For anime fans who are wondering where Naoko Yamada’s new anime movie The Colors Within is set, the film takes place in the beautiful seaside city of Nagasaki.
When the film was released in PH cinemas last month, I went to my nearest theater to watch it as I didn’t want to miss any local screening of a Science SARU anime (I luckily got to see the first three episodes of Dandadan and a festival screening of Inu-Oh). If you’re a fan of Science SARU and Naoko Yamada’s work, The Colors Within won’t disappoint.
While watching the movie, I wondered where the film was set as the characters didn’t mention what city they were in at any point. Given that the movie was set in a Catholic boarding school, my first thought was Nagasaki. After all, Nagasaki is considered the center of Catholicism in Japan given how Christianity is linked to the city’s history.
After watching the movie, I tried searching for English sources, though there wasn’t any info in English about where The Colors Within is set. It turns out that Yamada’s latest movie is indeed set in Nagasaki, as confirmed by the official X account of the Nagasaki City Tourism Exchange Promotion Office.
In a post shared back in November, the Nagasaki Tourism Office shared a collaboration with the film wherein a Nagasaki tramcar is wrapped in a special The Colors Within design.
長崎をモデルとした映画『#きみの色』が全国の映画館で大ヒット公開中！#長崎市 では映画公開を記念して、『きみの色』#ラッピング路面電車 を運行中！
映画のモデルとなった長崎の美しい街とラッピング電車のコラボレーションをお楽しみください！9月12日（木）〜12月11日（水）
全系統で運行 pic.twitter.com/AH6TwgYNPm— 長崎市観光交流推進室 (@nagasakikanko) September 20, 2024
This tramcar plies the Nagasaki Electric Tramway lines until December 11, meaning fans who visit will still have a chance to see it in the next couple of weeks.
The fact that Yamada’s film is set in Nagasaki is interesting in many ways. Firstly, the vast majority of anime are set in Tokyo, so it’s refreshing to see Nagasaki be the setting. Then, there’s the fact that the movie uses Nagasaki’s Christian history as part of its story. While it’s not exactly a Christian film, it is quite unique given that most anime films or shows incorporate either Buddhist or Shinto beliefs.
Aside from its interesting setting, The Colors Within is a lovely film as it features a heartwarming story that’s complemented by eye-catching visuals and great music. Naoko Yamada and Science SARU fans definitely shouldn’t miss this.
Anime fans in the US can look forward to The Colors Within’s theatrical release on January 24, 2025.