Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a delicate Japanese animated film that tackles the frequently unspoken issues of communication, expression, and the unrecognized poetry of ordinary life. The lyrical visuals and tender compositions of the film, directed by Kyohei Ishiguro and produced by Signal.MD and Sublimation, are animated to the youthfully romantic narrative with an artistry that is disarming and genuinely moving.
Taking place in a quiet suburban town in the height of summer, the narrative tracks the lives of two adolescents who appear to be from entirely different realms. Cherry is a quiet and introverted boy who mellows out by writing haikus, a form of Japanese poetry. While working the part-time job of Cherry Blossoms, an elder care center, and a poetry app open on his smartphone, Cherry is able to produce an impressively succinct verse retrievable at any time. Though gentle and sensitive in nature, Cherry is a socially inept teenager who is incapable expressing himself verbally, let alone in writing.
On the other side is Smile, who is a happy and liked online social media persona. Always happy and vibrant, Smile records videos and spreads happiness across the web, all while sashaying in a protective mask with a cap that covers her mouth. In her enthusiastic personality is also hidden a deep grievance that she is self-conscious about: the mask is to conceal her enormous and protruding front teeth with ever so painfully high self-image issues.
While shopping, they meet in a rather fortuitous manner and end up bumping to one another. While the intersection of their two smartphones might seem rather trivial, it begins the set the foundation of a fascinating relationship. The two bond and shed their skins to understand their true self through the phones and events. Their experience in the old folk home sheds light on Mr. Fujiyama, a kind old man with amnesia, who talks fondly of a treasured possession that was lost to the world. The record is imbued with deep personal sadness and something with ultimate importance to him: a vinyl.
As they work together with Mr. Fujiyama to locate the missing record, Cherry and Smile gradually learn to appreciate their imperfections. Throughout this process, the two begin to form a bond. They don’t establish this bond through grand gestures, but rather through the gentle, profound ways in which they connect and care for one another.
The summer festival serves as the backdrop for the peak’s Cherry and Smile development. This popular event is known for its dazzling displays, upbeat music, and vibrant atmosphere. One of the most heartfelt moments is when Cherry, in the hopes of overcoming his nervousness, stands in front of an audience to recite his composed haiku. This beautiful poem is more than a gift for Smile; it is a poem in which Cherry unveils the sobering, yet beautiful, reality of his own self. Paper connections mingling with the power of water is an accurate metaphor for the unexpressed emotions which float around in his head.
The filmmakers intentionally leave out the more chaotic or climactic pieces of the story, opting for a more subtle approach. This, in turn, evokes the idea that connection and closure can be found in acceptance, rather than perfection.
Cast & Crew
Primary Characters:
Cherry (Yuki Sakura) — Performed by Somegoro Ichikawa
In the plot, he is determined, polite, and loving, always having a notebook and pen to appreciate the world and write poems. Every poem, however, is a reflection of his personality, loves and experiences, representing a world full of dreams. Through his soft-spoken and reserved nature, one can feel his spirit and sensitivity even from a distance. There is much more to him than what meets the eye, and he starts to reveal himself more and more as the story evolves.
Smile (Yuki Smile) — Performed by Hana Sugisaki
In the beginning, Smile is an online personality who is playful and full of energy. As the story unfolds, she starts a journey of self-discovery and realises the importance of self love. However, she is quite self conscious and tries to protect her more fragile self. This journey throughout the movie helps her uncover and embrace her true self.
Mr. Fujiyama — Performed by Koichi Yamadera
What begins as an ordinary day for Mr. Fujiyama, an elderly man beginning to show signs of memory loss, suddenly becomes the defining moment of his existence. Looking for his prized missing record, the elderly gentleman, full of emotion and a captivating narrative, bounds along as the tender cherry &. smile embark on a journey indelibly intertwined with his life.
Secondary Characters:
Beaver is one of Cherry’s friends and works with him at the elderly care centre. He is described as a lively and easy-going person.
Japan is a co-worker who takes extreme interest in traditional Japanese cultural practices.
Smile’s Sisters, a duo of animated and lively young girls, appreciate Smile’s efforts and endeavor to assist her, providing much of the entertainment within the movie.
Crew:
Director: Kyohei Ishiguro
Ishiguro’s direction is emotional and atmospheric, devoting his attention to feelings rather than heavy plot developments. As evidenced by his direction on Your Lie in April, he knows how to seamlessly integrate his soft artistic touches on a movie.
Writer: Dai Sato
Dai Sato is a veteran screenwriter who’s written on Cowboy Bebop and other highly acclaimed television which eases into his poetic narrative on his films, praising these soft and simple moments.
Music: Kensuke Ushio
The score Ushio composed is soft and emotional, resonating well with the visual poetry in the film. There is a brilliant use of electronic and non electronic sounds which beautifully intertwines with the character’s feelings.
Animation Studios: Signal.MD and Sublimation
The animation in the movie is pristine and shadowed beautifully, as the use of vibrant symbolic colour enhances the emotion and adds to the lyrical aesthetics of the film. Floating haikus, simple lines and soft edges compliment the dreamy stills.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop and its Ratings
In this case, the reception marks the film positively, as it holds a rating of 7 out of 10 on IMDb. This rating reflects the reception from the critics and the audience alike. People submitting reviews on the film characterizing it as sweet, gentle and visually poetic go to show the appreciation shown by the audience.
Review and Analysis:
The general critique surrounding the film seems to circle around the fact that the film does not follow the conventions of a storyline, but rather the intricacies of the atmosphere and emotion that the film radiates. Capturing the essence that the adolescent youth is highly prone to and the gravitation towards not being understood is a strong pointer towards the film’s success. The filmmaker’s introduction of the narrative’s haiku’s as a constant literary device shows its appreciation towards culture.
The animation was a clear show of modern nab bright colors of nostalgia. The visuals were highly approved, not for the violence but for the use of graphic violence and the miniatures.
Reaction from the Audience:
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a pure enjoyment for the fans of slice of life anime along with in addition to coming of age stories. The characters and the worries that come along with them was highly relatable, more so the inability to exercise the action of speaking out of the box. This film is used by a lot of people as a comfort movie, the type to watch on a calm day with a hot beverage.
Some people thought the pace was slow, particularly those who preferred a more action-centric narrative. On the other hand, the story’s contemplative tone and its emphasis on characters was, for many, the very aspect that made it stand out.
Conclusion
With, Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, the viewer is offered a thoughtful examination of communication and the complexity of connections and the acceptance of self. The movie, through two easily relatable protagonists, tells a story that is peculiar to the Japanese people but at the same time, it is a narrative that speaks to every person on the planet. It demonstrates that, even the softest of whispers, if genuine, can resonate at the very center of a person’s being and the impact is profound.
This film, containing stunning imagery and emotion-laden music along with eloquently simple narrative, proves that there is a slight echo of profundity in the very simplistic saying : true words spoken through the medium of utter simplicity can, in utter gentle repose, reach the spirit like Soda Pop on a sultry summer afternoon.
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