A Sign of Affection never fails to reduce me to giggles and hair twirling. The romantic shojo series follows Yuki, a deaf university student, who meets the charming Itsuomi, a fellow student with a passion for studying languages. The two are immediately smitten, and eventually a romantic relationship blossoms between them (and this being a romance anime, other characters also start dealing with their own crushes and relationships and what not).
It’s a very sweet show, full of adorable moments and swoon-worthy confessions, and probably the best romance anime of the year. But there’s also something particular about it that I cannot stop thinking about: the lips.
Unlike other anime, the characters’ lips are rendered with more detail and attention — they’re drawn fully, given highlights and shading, and just really stand out. From the beginning of the opening sequence, I found my gaze drawn to the shapely, very pink mouths, and as I watched more, I kept looking right at those lips. At first, the stylistic choice (which follows the manga) puzzled me. But then I realized why.
Image: Ajia-do Animation Works, Crunchyroll
The reason the lips in this show are so detailed 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 by reading lips. Considering most of the show is through her point-of-view, it absolutely makes sense that the lips are a particular focus. In order to connect with others, she must zero in on their mouths, so that she can make out what they are saying and type out responses on her phone.
Yuki seems pretty resigned with this status quo. But Itsuomi changes all of that, actually taking a proactive interest in learning sign language. 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 also takes the time and effort to make sure he’s getting it right. It’s an incredibly meaningful gesture that just solidifies the depth of their affections.
And of course, his lips are some of the most luscious in the show, a soft baby pink with just enough highlight on them. Yuki’s paying special attention to what he’s saying, after all!
All episodes of A Sign of Affection are available to stream on Crunchyroll.