Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

"One summer, youth runs free"

2021 1h 28m JA

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 350

AnimationRomanceDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After meeting one day, a shy boy who expresses himself through haiku and a bubbly but self-conscious girl share a brief, magical summer.

“One summer, youth runs free”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Somegoro Ichikawa
Cherry (voice)
Hana Sugisaki
Smile (voice)
Megumi Han
Beaver (voice)
Natsuki Hanae
Japan (voice)
Yuuichirou Umehara
Toughboy (voice)
Megumi Nakajima
Julie (voice)
Sumire Morohoshi
Marie (voice)
Shizuka Itoh
Nami (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kyohei Ishiguro
Writers: Dai Sato, Kyohei Ishiguro, Kyohei Ishiguro
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kyohei Ishiguro, shot by Yoshihiro Sekiya. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Kensuke Ushio. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Akinori Mishima shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Somegoro Ichikawa and Hana Sugisaki and Megumi Han carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "One summer, youth runs free".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt12735338 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kyohei Ishiguro directs. Yoshihiro Sekiya behind the camera. Kensuke Ushio scores. Akinori Mishima cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 5 years ago.
3Directed by Kyohei Ishiguro, shot by Yoshihiro Sekiya. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Kensuke Ushio. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Akinori Mishima shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Somegoro Ichikawa and Hana Sugisaki and Megumi Han carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "One summer, youth runs free".
8IMDB entry: tt12735338 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 11 themes, including "small town", "music record", "poem", "love".

The technical file

Cinematography: Yoshihiro Sekiya
Original score: Kensuke Ushio
Editing: Akinori Mishima
Runtime: 88 min · 1h 28m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2021)

Also by

Kyohei Ishiguro

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-09-24
★ 9/10
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop offers a simple yet heartfelt story about self-acceptance and young romance, told through a light and relatable narrative. While the animation style and background art feel somewhat static and less dynamic for a theatrical release, the film compensates with a strong, coherent storyline and charming musical choices. Despite its visual limitations, this anime remains an enjoyable and meaningful watch, especially for older teens and adults. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

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