View source for Sing a Bit of Harmony

{{short description|2021 Japanese animated film by Yasuhiro Yoshiura}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{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 (musician)|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 [[Anime|Japanese animated]] [[slice of life]] [[science fiction]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[Artificial intelligence|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]]<ref name="Cast1">{{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}}</ref>|[[Megan Shipman]]<ref name="Dub">{{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}}</ref>}}
;{{Nihongo|Satomi Amano|天野 聡美|Amano Satomi}} / {{Nihongo|Satomi|サトミ}}
:{{animevoices|[[Haruka Fukuhara]]<ref name="Cast1"/>|Risa Mei<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Tо̄ma Suzaki|素崎 十真|Suzaki Tо̄ma}} / {{nihongo|Tо̄ma|トウマ}}
:{{animevoices|[[Asuka Kudo]]<ref name="Cast1"/>|Jordan Dash Cruz<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Sadayuki Gotō|後藤 定行|Gotō Sadayuki}} / {{nihongo|Gotchan|ゴッちゃん}}
:{{animevoices|[[Kazuyuki Okitsu]]<ref name="Cast1"/>|[[Ian Sinclair (voice actor)|Ian Sinclair]]<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Aya Satō|佐藤 綾|Satō Aya}} / {{Nihongo|Aya|アヤ}}
:{{animevoices|[[Mikako Komatsu]]<ref name="Cast1"/>|[[Alexis Tipton]]<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Koichiro Sugiyama|杉山 絋一郎|Sugiyama Kōichirō}} / {{Nihongo|Thunder|サンダー|Sandā}}
:{{animevoices|[[Satoshi Hino]]<ref name="Cast1"/>|Kamen Casey<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Mitsuko Amano|天野 美津子}}
:{{animevoices|[[Sayaka Ohara]]<ref name="OctoberPremiere-ANN"/>|Laila Berzins<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Nomiyama|野見山}}
:{{animevoices|[[Kenji Hamada]]<ref name="OctoberPremiere-ANN"/>|Richard L. Olsen<ref name="Dub"/>}}
;{{Nihongo|Saijō|西城}}
:{{animevoices|[[Kenjiro Tsuda]]<ref name="OctoberPremiere-ANN">{{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}}</ref>|[[David Wald]]<ref name="Dub"/>}}

==Production==

''Sing a Bit of Harmony'' was announced by [[Funimation]], as a co-production with [[J.C.Staff]], on September 10, 2020.<ref name="ANN-1">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="ANN-1"/><ref name="ANN-2"/> [[Ryo Takahashi (musician)|Ryo Takahashi]] composed the music and Yohei Matsui wrote the songs.<ref name="ANN-2"/> On April 6, 2021, Funimation posted a trailer for the film.<ref name="ANN-2">{{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}}</ref>

==Release==
''Sing a Bit of Harmony'' premiered in Japan on October 29, 2021.<ref name="OctoberPremiere-ANN"/> The film had its international premiere on October 2, 2021, at the [[Scotland Loves Animation]] film festival, held at the [[Glasgow Film Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|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}}</ref> [[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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|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}}</ref>

==Manga adaptation==
A [[manga]] adaptation, illustrated by Megumu Maeda, was serialized in [[Kodansha]]'s [[Seinen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Monthly Afternoon]]'' from June 24, 2021,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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=[[Natalie (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}}</ref> to July 25, 2022.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Its first {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volume was released on October 21, 2021.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (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}}</ref>

==Reception==
In October 2021, ''Sing a Bit of Harmony'' won the Audience Award at the [[Scotland Loves Animation]] film festival.<ref name="ScotlandLovesAnime-ANN">{{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}}</ref> It is also won the Best Animation Film Award at the New York City Film & Television Festival 2021,<ref>{{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}}</ref> entered finalist of New York Animation Film Awards 2021 Best Animation Feature Film.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In Japan, it is also nominated for the Excellent Animation of the Year in Japan Academy Film Prize 2022. <ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==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}}

{{Yasuhiro Yoshiura}}
{{J.C.Staff films}}
{{Afternoon}}

[[Category:2021 anime films]]
[[Category:2021 films]]
[[Category:Films about androids]]
[[Category:Anime films with original screenplays]]
[[Category:Films about artificial intelligence]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Ichirō Ōkouchi]]
[[Category:Japanese animated feature films]]
[[Category:Kodansha manga]]
[[Category:Funimation]]
[[Category:J.C.Staff]]
[[Category:Science fiction anime and manga]]
[[Category:Seinen manga]]
[[Category:Shochiku films]]
[[Category:Slice of life anime and manga]]