune-favors-lady-nikuko-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-anime-films-win-scotland-loves-anime-festival-awards/.179032|website=Anime News Network|access-date=November 9, 2021|date=October 31, 2021|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118011912/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-31/fortune-favors-lady-nikuko-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-anime-films-win-scotland-loves-anime-festival-awards/.179032|url-status=live}} It is also won the Best Animation Film Award at the New York City Film & Television Festival 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-09-11/funimation-co-production-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-reveals-newest-trailer/.177263|title=Funimation Co-Production "Sing a Bit of Harmony" Reveals Newest Trailer|publisher=Anime News Network|date=September 11, 2021|accessdate=January 24, 2022|language=en|archive-date=July 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708060438/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-09-11/funimation-co-production-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-reveals-newest-trailer/.177263|url-status=live}} entered finalist of New York Animation Film Awards 2021 Best Animation Feature Film.{{cite web|url=https://www.madmanfilms.com.au/sing-a-bit-of-harmony/|title=sing-a-bit-of-harmony Nominations and Awards|publisher=Madman Entertainment Pty. Ltd.|date=2022|accessdate=February 11, 2022|language=en|archive-date=March 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324102938/https://www.madmanfilms.com.au/sing-a-bit-of-harmony/|url-status=live}} In Japan, it is also nominated for the Excellent Animation of the Year in Japan Academy Film Prize 2022. {{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-01-18/belle-evangelion-3.0-1.0-jujutsu-kaisen-0-nikuko-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-more-nominated-for-45th-/.181655|title=Belle, Evangelion 3.0+1.0, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Nikuko, Sing a Bit of Harmony, More Nominated for 45th Japan Academy Film Prizes|publisher=Anime News Network|date=January 18, 2022|accessdate=February 11, 2022|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118132739/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-01-18/belle-evangelion-3.0-1.0-jujutsu-kaisen-0-nikuko-sing-a-bit-of-harmony-more-nominated-for-45th-/.181655|url-status=live}}

References

External links

{{Official website|https://ainouta.jp|Sing a Bit of Harmony official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Official website|https://afternoon.kodansha.co.jp/c/ainouta_manga.html|Sing a Bit of Harmony official manga website at Afternoon}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Anime News Network|film|24142}}
{{IMDb title|tt13064272}}

Category:2021 anime films

Category:2021 films

Category:2021 musical films

Category:Animated musical films

Category:Anime films with original screenplays

Category:Films about androids

Category:Films about artificial intelligence

Category:Films directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura

Category:Films with screenplays by Ichirō Ōkouchi

Category:Funimation

Category:J.C.Staff

Category:Japanese animated feature films