If you've read my review about the complete manga of Koe no Katachi, you can already predict the compliments that I make to the one-shot. I say that because, at least for me, the main problems I've found were results of the poor development through the 64 chapters, mostly after the first half. About this prototype, I think I can do a more positive analyse. Let's move on.

The story is about this deaf girl student called Nishimiya Shouko, that moved to a new school and finds herself into a hardcore bullying that includes exclusion, verbal and physical abuse. Major part of it comes from our not-beloved protagonist Ishida Shouya.

Now, when we're dealing with a plot that is meant to appeal to emotional of an individual in search of his empathy, there's almost always that sense of artificiality. After all, our emotions aren't so superficial to be sell to any show with the intention of buying it. I'm human and I feel for someone that is a person just like me. The process of gaining value of a real individual is the key to a fictional character be worthy of my empathy, hate or whatever it be. But how can this be done in just 62 pages? Well, ask Ooinma Yoshitoki, Koe no Katachi's creator. Because she was able to do this fully in this short amount of space, using the main factor that led the work be recognized: identification. I and many others who have read the manga have suffered from this problem at some point in our lifes. Bullying is real and it's a serious stuff. So, by applying a very solid dose of realism to the story, without losing the charm of drama (as many shows do today by turning their plot into a forced snuff, gore, etc) it has captivated our hearts, making us feel pity, sadness, indignation and hopelessness in the right measure. I always emphasize the naturalness and the spontaneity as things develop itself, so I cannot fail to praise these two factors in this show.

In a manga based mainly on the tension between its characters, one of the things to watch out are their expressions and how you can identify the emotions of them. Face reading is one of the most effective methods of settle in a story. Koe no Katachi certainly didn't lose his graphic composure even with its longer version. The design of the characters isn't necessarily original, but the development of their expressions is fully compatible with all the situations that they experiment.

As for the characters, it's here where Koe no Katachi success factors are identified. I have always emphasized that the characters are the connection between the viewers and the events of the series. However, at least for me, identification only occurs with the presence of realism. Regardless of where they are, whether it's something I've been through or something that has never crossed my mind, the behaviour of the characters in a logical and realistically sensitive way is fundamental to the strenghthening of this link between me and the show.

We have two fundamental pillars throughout the series, Shouko and Shouya. The victim and the agressor. The sadness and sorrow for the main heroine is something I've been waiting for since the moment I realized that the bullying was going on. What I didn't expect was such a close look at the main "hero" and how we can somehow realistically see the sociopathic behaviour of a bully. The inconsequence and unreasonableness of the protagonist, running away from the idea that the motivation is always clear. Sometimes (most of it) there is no such motivation. Abusing is a choice. Trying to justify the evil deeds of one who chose to make others his toys to "escape boredom" wich is what Shouya cites as his reason for mistreating Shouka, is evil in the same measure. And in order to combat bullying and not justify it, Yoshitoki did a great job of actually creating a hateful and repudiating image not only of the main character, but also of all concealed figures who turn a blind eye to everything that is happening to the poor deaf girl.

The realism, density and differentiated concept related to the protagonist's motivation were really great points. I can safely say that it's one of the best manga that deals with the abuse theme I've ever seen. It didn't lost the charm from the first to the last page and I would certainly rommend it. Very good, enjoy it.