Oct. 29, 2021|Japan|109 Min.|R
Genre: Animation;Drama;Science;Fiction
Description: **Sing a Bit of Harmony (2021)** is a Japanese animated science fiction film with a slice-of-life theme. Produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura, the movie premiered in Japan in October 2021. The original Japanese title, *Ai no Utagoe o Kikasete*, translates to *”Let Me Hear You Sing of Love.”*
The story is set in a near future in a small Japanese town, where the technology company Hoshima tests various AI-controlled systems and robots. The protagonist, Satomi Amano, is a high school student living with her mother, Mitsuko Amano, an AI specialist working for Hoshima. After a past incident, Satomi feels isolated at school, distanced from her classmates, and estranged from her childhood friend, Toma.
Mitsuko is secretly preparing to test a new AI system designed to mimic human behavior seamlessly. This AI is placed in a realistic robotic body and introduced to Satomi’s class as an exchange student named Shion Ashimori. Upon meeting Satomi, Shion surprises everyone by recognizing her, asking if she’s happy, and spontaneously breaking into song. Over the following days, Shion strives to bring happiness to Satomi’s life. She helps Satomi make friends, supports those friends with their personal struggles, and works to mend the strained relationship between Satomi and Toma—all through the power of music.
As the story progresses, it becomes evident that someone is manipulating the school’s security system and Shion’s telemetry data to conceal her unusual actions from Hoshima. However, when the company discovers the truth, Shion is forcibly taken away and scheduled for deletion. Determined to save her, Satomi and her friends rally together to rescue Shion, uncovering a mysterious connection between Shion and Satomi in the process.
The film explores themes of friendship, happiness, and the intersection of technology and humanity, all wrapped in a heartwarming and musical narrative.
Cast director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
Cast actor: Tao Tsuchiya, Haruka Fukuhara, Asuka Kudo, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Mikako Komatsu, Satoshi Hino, Sayaka Ohara, Kenji Hamada, Kenjiro Tsuda, Miyu Sakihi
Original name: アイの歌声を聴かせて