A sign of affectionn always makes me giggle and twirl my hair. The romance shojo series follows Yuki, a deaf college student, who meets the charming Itsuomi, a fellow student with a passion for languages. The two are instantly smitten and eventually a romantic relationship blossoms between them (and because this is a romance anime, other characters also start having their own crushes and relationships and whatnot).
It’s a really sweet show, full of cute moments and swoon-worthy confessions, and probably the best romance anime of the year. But there’s one thing about the show that I can’t stop thinking about: the lips.
Unlike other anime, the characters’ lips are rendered with more detail and attention — they’re fully drawn, highlighted and shaded, and just really stand out. From the beginning of the opening sequence, my eyes were drawn to the sculpted, very pink mouths, and as I watched further, I kept looking straight at those lips. At first, the stylistic choice (which follows the manga) surprised me. But then I realized Why.
Image: Ajia-do Animation Works, Crunchyroll
The reason the lips are so detailed in this show is because that’s how the main character sees the world. A frustrating amount of people in Yuki’s life (including her own mother!) don’t know sign language, so her primary method of communication is through reading lips. Since most of the show is from her point of view, it makes perfect sense that the lips would be a specific focus. In order to connect with others, she has to focus on their mouths so she can understand what they’re saying and type responses into her phone.
Yuki seems pretty resigned to this status quo. But Itsuomi changes all that, by actually learning sign language proactively. He’s a polyglot who loves to travel, but his interest in sign language isn’t just to add another language to his roster. He wants to connect with Yuki, and he’s also taking the time and effort to make sure he gets it right. It’s an incredibly meaningful gesture that only serves to confirm the depth of their affection.
And of course his lips are some of the most luscious in the show, a soft baby pink color with just now enough attention for them. After all, Yuki pays special attention to what he says!
All episodes of A sign of affection are available to stream on Crunchyroll.