Since Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice) is a critically acclaimed rather than an episodic TV series, there isn't technically an "Episode 1". However, the movie's opening act—covering Shoya Ishida’s elementary school days—functions as a powerful introduction to the story.

The Sound of Regret: Revisiting the Opening Act of Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice)

Director Naoko Yamada and the team at Kyoto Animation use this opening to establish the film’s unique visual language.

We see the early signs of Shoya’s social isolation, which later manifests as blue "X"s over people’s faces, symbolizing his inability to look others in the eye or listen to them.