Perhaps no other anime has explored the theme of redemption as beautifully as A Silent Voice, mostly because the movie shows how “redemption” doesn’t just mean earning the forgiveness of those who have been hurt.
Of course, being forgiven is the best beginning to one’s path of redemption. However, people sometimes make peace with whatever little changes they’ve made in their lives (and within themselves), not to repeat the mistakes from their pasts. This is why the movie focuses not just on redemption but also on the varying degrees of redemptions its characters go through.
10 Miki: She Always Went With The Flow And Eventually Accepted Shouko As A Friend
Miki was one person who constantly went with the flow and played victim whenever her actions were called out. As a child, she happily ostracized Shouko, but as an adult, her attitude changed when she saw everybody around her welcome Shouko with open arms.
At the end of the movie, she’s seen hugging Shouko and crying tears of relief, seeing how Shouko had survived her suicide attempt.
9 Naoka: She Hated Shouko Until The Very Last Second, But Came Around Thanks To Shouya
She hated Shouko the most, but her feelings for Shouya eventually became even stronger. This is why when she saw him go out of his way and put his neck on the line for Shouko (as well as Shouko reciprocating his efforts), she eventually decided to forgive Shouko.
Her last scene in the movie shows her calling Shouko a “moron” in sign language, signaling an olive branch extended by her.
8 Kazuki: He Was The One Who Pulled Shouya Out Of The Water
The chasm between Shouya and Kazuki was perhaps the only divide that was permanent in the series. A teenage Kazuki wanted nothing to do with Shouya, but it’s not clear whether this was due to his unfair feelings towards Shouya or because the boy’s presence reminded him of his terrible past.
Naoka revealed later in the movie that it was Kazuki who’d swam into the water and saved Shouya from being drowned, thus redeeming himself in the young boy’s eyes.
7 Satoshi: A “Friend” Who Never Truly Listened To His Friend’s Side Of The Story
Satoshi is a fairly neutral character and someone who can be called a fair-weather friend. When people were nice to Shouya, he was nice to him, but when Miki revealed his past, he chose to ostracize Shouya instead of listening to his side of the story.
In the end, however, all was forgiven between the two boys when both Shouya and Shouko emerged happy from their fiasco, with Satoshi and Shouya enjoying the school festival together with their other friends.
6 Nagatsuka: He Momentarily Lost Faith In Shouya After Learning About His Past
He was Shouya’s first (and closest) friend from the movie. Shouya’s side could always see him, and thanks to him, Shouya managed to come out of his shell for the first time in his life.
When he learned of Shouya’s past, he was disappointed in his friend. Then immediately after, Shouya landed in the hospital. Nagatsuka was so overcome with worry for his best friend that he instantly forgave him for his past actions and went back to being his best friend.
5 Shouko’s Mother: She Only Forgave Shouya After He Risked His Life To Save Shouko’s Life
As an adult, she is expectedly wary of Shouko’s intentions, despite both her daughters forgiving him. After all, he was the reason her daughter was bullied to the point of changing schools mid-semester.
However, she has a change of heart after the young boy saves Shouko’s life, risking his own life in exchange. She eventually becomes his mother’s client and greets him politely when she sees him.
4 Miyoko: She Was Nice, But Too Scared To Come Out Of Her Shell
As Shouko’s only friend, Miyoko deserted her when she needed her the most by transferring to a new school. She confessed to her cowardice after Shouko and Shouya tracked her down 5 years later.
At the end of the movie, she admits to still being the coward that she was as a child, but Shouko takes her hand in her hands and assures her that she will help her friend become a better person.
3 Shouko: She Made Amends By Begging For Forgiveness From All Of Shouya’s Friends
Shouko blamed herself for Shouya still being ostracized by her friends, due to which she attempted suicide. However, she was saved, and Shouko ended up getting hospitalized instead.
When she made up her mind to make amends, she started by begging for forgiveness from all his friends. Her resolve even managed to melt the stone-cold heart of her ex-bully, Naoka, who decided to befriend her as well.
2 Yuzuru: She Was The First Person To Forgive Shouya
Like her mother, Yuzuru was initially skeptical of Shouya, giving him the cold shoulder every time he wanted to meet with Shouko.
However, his earnestness and sincerity changed her mind to the point where she defended him in front of Shouko and stood up to her mother for him. She also became a close friend of his, often going to his house to have meals with his family.
1 Shouya: He Went Through An Emotional Rollercoaster Ride Just To Earn Shouko’s Forgiveness
Without a doubt, it was Shouya who had the best redemption arc in the movie. From being a naughty elementary schoolboy to growing up as a social outcast who was mentally broken to the point of attempting suicide – Shouya had gone through it all.
Seeking Shouko’s forgiveness was only the beginning of his new life, which soon became brighter with all the new friends he made along the way.