A Sign of Affection explained

Ja Kanji:ゆびさきと恋々
Ja Romaji:Yubisaki to Renren
Genre:Drama, romance
Type:manga
Author:Suu Morishita
Publisher:Kodansha
Demographic:Shōjo
Magazine:Dessert
First:July 24, 2019
Type:TV series
Director:Yūta Murano
Music:Yukari Hashimoto
Studio:Ajia-do Animation Works
Licensee:Crunchyroll
Network:Tokyo MX, MBS, BS NTV, AT-X
First:January 6, 2024
Last:March 23, 2024
Episodes:12
Portal:yes

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Suu Morishita. It started serialization in Kodansha's Dessert magazine in July 2019. As of July 2024, eleven tankōbon volumes have been released. An anime television series adaptation produced by Ajia-do Animation Works aired from January to March 2024.

Plot

Yuki Itose is a university student with congenital hearing loss. Besides sign language, she communicates through text and lip reading. When a foreigner asked her for direction in language she assumed English, a young man comes to her aid and catches Yuki's attention. The story revolves around Yuki as she narrates her silent world, and the people around her.

Characters

A 19-year-old timid deaf girl who attended school for the deaf until high school and enrolled in public university. She meets Itsuomi on the train and falls in love with him after they spend time together.
  • A 22-year-old multilingual young man who often travels abroad. He is a senior at Yuki's university who developed a crush on her the moment he met her on the train.
  • Yuki's childhood friend who can use sign language to communicate. He is very protective of Yuki, much to her annoyance. He has been in love with Yuki since childhood, which explains his controlling behavior towards her, but has kept his feelings to himself since he knows she doesn't like him.
  • Itsuomi's older cousin who runs a bar. He often supports his cousin's relationship with Yuki, and it's strongly implied he may harbor secret feelings for Rin, though it's unclear as of yet.
  • Yuki's best friend, who helps her take notes at classes. She is very supportive of Yuki's love towards Itsuomi. She has a crush on Kyōya.
  • Itsuomi's friend who has been in love with him since high school, even though he never reciprocated. She often tries to get close to Itsuomi, who pushes her away every time. Her love for him is very obvious, and was quickly noticed by Yuki who was initially suspicious. Eventually, Emma is able to move on from her hopeless crush on Itsuomi and begins to date Shin.
  • Itsuomi and Emma's best friend who works at a hair salon. He has been secretly in love with Emma since high school, even though she never noticed.

    • Development

    In an interview with Kodansha USA, the author duo Suu Morishita stated that they decided to make the main theme sign language since they were both interested in the idea.[1] However, since neither of them had much experience with sign language, they did research, which included reading books on the subject, interviewing teachers, and getting someone to supervise how it was used.[1]

    When it came to the art, they decided to use Copic Multiliner brown markers for the outlines and Dr. Ph. Martin's color ink for the coloring because they felt it gave the art a "soft and delicate" style.[1]

    Media

    Manga

    The series is written and illustrated by the author duo Suu Morishita. It started serialization in Dessert on July 24, 2019.[2] On June 24, 2021, it was announced the manga would go on a hiatus as the writer and storyboarder gave birth to a child. The manga returned in November 2021.[3] As of July 2024, eleven tankōbon volumes have been released.

    In March 2020, Kodansha USA announced they licensed the manga for English publication digitally.[4] At Anime Expo Lite in July 2020, they announced a print release for the series.[5] Later that month, they announced they would publish chapters of the series digitally simultaneously with the Japanese release.[6] Kodansha's K Manga added the series to its simultaneous-publication catalogue in August 2023 after the series had been removed from Kodansha USA services in January.[7] The series was also translated into French by Rosalys and published by Akata.[8]

    Volumes

    Musical

    A musical adaption ran in the Honda Theater in Tokyo from June 4 to June 13, 2021. It was directed by Maiko Tanaka, with Sanae Iijima writing the screenplay, Kiyoko Ogino composing the music, and Kiyomi Maeda in charge of choreography. It starred Erika Toyohara as Yuki, Takahisa Maeyama as Itsuomi, Manatsu Hayashi as Rin, Saho Aono as Ema, Ikeoka Ryōsuke as Ōshi, Kodai Miyagi as Shin, and Ryuji Kamiyama as Kyōya.[9]

    Anime

    An anime television series adaptation was announced on July 5, 2023. It is produced by Ajia-do Animation Works and directed by Yūta Murano, with Yōko Yonaiyama composing the series, Kasumi Sakai designing the characters, and Yukari Hashimoto composing the music.[10] The series aired from January 6 to March 23, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[11] The opening theme song is, performed by Novelbright, while the ending theme song is "Snowspring", performed by ChoQMay.[12] Crunchyroll licensed the series.[13] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[14]

    Episodes

    Reception

    The series ranked 17th in the 2020 Next Manga Award.[15] It ranked ninth in the 2021 edition of the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook's top 20 Manga for female readers.[16] Also that year the series was nominated for the 45th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo category;[17] it was nominated for the 46th edition in the same category in 2022;[18] for the 47th edition in 2023;[19] and the 48th edition in 2024.[20] The manga was also nominated for the first Ebook Japan manga award.[21] The manga also won the grand prize at the eleventh An An manga award.[22] The manga has been nominated for the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo category.[23]

    The series has received widespread critical acclaim. Sean Gaffney from Manga Bookshelf gave the first volume praise, calling it an "excellent debut" and stating he wanted to read more.[24] Koiwai from Manga News also praised it.[25] Like Gaffney and Koiwai, Darkstorm from Anime UK News also gave the first volume praise, comparing it to A Silent Voice, as well as calling it "beautifully drawn and written".[26]

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Creator Interview: Suu Morishita talks A Sign of Affection & Simulpub Debut. Kodansha USA. July 20, 2020. May 30, 2021.
    2. Web site: Suu Morishita Launches New Yubisaki to Renren Manga This Summer. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. May 25, 2019. May 30, 2021.
    3. Web site: A Sign of Affection Manga Goes on Hiatus Due to Storyboard Writer Giving Birth. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. June 26, 2021. June 26, 2021.
    4. Web site: Kodansha Comics Licenses Kakushigoto, My Roomie Is a Dino, Orient, 5 Other Manga for Digital Release. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. March 8, 2020. May 30, 2021.
    5. Web site: Kodansha Comics to Release A Sign of Affection Manga in Print, Blood on the Tracks Manga Digitally. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. July 4, 2020. May 30, 2021.
    6. Web site: Kodansha Comics Launches Simulpub of A Sign of Affection Manga. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. July 21, 2020. May 30, 2021.
    7. Web site: Kodansha's K Manga Service Adds Suu Morishita's A Sign of Affection Manga. Mateo. Alex. August 25, 2023. Anime News Network. August 27, 2023.
    8. Web site: A Sign of Affection T.1. Akata. May 30, 2021. fr.
    9. Web site: A Sign of Affection Manga Gets Musical in June. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. March 12, 2021. May 30, 2021.
    10. Web site: Dempsey. Liam. A Sign of Affection Manga Signals TV Anime Adaptation. Crunchyroll. July 5, 2023. July 5, 2023.
    11. Web site: ja:『ゆびさきと恋々』2024年1月6日放送スタート、追加声優に東山奈央さん・畠中祐さん！ OPはNovelbright、EDはチョーキューメイが担当. https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1700654616. Animate Times. November 23, 2023. November 23, 2023. ja.
    12. Web site: Cayanan. Joanna. A Sign of Affection Anime Unveils 2 More Cast Members, Theme Song Artists. Anime News Network. November 23, 2023. November 23, 2023.
    13. Web site: Cardine. Kyle. The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent Season 2, A Sign of Affection and More Anime are Coming to Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll. August 26, 2023. August 25, 2023.
    14. Web site: November 17, 2023. 【Muse Asia 2024 Distribution Announcement】《A Sign of Affection》. November 17, 2023. Muse Asia via YouTube.
    15. Web site: Shonen Jump's Undead Unluck Wins Tsugi ni Kuru Manga 2020 Awards. Anime News Network. Loveridge. Lynzee. August 19, 2020. May 30, 2021.
    16. Web site: Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Editors Unveil 2021 Rankings. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. December 17, 2020. May 30, 2021.
    17. Web site: 45th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. April 7, 2021. May 30, 2021.
    18. Web site: 46th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael. April 7, 2022. April 7, 2022.
    19. Web site: ja:第47回講談社漫画賞、最終候補作15作品を発表. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/520241. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. April 10, 2023. ja. April 10, 2023.
    20. Web site: Cayanan. Joanna. 48th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced. Anime News Network. April 8, 2024. April 8, 2024.
    21. Web site: 新設の「ebookjapanマンガ大賞」に20作品ノミネート、投票で割引クーポン当たる. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc. December 24, 2020. May 30, 2021. ja.
    22. Web site: ananマンガ大賞. Net Off. May 30, 2021. ja.
    23. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Chi, Blood on the Tracks, Sakamoto Days, More Nominated for 68th Shogakukan Manga Awards. Anime News Network. December 2, 2022. December 2, 2022.
    24. Web site: Bookshelf Briefs 4/9/20. Manga Bookshelf. Gaffney. Sean. April 9, 2020. November 3, 2022.
    25. Web site: A Sign of Affection. Manga News. Koiwai. November 29, 2020. May 30, 2021. fr.
    26. Web site: A Sign of Affection Volume 1. Anime UK News. Darkstorm. April 6, 2021. May 30, 2021.

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