Welcome to another day of Doki Doki Days 2025! It’s been a really interesting year for Shoujo lately and that means something from me, Star. Given, my favorite genre is Seinen it’s always been hard for me to watch either Shoujo or Shounen. Mainly I wanted a good plot, great character design, unique artistic style and boppin’ music. I am happy to report that there have been more anime this year to cross over the line than any other year in a long time. So here’s why I like A Sign of Affection:
The Blurb
A girl named Yuki who was born deaf meets a wordly upperclassman who’s hyper fixation is learning languages. His name is Itsuomi. Together they navigate dating as he learns sign language and she learns the nuances of dating.
The Romance & Friendships
There are tropes like all Shoujo anime/manga. But specifically like the emphasis on the slightly older characters. It’s not the first in its kind to show a college romance but it certainly is for being in college with a disability and the difficulties to navigate school, work and relationships. The story then became a dissertation on Communication in relationships. Sharing how you feel no matter how you choose to express it, is better than years of regret. I did hear that the anime
Transparency on Deafness
Given that Yuki is the only one in the anime with Deafness in the cast, the friends she made along the way changed how they interacted, not just with her but with all relationships. Some of her oldest friends learned sign language in the elementary school with her to communicate more easily (it may had been a school for the deaf). While others use texting and writing to communicate. Although she could read lips they didn’t automatically assume she could and did their best to adjust and include her in conversations and outings.
Artistic style
Some truly beautiful watercolor-style moments helped emphasize scenes to give emotional significance to the anime. There is a lot of play on her name, Yuki (which means snow) during the winter scenes which is when the anime begins.
Music
So all in all, 10/10 would recommend it swept in our annual anime awards for good reason. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was such a heartwarming story. But I learned a lot about communication and different ways to show affection. I feel there are a lot of words unsaid and a lot of words that aren’t needed, it’s about getting to the point of what we want to say. With that being said, there is a side of viewers that believe Itsuomi may be a red flag. That his obsession with language is what drives him in the relationship with Yuki. Funnily enough, that is a view a side character has about him too. Of course there’s more to the story in the manga and maybe we’ll get a second season that will dive deeper into their relationship but that’s where I leave you.
AishiteLOVEru~
Star
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