Review of Sing a Bit of Harmony

Since the beginning, science fiction has warned us of terrors of technology; films like 2001 and Terminator demonstrate the violent capabilities of artificial intelligence, whereas Psycho Pass outlines a horrifying reality in which the dictation of our lives by machines has eroded our individualism. However, one interesting commonality I’ve noticed among Yasuhiro Yoshiura’s work is his dedication to rejecting these theses. For Yoshiura, small technological advancements intended to convenience us (such as friendly home AIs) are not something to be feared. Large corrupt corporations and organisations that seek to prevent the evolution of such technology are presented as irrational and reactionary. In this case, Shion—anAI who literally spreads happiness through song, is the vessel that allows the protagonists to overcome their fears and learn about themselves; it’s a story that certainly lacks subtlety, but I admire Yoshiura’s delightfully optimistic vision of the future.