The Anthem of the Heart

The Anthem of the Heart (subtitled Beautiful Word Beautiful World) is a 2015 Japanese animated youth drama film produced by A-1 Pictures, directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai, written by Mari Okada and character designed by Masayoshi Tanaka and serving as chief animation director under the creative team Super Peace Busters. The original title is and it is abbreviated as . It was worked on by the staff who had previously worked on the anime series "" and its film adaptation, as well as "Toradora!". It was released on September 19, 2015.
Plot.
As a young girl, Jun Naruse is excitable and talkative. One day, she sees her father exit a love hotel, accompanied by another woman. Without understanding the situation, she tells her mother, resulting in her parents' divorce, and her father blaming her for this. While she is crying, she imagines a fairy egg that curses her by sealing her words so she won't hurt people again. As a result of her "curse", Jun is unable to speak and she suffers stomachaches whenever she tries to.
Years later, when Jun is attending high school, her homeroom teacher, Kazuki Jōshima, signs her up as a member of the Charity Committee along with three other classmates: Takumi Sakagami, Natsuki Nitō, and Daiki Tasaki. When she goes to the Committee's room to reject her position, Jun hears Takumi singing and is captivated. She then tells Takumi of her past, using her phone, and requests him to turn her words into a song. In this way Jun learns that, though she cannot speak, the 'curse' isn't in effect if she sings. Her class decides then to perform a musical for their school festival, based on the story of her experience narrated in the form of a fairy tale.
While discussing the musical, Daiki has a falling out with his teammates that is stopped by Jun, who consequently has another stomachache for talking, but this improves her bonds with the other Charity Committee members. Misunderstanding Takumi's concern for Jun as a sign that he is falling in love with her, Natsuki tells Takumi that she will cheer them on despite her own feelings for Takumi.
The next day, Daiki makes amends with his teammates. As they spend time together preparing for the musical, Jun starts to develop feelings for Takumi, while Daiki starts to develop feelings for Jun. Daiki asks Takumi regarding his relationship with Natsuki, having heard rumours that both of them were dating during middle school, but Takumi denies this since Natsuki had told her classmates then that they were not dating when she was asked. At the night before the musical, Takumi asks Natsuki about the boy she's dating currently, leading Natsuki to finally reveal that the boy she's referring to is none other than Takumi himself, before she accuses him of falling in love with Jun. Takumi reveals that while he is concerned about Jun, he is not in love with her and he has always regretted not trying to convey his feelings for Natsuki during middle school even when he was aware of her feelings for him at that time. Unbeknownst to them, Jun overhears their conversation. Heartbroken, she runs away and meets the fairy egg, who reveals that she has worsened the curse by trying to convey her feelings for Takumi. Jun doesn't show up on the day of the musical, leaving Natsuki to fill her role while Takumi frantically goes searching for her.
Takumi finds Jun at the love hotel that has been shut down. To his surprise, she is able to talk normally. Jun angrily lashes out at Takumi as he tells her that the reason she is unable to convey her words is not because of the fairy egg's curse but because of Jun's own fear. Wanting to hear her voice once more, Takumi allows Jun to lash out all of her anger and frustration until she is satisfied. Jun confesses her feelings for Takumi, but it is revealed that Takumi is still in love with Natsuki, to which Jun replies that she knew. Takumi then expresses his gratitude for Jun because before he met her, he was unable to say what he truly felt properly and only went along with everyone else. This convinces Jun to perform in the musical. Jun and Takumi arrive just in time before the final scene, allowing Jun to sing and convey her feelings to her mother who finally understands what she had been through. As the musical ends, Jun realises that the fairy egg was actually nothing but an imagination that she created to have someone she could blame for her condition, and now she decides to open up her heart, coming to terms with her past.
As the movie ends, Takumi and Natsuki reconcile their relationship, while Daiki finally confesses his feelings to Jun.
Music.
Insert song.
"Harmonia"
Others.
"Over the Rainbow"
"Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, 2nd Movement"
"Swanee"
"Summertime"
"Greensleeves"
Release.
The film was released in theaters in Japan on September 19, 2015. In the United States, the film is licensed by Aniplex of America.
Reception.
The film grossed .
Nick Creamer of Anime News Network rated the film a B+ rating. In his review, he said that despite the last act being hampered by typical dramatic tropes, he praised the film for its well-written characters, grounded storytelling and classically minded soundtrack, concluding with, "It's an endearing little film that tells one small story with some real grace. Definitely recommended." Fellow ANN editor Zac Bertschy placed the film at number four on his top 5 best anime list of 2015, calling it "a sweet, lighthearted and sincere little drama" with solid character animation and emotional moments, and commended it for using the medium's limitless potential to tell its story regardless of genre, concluding with, "[I]magine any other country on earth creating an animated film like "Anthem of the Heart". Every now and then you've got to stop and recognize the truly unique things about anime that are "still" true – like the fact that it tells stories with animation that no one else does."
Live-action film.
A live-action film adaptation was announced in March 2017. Directed by Naoto Kumzawa, it stars Kyoko Yoshine, Kento Nakajima, Anna Ishii and Ichiro Kan. Filming began in March 2017 in Chichibu, Saitama and the film was released on July 22, 2017.