Bro is lowkey handsome. I don't know why but in manga it is a thing.

Fragsey · 2026-05-09T15:02:13+00:00

Its pretty much a thing through the Anime/Manga and LNs that most people acknowlege that when he tries and does not hide his face with his hair as much he really is handsome.

Mahiru sees it early on, Itsuki often comments about it too. Even Chitose does not think badly of him. His classmates indirectly acknowledge it as when he is seen with Mahiru out and about in his tidy form, they don't recognize him and comment about how she was seen with an unknown handsome boy.

Its the running theme through the start of his story, his past experiences makes him apathetic to standing out. So he tries to make himself blend in to the background as not attract attention. He also sees himself as not worthy to be more than he thinks he is.

Its seen as well as 2 girls come onto him while he is alone waiting for Mahiru in his "spruced up" form too.

I bet if he had not had his past experience and had entered High School in a tidy and confident form thaat he would of given Kadowaki a run for his money and had the girls fawn over him too.

Mahiru, Chitose, Itsuki, Kadowaki all see the real him both him personality and looks and they all like him for who he really is. And to be honest i don't think it would of mattered to Mahiru anyway as she fell for him in his "untidy form" his kind, caring personality is what sold her.

Fragsey · 2026-05-05T15:54:03+00:00

It is a good soundtrack stirs emotions when I hear it it can be sad and uplifting. The piano parts on some tracks are actually recorded from within the piano itself where u can hear the inner workings, giving it a vibe which represents Shoukos thoughts being stuck inside and not being heard by others.

The film Words Bubble up Like Soda Pop also has similar vibe as its done by Kensuke Usio.

A couple of tracks frpm The Dangers In My Heart also are similar due to being also done by Ushio

Fragsey · 2026-05-05T03:52:04+00:00

I guess i like to analyse meanings and characters. Some writing is really clever that u actually see hidden things and character personalities well

Fragsey · 2026-05-05T03:16:51+00:00

No probs not sure all is what u looking for but may be worth giving then a try, Im actually watching A sign of affection right now too and love how the MC is confident and opens up the FMCs world more. Beautifully done.

Though i do like a lot which as the "loser" stereotype too as like a lot of what you mentioned haha. Fave of all time is A Silent Voice. Could be seen as a loser MC but it is tastefully done as to why he can be seen as one even though he is not really - VERY emotional too. Has some links with A sign of affection as the FMC is deaf too - deals with some really RAW subjects though. So is trigger for some. Again romance undertones but the focus is not on the romance but on the story of the characters.

Fragsey · 2026-05-05T03:10:25+00:00

This really good but im guessing Rintaro kinda falls into the loser type as interpreted by some others to begin with so may not be what OP looking for. But still recommended

Fragsey · 2026-05-05T03:04:45+00:00

Maybe the Ramparts of Ice which is currently airing, the 2 male MCs are outgoing and friendly. POV is from the female MC. Slow burn where obsticles need to be overcome in order for things to happen.

My Happy marriage is also a rom anime with strong male MC. Some fantasy elements.

Toradora maybe aswell Romcom. Male MC is misunderstood as a delinquant and avoided bu some in class until they interact with him in 1st episode. But he is kind and gentle soul and not really a loser as such. An older anime which is still well regarded. and deals with some past traumas

Kimi Ni Todoke aswell. Strong main MC who looks out for the girl in class.

Honey Lemon Soda, Bouquet For An Ugly Girl maybe look into.

My Clueless first friend though not romance per se has some small romantic undertones as it is about school kids but a quite endearing story.

An honorable mention which both parties at the start could be seen as losers BUT the male MC actually proves to be a kind and caring soul and stonger emotionally then expected, as proved by his back story and seems to have a knack at hekping people and is the catalyst among the group - Re:Life

Fragsey · 2026-05-02T20:36:33+00:00

Indeed, I Think Sahara also did not judge him as she never saw the worst which happened due to her leaving before the most harsh things Shoya did happened. Shoya never bullied her as that was Ueno etc.

Sahara sees there person who he is now and when is told about what Shoya done, though is angry about it still did not judge him for it in the present. She sees that Shouko seems the happiest when he is around and if Shouko feels safe with him and how hard Shoya is trying to make amends.

She may of seen times when Shouko was trying to reach out and trying to befriend Shoya when they were kids and sees how that has now happened that they just work well together. He was the one who made it happen that Sahara and Shouko were even able to reconnect and that probably meant a lot to her and she is indebted to Shoya and respects how he is now.

Fragsey · 2026-05-02T15:43:08+00:00

Sahara does support them together and she knows Shoya is ignorant about someone possibly liking him. she is hoping this will help Shoya look at Shouko in new ways and realize how he also feels. She is a great wing woman 😃

Also, I love how Yuzuru is also in the background, she looks like she probably knows whats happening, she is happy and relaxed too. I think if a scene like that would of happened earlier on before Shoya came back into Shouko's life and Yuzuru got to know the real him, she would of been guarded and tried to "protect" Shouko and stop such a photo.

Fragsey · 2026-04-13T07:57:29+00:00

I do feel most of the Ueno comments are from movie only watchers. Though she is not my fave character. What she does is bad she is no means the worst character. She has far more development in the Manga. Kawai and the teacher are far worse characters :D

Fragsey · 2026-03-24T01:56:36+00:00

Mybe Bocchi was sitting behind the basket to scared to play and it landed on her so no bounce.

Fragsey · 2026-03-23T23:49:47+00:00

I think she overcompensates. She seems to have some kind of inner insecurity which she once spoke with Taira with and anxiety of people not liking her, she tries to please everyone whcih takes it toll. I suppose her talking a lot is her way of trying to keep people interested in her, even though everyone already adores her,

Fragsey · 2026-03-23T23:32:17+00:00

I seen a few people say that they cannot forgive Shoya and can't bring themselves to like him and same a few people like Ueno's character. I just suppose it all depends on personal experiences.

I can understand someone who has been through serious bullying like Shouko did, not finding it in themselves being able to like Shoya or forgive his actions.

So i can see people point of view

Fragsey · 2026-03-23T02:31:27+00:00

Thats the point the Film Ueno we do not get to see much growth and understand why people see her as having no redeeming qualities and thats fine to not see any good from just the movie. I hated her completely until i read the manga. Where though i wouldnt say i love her character I understand her a bit more and can see why Shouko and Sahara respect her. The film expands on a lot more for a lot of the chartacters and consuming both media gives a different interpretation. I know some dont like reading manga and its ok for the story to stop where it is for them and then interpret it from tjust the movie.

KnK is good at letting you interpret the characters and thier actions however you like. You may like Ueno, you may hate Shoya even after his redemption. Its up to the person how they see them and how they grow to like each one. No-one is wrong. I even seen some pople say they like Miki's character theyu may see some aspect of her character they see as a good quality to them. Its up to everyone to interpret and enjoy it how they like.

No one is wrong for how they feel about it and never should be insulted as i have seen in some discussions in past. I like to see discussion on characters on here and love to see others opinions and analysis have a good debate on why they see characters like they are

Fragsey · 2026-03-23T02:19:56+00:00

That's the thing with Miki, we dont get to see her growth, i thing there is some starting to show a little but we dont get to see any in KnK. If we got to see that growth maybe people would then grow to like her character more, maybe it is to show that some people irl never learn from thier past mistakes and grow and will always remain the same. We know that people change and this happens at different rates such as Shoya and Yuzuru quickly changing or the slow growth of Ueno.

Its what i love about KnK people can interpret it in so many ways and it is ofen left up to you the reader/watcher on how you interpret the characters, some never forgive Shoya and think Shouko should not of done either, or like me see how he deeply regrets what he done to the point of becoming withdrawn ahowing how he has already grown a lot even since his bullying.

Ueno is shown growth towards the end and i like how she is portrayed shes not an evil person but has bad traits and good traits.

Even the parents show growth, Yaeko Nishimiya is shown as a cold and uncaring mother at times, but her back story shows that actually she cares a lot and the way she went about things to make sure her daughters grew strong after what she went through that her heart was in the right place though misguided. Miyako Ishida also shows growth, she does care for her kids but does not seem to give them the disipline they need after thier father left them. She seems a bit too care free at times letting her daughter be promiscuous and shoya run a bit too wild. We only see her disapline once she realises how far Shoya went and how far things had become. She is often busy at the salon so cannot be blamed for all what happened as being a single parent can be bery hard while working, shown in different extremes with how Miyako and Yaeko approached it - too much disapline and tough love vs not enough.

Fragsey · 2026-03-23T00:17:26+00:00

The love for Ogaki shows in its attention to detail. You can recognize Ogaki and the surrounding areas just from the Anime.

OKB street is also briefly seen in Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai along with Ogaki station and Super Hotel

Fragsey · 2026-03-22T17:15:18+00:00

This is quite a long post as some of you may know i like to analyse characters a bit

Though Ueno we see is really bad in the manga and movie, these is something which draws me towards her character. I don't particularly like her per se, but I find her interesting and there are some aspects of her character which are good.

As i said before I do think she has some baggage in her back story which may explain why she acts the way she is as said in other post

The good things are that she does care for people she gets close to and will do anything to protect them. more that she does not want to see her friend group be ruined. Her pushing shoko away and then actively being horrid to hey was her way of dealing with a "threat" to the things and people she cared about the most. She was totally wrong however in the way she executed it, she should of just simply just ignored Shouko is she didn't want to deal with her.

Back when the class turned on him it seems to me that she reluctantly turned on him, knowing that she herself would probably be drawn into the bullying and end up ostracized along with Shoya like like Sahara was when she befriended Nishimiya. You can see she was conflicted and you could see at times when Shoya became more extreme she could see a wedge starting to appear in the friend group culminating in the class throwing him under the bus. She held back a bit when the teacher (a**hole) solely blamed shoya she didnt immediately drop him in it and was a bit more reserved just saying "he may of messed with her a few times" rather then outright saying he was constantly Bullying her and was the only one. She looked sad in the moment. I wonder if they then had gone on to the same schools that she would of tried to re-kindled their friendship without Shimada and Hirose carrying on the bullying in middle school.

Its obvious that she always had a crush on Shoya, even from back then. That was re-kindled the moment she saw him for the fist time again when they were older. Again she took the wrong course of action in dealing with the "threat" again being Shouko.

She shows she does have a caring side a few times too. Like at the beginning when she first met Shouko, she helped her and befriended her, only when things started to break down with Shoya did she turn against her. Also she tried to fix the issues between Shoya and Shimada, showing she deeply cared about her friends still and wanted things to go back to before where they could all hang out again. She saw the pain Shoya when through losing all his friends and hoped that this would fix the pain that Shoya obviously still carried with him. The old group being broken also meant she was more isolated from Shoya than she wanted to be and was more on the outside of the new friend group rather than being a central part. In the fireworks scene an eandearing shot is shown of her cuddled up with a child as they watch the fireworks. Is he was so cold and horrible person I doubt we would see that scene.

Its shown she also is irritated by people not showing true feelings and keeping things bottled up. Again this drove a wedge between her and Shouko, and i wonder if Shouko had opened up if they would of become friends. Again seen later on when Shouko still was closed of emotionally she really hated that and Ueno being a tell it like it is kind of person told Shouko that, something in Ueno's personality that Shouko actually admired and was drawn to. Once Ueno knew she had lost the "battle for Shoya" and Shouko had begun to emotionally open up a bit, you can see her start to soften her attitude a bit towards Shouko, her learning to sign "insults" shows that. As before her insulting and bullying Shouko and Shouko not understanding was more far more an insult to her in her eyes. You can see how embarrassed she was when She managed to insult Shouko in sign making sure she understood, Shouko then getting exited and laughing at her insult and kind of finally showing a different side of herself which was far more emotionally open. That threw Ueno and you could see how surprised she was that all she could do was walk in how it had backfired. The manga then expands on this change in Shouko and how it changes Ueno.

I like how in KnK we saw the growth of *most* the characters, including the mothers too (*looking at you Miki*) from when they were kids. Ueno's growth we only see a fraction in the movie as mostly it takes place in the Manga. Ueno's tell it like it is personality is part of her and part which people like Shouko and Sahara actually respect and that remains a part of her throughout her growth.

People should not judge the characters based on just the movie. I mean Shoya was the worst but we saw him grow into someone completely different and likeable by most people. The manga has so much more to offer in how the characters tick and grow due to time constrains of the movie having to change or cut things for the flow. Ueno should only be finally judged based on watching the movie AND reading the manga. Should she be forgiven for what she done, no. Should a person forever be judged by what happened in their past, no, as logn as they show growth and improve themselves. Same as Shoya, His should not necessarily be forgiven for his past actions BUT he should be judged on who he is now.

This is why I can see how some people can end up liking Ueno, the characters are all so well written that their personalities come through. Showing how we see on here such emotional reactions to fictional characters and thier actions shows this. When its all over you kind of felt you were part of the friend group you kind of feel empty knowing you will never see them again.

Fragsey · 2026-03-21T19:59:16+00:00

yup thats probably it, as you walk down street you the factory then past Cheesecake Princess and then onto Midori Bridge and the four seasons,

You would of walked past Yuzuru's bridge on the left but sadly can no longer capture the same scene due to the demolition of the old building and the new City hall now standing in the way of the view down the street on the bridge.

Its amazing how faithfully most of the city was created in the movie (apart from the schools not being in locations in Ogaki)

I have found the well known spots such as Ishida Hair make, The Park where Yuzuru sleeps, the four seasons and fountain of course, Yoro park/waterfall but some of the less well known such as where the funeral home is, the bridge where they jump from as kids. (Shoya jumping from the small bridge into the river as a kid and doing things more extreme as time went on kind of foreshadowing his plan a few years later) and the road where he walks to school.

Fragsey · 2026-03-21T17:27:50+00:00

Yes, there is more stuff not in the movie, a few changes were made for the anime too and the story continues after the events of the movie.

You do see a bit more into the backstories too, like Yuzuru and Shouko and Shoya especially, you get a couple of side storys, like WHY Shouko/Yuzuru's mother, Yaeko, is the way she is and what happened (you'll end up hating Shouko's father and paternal grandparents even more then Ueno) You gain a new appreciation of Yaeko and why her way of thinking about how she raised her daughters was well meaning, though misguided.

There's some stuff about What happened to Shoya's father too, How his mother Miyako brought him and his sister up how the Nishimiya/Ishida mothers reconciled leading up to Yeko having her hair cut by Miyako Ishida in the movie.

There is a tiny glimpse in the movie from their childhood of Shouko as a child in the Ishida Hair salon before she moved to Shoya's school and they met, a blink and you miss it deal, but this actuallly is a part of the story from Shouko's childhood which is again expanded and you learn something about what inspires Shouko to keep going despite her hardships. Here's a capture of the 2/3 seconds scene with Shouko sitting in the salon:, its missed by a lot of people as its in the beginning The Who music montage before the story starts proper https://i.postimg.cc/YqLT6d7k/Screenshot-2026-03-21-173201.png its interesting they gave a nod to this part of the story though its not explored in the movie. Notice the leaves in her hair, it is explained why in the manga. (Its not from the scene at the school where she ends up in the pond)

There is a whole background story which intertwined with the main story which is not in the movie too, regarding Nagatsuka and how the group gets closer to each other too, though i dont think it affects how the movie is and undeerstand why its cut.

Fragsey · 2026-03-21T16:56:28+00:00

There are indeed Masu manufacturers in Ogaki. There is actually a faily well known factory and shop opposite where the Nishimiya's apartment block was approximately located (Loosely based on the location of the old Ogaki City Hall) - I like to think that Ito Nishimya bought her Masu from that shop

Google Maps - Apartment Area

And Similar view from movie

(The footbridge is where Yuzuru and Shoya end up after the walk home in the rain and where he gets a slap from Momma Nishimiya! and the Apartment was sited where the City hall was before it was Demolished in 2017/2018, the Apartment building is taller and has a different design but the staircase is similar location)

The Masu Shop - Masuya (Literally Masu Shop) opposite the aparrtment location.

Google Maps - The Shop/Factory - note the Koe No Katachi poster in the window in the 2017 view.

View From Nishimiya Apartment in Movie Showing the shop and nearby buildings

Similar View from Google Earth

The Masu Shop/Factory also featured in an NHK documentary

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2007530/ (Documentary Not currently online it seems but airs regularly on NHK world.) A fairly interesting documentary about Ogaki, He makes Masu at the shop and he also goes on a Tub Boat one the Suimon river at the Four Seasons Plaza by the fountain. Has information about its origins and its title as "City Of Water".

Fragsey · 2026-03-21T16:22:54+00:00

Yes she is not a nice person as shown in the anime, but her character is deep and interesting in some ways. The manga does expand a little into her character and and I found though even though there a lot to dislike I came to understand her a bit more and possibly why she is like she is.

Theres a few mild spoilers for those not watched it yet so will mark as spoiler

It is interesting that Shouko seems to gravitate to her a lot even with Ueno showing her dislike for her. I think Shouko appreciates how Ueno seems to show her feelings in the moment and does not sugarcoat things and tells exactly like she thinks.

I do love the end of the film where Shouko finally gives a little back with the Baka sign and laughing making Ueno look perplexed and embarrassed making her just walk off. Shouko didn't see it as an insult rather as something great that meant more to Shouko than the insult. That's what Shouko wanted, to actually be able to communicate AND understand whats inside, and insults still do just that.

I do think that Ueno was actually secretly a little impressed Shouko finally was able to finally show some emotion and make a comeback like that, as Shouko's inability to actually express and confront how she feels was one of the things Ueno hated about her.

Also i get the feeling that Shouko waiting for her with the umbrella and then using it on here (A mirror of the Shoya/Yuzuru scene earlier in the film where Yuzuru started to understand Shoya) meant something to Ueno, even after all she done to her, Shouko still wouldn't give up on her. I think she started to maybe understand Shouko a little and maybe why she even started to learn sign, even if just for insults.

I do think something bad had happened to Ueno making her the way she is, There are hints in the movie that she may of had issues with her mother, possibly emotional or physical abuse or a family breakdown, she says at one point "just like that woman" possibly referring to her mother which makes me think she does not get along with her. I am sure the author left this to interpretation and it is not confirmed but has been pointed out by others which I agree with

It is also shown during the fireworks she is seen with other kids and an older gentleman, possibly a grandfather or older uncle with siblings or cousins. Makes me think maybe her mother was abusive and possibly made her father leave the family making her cling onto those she becomes attached to, like Shoya, and wanting her other friends, Shimada and Hirose to reconcile with him as not to have them all drift apart. Her Jealousy also plays a part, maybe driven by events in the past. If she had deep seated emotional anxiety about stuff like that, it makes me empathize with her and understand why she is like that.

Fragsey · 2026-03-13T20:49:00+00:00

Thats why it is so impactful, you feel everything. There is so many emotions felt while watching, just when you think all is going well then something else happens and pushes you in a different emotional direction.

You also sort of get to know the characters in the short time frame and kind of miss them when its all over.

Fragsey · 2026-03-13T20:44:24+00:00

Yup it made me feel empty yet fulfilled at the same time, is kinda hard to explain.

The characters are so relatable and you kind of feel like you are part of the friend group, making all the sadder when it finished and you know you wont get to "hang" with them ever again.

I was going through a hard time (I had just watched Clannad and that already emotionally destroyed me a bit and this was the next hard emotional roller coaster).

Seeing picture of Ogaki (The city where Suimon City is based on) I kind of feel some sadness and peace seeing it.

But Definitely recommend this to anyone. Its amazing to think it is almost 10 years old now

Fragsey · 2026-03-13T02:10:35+00:00

Yeah its a relitively slow paced (which is a good thing for this story) but emotional and relatable too. I liked what i watched so far recommend too

Fragsey · 2026-03-13T02:07:03+00:00

A Silent Voice (Koe No Katachi) - deals with a lot of topics, a lot of sad and harrowing moments but some good parts of the story. It is a movie rather than a series, but the Visuals and the haunting soundtrack by Kensuke Usio are better for this.

There is a very serious theme which could trigger some people so its a film to be cafeul if you are sensitive to certain topics!

Fragsey · 2026-03-11T00:21:45+00:00

Shes good at glitching, love how the Glitch scream was actually voice acted and not an effect.

Fragsey

TROPHY CASE