'The Colors Within' explores music, friendship, and self-discovery

Naoko Yamada’s The Colors Within combines synesthesia, music, and coming-of-age themes in a visually striking anime.

Naoko Yamada’s "The Colors Within" follows a teenage girl navigating life with synesthesia. © GKIDS

By Hayu Andini and Widya Lestari

In the anime film The Colors Within, director Naoko Yamada crafts a visually evocative exploration of music, self-discovery, and the bonds of friendship. The story follows Totsuko, a teenage girl with a unique synesthetic ability to see people’s “colors” — their auras or spirits represented in vivid watercolor silhouettes. As Totsuko navigates her world, she encounters two other kindred spirits: Kimi, a former classmate with a mesmerizing electric-blue aura, and Rui, a reserved boy with a passion for music. Together, they form a band, embarking on a journey of creativity, rebellion, and self-expression.

Despite its vibrant concept and lush visuals, The Colors Within often feels like an extended vignette rather than a fully realized narrative. While the friendships and music-making process are central to the story, the film struggles to delve deeply into the emotional stakes and motivations of its characters.

The film begins at a Christian boarding school, where Totsuko observes her classmates’ colors and strives to excel as a respectful and devout student. Among them is Kimi, a popular girl whose electric-blue aura captivates Totsuko. When Kimi unexpectedly drops out of school, Totsuko sets out to find her, eventually discovering her working at a secluded bookstore and practicing guitar.

At the bookstore, Totsuko meets Rui, a boy whose reserved demeanor hides a secret passion for music. Although Rui is preparing for a career in medicine, a path set by his family, he dreams of creating music. The trio quickly bonds and decides to form a band, rehearsing their songs in an old church on a remote island.

Through Totsuko’s perspective, the film paints a world where colors and emotions intertwine. Kimi’s electric blue reflects her boldness and independence, while Rui’s muted tones hint at his internal struggles. Yet, while the visuals are rich with meaning, the narrative often leaves these character arcs underexplored.

For Totsuko, Kimi, and Rui, their band becomes a symbol of independence and rebellion. Music serves as a means of self-expression, a way to escape societal expectations and connect with one another. However, the film’s understated tone and limited character development dilute the emotional impact of their journey.

Rui grapples with his mother’s expectations, feeling distant from her as she pushes him to inherit the family’s medical clinic. Kimi hides the truth about dropping out of school from her grandmother, a decision that weighs heavily on her. Meanwhile, Totsuko struggles with the pressures of living up to her mother’s legacy as a ballet teacher. While these conflicts add depth to the characters, they remain on the periphery of the story, overshadowed by the trio’s musical endeavors.

The film prioritizes their shared enthusiasm for making music over the underlying alienation and personal struggles that brought them together. Moments of platonic and romantic connection between the characters are hinted at but not fully explored, leaving the relationships feeling incomplete.

Naoko Yamada’s direction lends The Colors Within a quiet, introspective quality. The film’s focus on the characters’ facial expressions and subtle gestures creates moments of emotional resonance, especially during their musical performances. These scenes highlight the joy and vulnerability of creating art, offering glimpses into the characters’ inner worlds.

However, the understated approach can also feel overly restrained. The narrative’s lack of urgency and resolution diminishes the stakes, making it difficult to fully invest in the characters’ journeys. Compared to other coming-of-age musical anime, such as Your Lie in April and Carole & Tuesday, The Colors Within falls short in its exploration of its protagonists’ emotional landscapes.

The film culminates in a school festival, where Totsuko, Kimi, and Rui perform their original songs. Their final number, written primarily by Totsuko, is an infectiously catchy electro-pop piece with whimsical lyrics: “Sweet, kin planets up orbiting, amen!” The song reflects Totsuko’s sense of faith and her deep affection for her bandmates.

While the performance is lively and celebratory, the film’s conclusion offers little resolution. The characters’ futures remain uncertain, and the fate of their band is left unresolved. For a story centered on the transformative power of music and connection, the lack of closure feels like a missed opportunity to leave a lasting emotional impact.

The Colors Within draws comparisons to other musical coming-of-age stories, such as On-Gaku: Our Sound. However, where those films delve deeply into their characters’ inner lives and the creative process, The Colors Within skims the surface. Its focus on aesthetics and atmosphere often comes at the expense of narrative depth, leaving its themes of self-discovery and rebellion underdeveloped.

Despite these shortcomings, the film’s visual style and moments of quiet beauty showcase Yamada’s talent for evoking emotion through subtle details. The synesthetic concept of seeing colors as emotions adds a unique layer to the story, even if it isn’t fully utilized to explore the characters’ relationships and growth.

The Colors Within is a visually stunning film that celebrates the joy of music and friendship. While its narrative lacks the depth and resolution of other coming-of-age stories, its moments of introspection and beauty offer a unique cinematic experience. For fans of contemplative anime with a focus on atmosphere, The Colors Within provides a glimpse into the colorful world of its characters and their creative journey.

Ultimately, the film’s quiet charm and vibrant visuals may resonate with viewers seeking a gentle, slice-of-life story, even if it leaves some questions unanswered. For those looking for a more emotionally grounded exploration of music and self-discovery, The Colors Within serves as a light and colorful introduction to these timeless themes.

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