A Sign of Affection is a heartwarming tale of love and understanding, offering a fresh perspective on deafness. This anime beautifully captures the delicate nuances of first love, immersing viewers in the vibrant yet quiet world of Yuki, a young woman navigating life with deafness. The soft colour palette and gentle animation create an atmosphere that is both soothing and immersive, drawing you into a world where communication transcends words.
Belonging to the romance and slice-of-life genres, A Sign of Affection presents a realistic view of daily life through the lens of its female protagonist. It’s a beginner-friendly anime, perfect for those looking to escape the chaos of daily life. Let’s be honest—sometimes watching fictional characters fall in love can be the perfect antidote to a stressful day. While the anime has received both praise and criticism, I’ll be exploring both sides, though I must confess—I’m a sucker for romance anime, and the number of times I go “kyaaaaaa” while watching should probably be illegal.
About A Sign of Affection Anime
A Sign of Affection, or Yubisaki to Renren in Japan, is an ongoing manga series by the creative duo Suu Morishita—a pseudonym shared by writer and storyboard artist Makiro and illustrator Nachiyan. The series began in July 2019 and has been compiled into ten volumes as of December 2023. The anime adaptation covers the first six volumes.
The Plot (Spoilers Ahead, But It’s Just 12 Episodes, So Forgive Me)
Yuki Itose is a 19-year-old university student who has been deaf since birth. Despite this, she’s intelligent and independent, navigating life with a quiet determination. She attends a “normal” university for the first time after spending her earlier years in a Special Education School for the Hearing Impaired. Yuki can lip-read Japanese well, which allows her to follow lectures, though she does rely on her best friend Rin to type out notes for her.
One day, a foreigner on the train asks Yuki for directions, and she’s unable to lip-read in English. Her attempt to communicate using Japanese Sign Language (JSL) is interrupted by a tall, silver-haired man named Itsuomi Nagi, who helps the foreigner. What stands out to Yuki is that Itsuomi shows no change in expression after learning about her disability. Instead, he closes the distance between them and asks if she can read his lips, treating her like any other person.
Critics have pointed out Itsuomi’s tendency to encroach on Yuki’s personal space. It’s true—he is quite handsy, often touching her face, patting her head, and draping his arm around her. However, I’d like to weakly defend him by saying that he’s a well-travelled man, and in some cultures, close physical contact isn’t a big deal. Plus, when sound is unavailable, communicating through other senses makes sense, right? Very weakly defending him, yes.
As fate would have it, Itsuomi turns out to be Yuki’s upperclassman in college and an acquaintance of Rin. Yuki shares the story of their encounter with Rin, who teases her about having a crush. They soon find themselves at a restaurant where Itsuomi works part-time, and Yuki is surprised by his eagerness to learn sign language. Impressed by his quick grasp of JSL, Yuki creates a detailed guidebook for him, sparking a connection between them. There is a spark between them, both fuelled by ingenuity and curiosity – for Yuki, this opens up her tiny world to places and sights she has never seen or heard of before; and for Itsuomi, he wanted to know how she viewed the world.
As Yuki’s feelings for Itsuomi grow, she doesn’t pity herself or see her disability as a barrier to love. Instead, she bravely steps out of her comfort zone, dropping hints about her feelings and seizing every opportunity to be near him. Itsuomi, too, starts to develop feelings for her, and they begin meeting without Rin’s third-wheeling.
Yuki has a male friend named Oushi Ashioki, a childhood friend who is also in love with her. He’s the typical tsundere, hiding his feelings behind harsh sign language. One night, as Yuki heads to meet Itsuomi, Oushi tries to discourage her, warning that Itsuomi might be pretending to be nice. Yuki ignores him and continues on her way.
In the sixth episode, Itsuomi confesses his feelings for Yuki, asking if they can become a couple. What I loved most about this scene was that because of the sound barrier, Yuki had to be clear and direct with her feelings. She couldn’t afford to be misunderstood, so when Itsuomi asked her out, she eagerly nodded “Yes!” several times.
As the anime progresses, the focus shifts slightly to the love stories of the side characters, like Rin and Kyouya, and Emma and Shin. While these subplots add depth to the narrative, I must admit that I was more interested in the main couple, so I found myself skipping through some of the side stories. But I know others appreciate the additional layers these characters bring to the story.
Aesthetics – Animation quality
Let’s dive into the aesthetics—the visual allure and the quality of animation that bring A Sign of Affection to life. The series excels in its visual storytelling, particularly in how it captures Yuki’s unique experience. The anime’s meticulous attention to colour and scenery is no accident; it’s a deliberate choice to immerse us in Yuki’s world, where sound is absent and sight reigns supreme.
As the story shifts focus to her friends, the colours dim, and the sounds become more pronounced. But when we return to Yuki’s perspective, the palette brightens, light saturates even the darkest scenes, and the soundtrack falls into silence. It’s a subtle yet striking way to put viewers in her shoes, urging us to see through her eyes and truly appreciate her heightened awareness of her surroundings.
Conclusion
The narrative’s strength lies in its simplicity—focusing not on grandiose drama but on the subtle, everyday moments that define Yuki’s life. Some critics argue that the show romanticizes Yuki’s deafness, using it as a plot device rather than exploring its deeper implications. They view Yuki’s character as lacking depth, a shy, kawaii archetype whose innocence borders on infantilization. Others criticize the seemingly quick progression of the romance, but let’s be honest—falling in love isn’t exactly scientific.
For others, however, this simplicity is the show’s charm. A Sign of Affection doesn’t try to be a complex exploration of disability but rather a slice-of-life romance that allows viewers to escape into a world where love is pure, gentle, and kind. Its focus on the little joys and struggles of Yuki’s life, from learning to navigate new social situations to the excitement of first love, resonates with those who seek comfort in the familiar rhythms of daily life.
Whether you find solace in its gentle narrative or feel frustrated by its lack of depth, A Sign of Affection remains a heartfelt exploration of love that speaks to the universal desire for understanding and acceptance.