Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop or Cider no yô ni kotoba ga wakiagaru is a drama-romance anime movie directed by Kyohei Ishiguro and written by Dai Satô. The voice cast includes Somegorô Ichikawa, Hana Sugisaki and Megumi Han, alongside other cast members. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop has a runtime of 87 minutes.
The official Netflix description reads:
After meeting one bright, sunny day, a shy boy who expresses himself through haiku and a bubbly but self-conscious girl share a brief, magical summer.
– Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop review has no spoilers –
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop was made for FlyingDog’s 10th anniversary. For the uninformed, FlyingDog is a record label studio that is behind the music of some of the biggest anime releases out there.
Anyway, our protagonists are two very shy kids – Cherry and Smile, who are extremely self-conscious and thus, not very social. Cherry writes haiku and uses headphones so as not to communicate with anyone. Meanwhile, Smile is adept at social media but the braces that she is using seriously messes with her self-esteem; thus, she uses a mask to hide her face. However, a chance meeting at the local mall does wonders for both of them.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is as much about learning to communicate as it is a coming-of-age movie. As with most teenagers out there, the movie centres around the mall – a place for kids to hang out at, especially during the summer.
Cherry and Smile’s simple (and sometimes complicated) problems are very relatable. However, they are brought forth in a way that will also make you laugh. It’s typical anime style, with beads of sweat and all that. But it’s entertaining all the same. The scene where they talk to each other while walking down the road from the mall is so wonderfully done – full of warmth and teenage awkwardness.
That’s what totally got to me about Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, it’s so absolutely warm and cute. Or, as Smile would probably say, kawaii! The way the two meet, get to know each other and eventually help each other to get over their inhibitions is absolutely relatable and awesome to watch.
Mr Fujiyama has an impact on their growing closeness as well and it’d be unfair to not mention him. Fujiyama is an elderly man who is obsessed with finding a lost record. Cherry and Smile work at the elder centre where they take care of him and others like him. The need to find that record for Fujiyama pushes them on an adventure that ends up into a magical summer.
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Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is as much a movie about the past as it is the present. In a way, you have these swanky kids with their smartphones and gadgets. On the other hand, there’s an urgency to find a record that no one knows about. Indeed, records have more or less gone extinct. And when they do find it, finally, it’s a moment of pure joy and emotions.
The animation style of Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is absolutely beautiful. I really enjoy this style, it looks like watercolour! There aren’t many lines or perfect colours and they all just seem to blend and run into each other. It gives the narrative an additional boost – in my opinion, the animation style gels beautifully with the story.
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Summing up: Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
Like the title of the movie Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a movie that will make the emotions inside you bubble up. Cherry and Smile’s meet-cute is kawaii but apart from that, there are a lot of things that will touch your heart.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is streaming on Netflix.
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