073 4 I Have to admit this is one of the greatest movies I have seen in a while . Overall a AWESOME DVD ! A + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
066 4 Such a great movie I wanted to watch it again ! I wish there was a second one ! ! !
Our story starts out with Shizuku who is determined to read 20 books during the summer . Her father works in the local library and she can be constantly found there as well . She reads loads upon loads of books , particularly fairy tales . In fact , she reads so much that she cares for little else , friends and writing lyrics excepted , and her grades are suffering as a result . Apparently in Japan ( or just in this movie ) your entrance tests to high school are a huge deal . The High School you go do partly determines your success in life and the oppertunities available to you ( something like that ) . Instead of being caring particularly about the exams Shizuku is instead facinated at solving a mystery revolving around her library books . It seems that every book she has checked out a Seiji Amasawa has checked out before her . She can't help but wonder who this boy is like .
Meanwhile , Shizuku figures out that her best friend , Yuko , likes a fellow classmate of theirs , Sugimura . After her friend leaves her this valuble piece of knowledge , Shizuku figures out she left her library book somewhere and races off to retrieve it . In the process she bumps into a boy who proceeds to insult the lyrics she had been working on ( and incidentally had left in the library book that he found ) . Calling him a jerk all the way home , Shizuku ends up revising said lyrics , and showing them to her friends at school who are deeply impressed . Later , Shizuku is on the subway to the library to drop off a lunch for her Dad when she spots a cat on said subway . Intrigued , she follows the cat to an antique shop , leaves the lunch in the shop and once again runs into the rude boy .
Later , at school , Sugimara tries to convince Yuko to go out with a friend of his . Yuko blows up and him and leaves crying . Sugimara is crestfallen at what he could have possibly have done wrong and Yuko decides not to go to school the next day , telling the whole story to Shizuko . At school , with pleading from Sugimara , Shizuku tells the boy that her best friend has a crush on him . Sugimara then admits he's been in love with Shizuku for years . This is bad . Shizuku realizes that this is a horrible situation to be in , turns Sugimara down because she doesn't return his feelings and also would never steal her best friend's crush , and rushes over to the antique store for some solice . Who should she run into but the rude boy ? The rude boy lets her into the antique shop and Shizuku finds out that the boy's dream is to be a violin maker . She also finds out that he is none other than Seigi Amasawa ! But the time they spend together , between talking about a cat , an antique , and violins proves to smooth over any past rudeness and they become friends .
However , everything can't stay peaches and cream . The next day at school Seigi tells Shizuku his dream is coming true ! His parents have allowed him to apprentice himself to a violin maker in Italy for 2 months . If he shows promise he will be allowed to stay , after his Jr . High graduation , but if he doesn't show promise he must go to High School . In the same conversation , Seigi admits to checking out so many books in hope that Shizuku would notice him as she always seems to have her nose stuck in a book . ( Make no mistake though , Seiji still has read the books he has checked out ! ) . Shizuku realizes that she has developed a crush on Seigi but it is all for naught as he is going away for two months . Despondant , Shizuku has tea with her best friend , Yuko , and tells her how inadaquate she feels compared to Seigi , who not only has read a lot of books , but puts his talents to use and knows what he wants to do with his life . Shizuku , determined to proove herself worthy of him , decides to use the two months to write a book , as she has been told she's a gifted writer . Inspired by one of the antiques in the store , Shizuku starts writing constantly , staying up at least once until 4 am . , to the detriment of her grades . Her parents , however , say that she must follow her heart . The two months rolls along and she finishes her book . She still feels so inadaquate to Seigi and believes that she can never catch up with his greatness .
This is when Seigi's grandfather , owner of the antique shop , tells her this valuable lesson . Artists are like geodes ; there are valuable gems inside an ordinary rock . Now these gems can be overshadowed by the showy crystals inside , and you can waste your time polishing those . But the real gems are uncut and rough , needing not only to be unearthed but polished . You can't tell just by looking , what valuable stone a geode may contain , but that doesn't mean there isn't one inside of the rock . He also tells her that we have to keep polishing , and yes , her initial story is good , but she needs to polish it . That is when Shizuku realizes she still has a lot to learn and decides to buckle down and study for her entrance / High School exams .
Meanwhile , Seiji has returned from Italy . He too , shows promise in his craft of choice . He decides to go to High School and then pursue his dream of making violins . Seiji and Shizuku share a touching romantic moment before the film ends .
Summary help with jogs in memory by : ( I highly recommend this sight as it pertains to all Studio Ghibli films ) .
Whisper of the Heart is certainly delightful , containing many a poignant lesson on love , friendship , success , imagination , and goals . I highly recommend it !
001 4 Whisper of the heart is one of the most sensitive , heartwarming and beautiful films ever made . Based on a shojo manga by Aoi Hiiragi , Written and produced by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondo , whisper of the heart is a tale of self discovery and coming of age of a high school girl Shizuku who is not sure what she wants in life . A series of dramatic events bring her closer to a guy Seiji from her own school . Together they embark on a journey which will help them find their inner potentials , realize their dreams and also love for each other . Also featured in the movie is an old man who runs an antique shop stocked with amazing treasures , including a magnificient porcelain figurine the baron ( also featured in The cat returns ) . Both of these characters play an important role in the film . Though The cat returns is kind of follow up to whisper yet for some reason it was released on dvd before whisper .
Rarely is a film as honest and realistic as whisper of the heart and that's what makes it amazingly special , charming and successful . Within its thin plot and realistic settings , whisper has its magic moments which are downright uplifting and strike a chord somewhere deep inside . The film itself is a breath of fresh air .
Whisper of the heart , though slow in pace , draws you in from the very beginning and refuses to let you go . Its a heartwarming tale which makes you feel nostalgic and helps you relive the adolescence . Except for the Shizuku's dreamy fantasy sequence , the film relies heavily on dialogues and simple and real situations . The locales and the backgrounds shown in the film are as beautiful and breathtaking as in any other ghibli film . Open spaces , beautiful countryside , deep blue sky with summer clouds , a bicycle ride atop the hill , there are numerous things and moments in the film that set the mood just right , leaving the viewer spellbound and satisfied . After a while you forget completely that you are watching an animated film . Music plays an important role in the film and is soft and relaxing though we do get lots of those silent moments too for which ghibli films are famous . Also featured in the film is John Denver's song country roads which makes the perfect backdrop for the film . Not to mention here , the royalty disputes which arised later , making it difficult for the movie to see an American release .
Be it character development , animation or background art of the film , attention to details is simply stunning.The incredibly detailed backgrounds of the fantasy sequences were done by Naohisa Inoue who was an established artist and a long time Miyazaki fan . Impressed by his fantasy work , Miyazaki himself invited him to work on the film . Whisper of the heart dvd released by Buena Vista in Japan includes a special documentary showcasing the dreamy artwork of the film .
Director Yoshifumi Kondo had worked on many ghibli films such as Kiki's delivery service , Grave of the fireflies and Pom poko etc , as an animator . Hayao Miyazaki , who was looking for new breed of directors for ghibli , recognised Kondo's talent in no time and gave him a chance to direct this movie . Unfortunately , whisper of the heart remains to be the first and the only film directed by Yoshifumi Kondo . Just after the release of whisper , Kondo succumbed to aneurysm . It is evident from whisper of the heart how immensely talented and sensitive director Kondo was .
Films like whisper of the heart are very rare and come once in a lifetime . Watching a film like this is an experience to behold and cherish forever .
002 4 This movie , produced by Studio Ghibli ( the same company that produces Miyazaki's movies ) is a gem . Unlike all of Miyazaki's movies , this one tells in a very poetic way a story about credible young people , their coming of age , and their growing awareness on their dreams and aspirations . It is also a beatiful love story between two children who are discovering that they seem to be made for each other .
This is also one of those movies that will remind you of your school years , and I find amazing the accuracy with which children's emotions are depicted . Indeed , this is something I really appreciate about most of these Japanese directors : the ability of depicting children for what they are , rather than as cute mature and witty little adults , as much of Hollywood instead does .
As in virtually all of Studio Ghibli's movies , the drawings are beautiful , some of them breathtaking , and the characters are lovable and well constructed . One of the major characters is a cat that will certainly end up loving !
If you liked this movie , I would also strongly suggest you to look for another two Studio Ghibli movies that share the same genre . One is Ocean waves ( which centers around the complicated love-hate relation between two high school student ) , and the other one , which is absolutely wonderful , is Only yesterday , the story of a young Tokio woman who rediscovers herself during a vacation in the countryside . I think both of them ( especially the last one ) are true masterpieces .
003 4 I am so glad that this Studio Ghibli gem is finally getting a U.S . release , so that it can get an even wider audience .
Unlike some better known Ghibli productions such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away , Whisper of the Heart has very few fantasy elements ; it's a story that is very ' real ' . The setting of Whisper Of The Heart ( original title : Mimi wo Sumaseba ) is a typical Tokyo suburb , and the main protagonists are Suzuka and Seiji , a girl and a boy in junior high school . Suzuka is not quite sure yet what she wants to do with her life , but Seiji on the other hand has already found his lifes work . The themes this movie cover are universal , such as :
What does it mean to have , and pursue a dream ? What is the use of education ? What does it mean to love someone ? And so on .
This is a perfect family movie also , for kids over age 10 or so and up . The pace may be a bit too leisurely for younger kids and they may not quite get the themes of ambition , etc as well as older kids might , though there is plenty of other elements to hold their attention , such as the gorgeous animation and the cheekiest cat imaginable . ( There is absolutely nothing in this movie that's ' inappropriate ' for young children in any way - just that the themes may be a bit difficult for them . ) Adults who remember their teenage years would love this movie also . It made me remember what it was like to be 13 and unsure of myself and what I wanted to ' do with my life ' , and of hanging out with my friends , and the crushes I had on boys , etc . This movie is particularly great for young girls , since Suzuka , the main character , is one of the most realistically portrayed low-teen girls I've ever seen on screen . Ironic , since she's animated . ( I wonder why so many Ghibli movies feature a girl as the main character ? )
I do hope that Disney doesn't dub this with hyperactive voice actors - the original voices are quite calm and ' normal ' .
Incidentally , this is a prequel of sorts to The Cat Returns ( Neko no Ongaeshi ) , since a cat statue that appears in Whisper . . . comes to life so to speak in the more fantasy-oriented The Cat Returns . You can enjoy either movie on its own , however .
004 4 Whisper of the Heart is a wonderful Ghibli movie ; although the animation style shows a bit of age , the visual compositions , the magic that makes the ordinary suddenly special , the human touch and warmth of people all make that totally inconsequential . Even if the characters might not be the smooth and flashy style , their movements , the life in them , let alone the breathtaking backgrounds are better than almost anything modern animation has produced .
The plot itself doesn't read as anything exciting that would make one pick up the movie , but that would be a mistake ; Whisper of the Heart is about idealism , about love , about the emotions that make us human , that make life worth living . This doesn't make it a boring chick flick or art movie , though . The characters have enough quirks and humor to them to keep even an action aficionado entertained .
There is nothing adult about this movie , in the best senses of that word . No foul language , no sex , no drugs , no drinking , no violence . This is the kind of movie that you can show to a child of any age , from seven to a hundred and seven , and the magic will be there . It is the kind of work that inspires faith in humanity .
005 4 Before I saw this fantastic animated masterpiece , my only contact with Japanese Anime ' was when my nieces and nephews came for visits ( they were interested in watching Ninja / Karate / Sailor Moon , etc ) . These cartoons , although hypnotic and mesmerizing to the kids , seemed mindless with no real message ( not that there's anything wrong with that ) .
One evening this past January , I was flipping through the channels when I came upon TCM's Thursday night special tribute to Hayao Miyazaki . I listened to the pre-feature info-guy describing the great artistry and storytelling of this director and thought I'll give it 2 minutes and then continue flipping .
After only ten minutes I found myself totally immersed in the experience . What a beautifully crafted , artistically amazing , and poignant study of two young Japanese students encouraging one another to follow their dreams as they surprise themselves by falling in love .
As a professional artist , I was amazed at the superb quality and artistry of the background panels , each one alone a separate masterpiece , and the 3 dimensional feel in the movement / action . This was not what I had expected .
The most striking element of this masterpiece ( at the risk of being trite ) was the slice of modern Japanese life / culture it imparted to me . The characters were real , while at the same time decent , moral kids . There was a certain innocence in the characters that was totally refreshing and endearing . They projected an almost spiritual reverence for their elders and total respect for their teachers . Because the Japanese culture is shown to be user friendly , their parents had no fear for their kids traveling on bikes and rapid transit throughout Tokyo . It was quite charming to follow the various characters through their daily activities and reminded me of my own childhood before our American culture became so dangerous .
I now own many of Miyazaki's films including Porco Rosso , Kiki's Delivery Service , Princess Mononoke , Spirited Away , Castle in the Sky , and a few others . However , my personal favorite is still Whisper of the Heart . I can't wait to introduce my nieces and nephews to these fantastic and beautiful stories .
006 4 Like chocolate milk and pancake batter , utter realism and animation rarely mix . Cartoons , completely unrestrained by the laws of physics , usually depict fanciful , imaginary , or surreal worlds and creatures that real fleshy human beings can relate to only indirectly or analogously . Talking lions , anthropomorphic toasters , ants with eyebrows , singing lawn furniture . That's the stuff of animation . Kid's stuff , at least for many living in the United States . But , across the Pacific , one of Japan's greatest animation houses , Studio Ghibli , has continually broken this tradition by incorporating human characters so believable and lifelike they could already exist two doors down . Whisper of the Heart contains realism so tangible it could work as a live action movie .
Apart from a few scenes , the entire plot of this animated film takes place within the human realm . The heroine , Shizuku Tsukishima , a junior high school student in a middle class Japanese family , faces the perennial coming of age question : what should I do with my life ? Her easily distracted squirrelish mind often wanders through fairy tales and imaginary stories . She follows tangents and roads less traveled , a habit that induces her to follow a stray cat , Muta , from a public train to an antique store . Once there she discovers an enigmatic sculpture of a well dressed cat . Its eyes radiate like fiery nebulas . The store's proprietor , Shirou Nishi , refers to it as The Baron . Something about this statuesque cat catches Shizuku's attention and she decides to write a fairy tale narrated by The Baron . For a few minutes the movie shifts out of reality to depict pieces of this story . But reality quickly , and harshly , returns .
Along the way Shizuku gets haunted by a name : Seiji Amasawa . This person has already checked out nearly every book she has from the library . Examining the old style checkout cards - now extinct from computerized libraries - reveals this startling pattern . She begins to fantasize about the mysteriously reoccurring name . By this point her friends have taken an interest in boys , which also piques her own interest . One friend has a stultifying crush on a somewhat brutish baseball player who wouldn't notice a flaming brick thrown at his face . Shizuku tries to set them up but falls flat into a humiliating whoops ! moment . The evasive name of Seiji wafts in the background .
When Shizuku discovers the identity of Seiji Amasawa , she's disappointed and a fight ensues . Nonetheless , the two build a relationship based on the ineffable stuff that all relationships are built on . Then Seiji , in pursuit of his life's ambition , decides to move to Cremona , Italy . This throws Shizuku into an emotional abyss . She seeks the solace of her friends . The same ones that previously sought relationship advice from her . Shizuku's own flowering fairy tale confronts reality . Will this relationship work ? How can it ?
Allegories of lost love permeate the story . An old clock , restored by Nishi , depicts a Prince staring longingly at his true love who only appears at twelve o'clock . Nishi himself dreams about the return of his long lost love , Louise . Even in his old age he still hopes . The lonely figure of the Baron parallels this tragedy . A companion piece , a well-dressed female cat also named Louise , disappeared along with Nishi's Louise of the flesh . Life interferes with love . And , despite the ending , life appears ready to deliver a blow to Seiji and Shizuku . Arguably , the ending remains open to interpretation . The constant refrain of Country Roads , made famous by John Denver but sung here by Olivia Newton-John , hearkens those who have gone astray or wandered off to return home where they belong ( at least in the minds of the amorously abandoned ) . Eerily , Shizuku and Seiji's story could end up mirroring Nishi's and Louise's .
Whisper of the Heart is one of Studio Ghibli's most poignant and beautiful films . Adults will probably identify with its themes more than children or teenagers . It searches for magic in reality rather than in fantasy , but it challenges these dreams with the vicissitudes of workaday life . It also makes us reflect on the whispers of our own hearts that tell us what we may have lost or may potentially be in the process of losing .
007 4 I collect anime , and have recently had the opportunity to see the dub of this great work on TCM before it's released on DVD . I've owned the subtitled version for a few years now , and was impressed that no newer anime movies can even touch the quality of animation displayed in this film . Yes , the story is good although I'd call it less a coming of age film and more a exploring our youthful options type of story . This is a slice of life type of movie , not an action or an adventure . It's interest is in how well it can capture the audience .
Capture you it does . I recently showed a friend of mine three animations . The first was a nicely done anime episode of a series called Bleach . The second to show the higher level of detail was Mulan , a Disney animation , with at least some footing into their cel movies . Finally , I showed Whisper of the Heart . The first was fine for most watching as are most decent anime series , the art and characters don't get in the way of the viewing . The second was a Disney theatrical release which is as good as can normally be expected . Decent detail and some nice visual effects to help drive the movie plot .
Then there was Whisper . . . Here's a little test if you don't believe me straight up . Watch the sequence where the girl follows the cat up to the antique shop . I've never seen such an attention to detail as this before . That an artist could render drawings of a city scape with this much detail and realism , is flat out amazing . I've seen animators blog on their extra's disc about the challenge to accomplish some special effect in an animated movie or series . Looking at it from their perspective , I could see the difficulties . Then looking at it from what was accomplished in this film , I think they are just whining over minor details .
Here are some more good examples in this film , check out the color changes with the lighting at night and in the morning at the student desk in the bedroom . Check out the many transparencies and translucencies from glass doors and windows . Check out the subtle motions of background items , and the detail and functionality . Nothing seems like an after thought , or out of place . The items the characters use and react too , always seem to have function . Even the special grandfather clock in the antique store , while imaginative somewhat , still looked and operated like it could have been real .
The style of Miyasaki characters are is on display here as well . He must have provided some of the drawings , if only in conceptual mode for this film . What is amazing for him is that he can create characters that are obvious animations . This is in contrast to the growing trend to create photorealistic characters , in mostly rendered animation . Instead Miyasaki characters are simple in their appearance , and features . Yet , they react to the incredibly detailed backgrounds , and all blend together to form a smooth animation without seeming busy or cluttered . This is one of those films that sneaks up on you . You find you can remember the story long after its over with . It's a pity most animated films don't have craftsmen of this level of talent . Other studios , have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on other film projects that were so ill conceived , a focus group of children could have told them they were bad !
If you read the plot summary of this film you will not want to watch it , so don't . Just view the film when you are relaxed , and you'll have an unforgettable experience . Studio Ghibli films tend to be like that . This one doesn't do any environmental or political preaching like a few of them are known to do . It simply entertains , and shows off animes to be a true art form , a fact that is often overlooked in the commercial world of crank them out , and get them to market , cookie cutter animations .
008 4 Whisper of the Heart is based on a screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki , which he adapted from a comic by Aoi 。îragi . The story focuses on a teenage girl who is to find out about life's difficult journey , as she discovers a mysterious name in a library book . Nonetheless , it is not a conventional teenage coming of age story that have already been made so many times .
The teenage years are the bridge from childhood to adulthood in which the child discovers itself in a process people call coming of age . Whisper of the Heart is such a story about the young teenage girl Shizuku who does what every good girl is supposes to do - - obey her parents . Parents often try to steer their children in a well-trodden path where mistakes are minimized and choice are limited as the future is important . Thus , it is essential that children obey the parent's wishes and desires as they usually have more knowledge and wisdom .
One of the demands that the parents put on their children is to study . In Japan the school system puts a lot of pressure on the teens , as they have to take hard entrance exams right before they enter high school , which means the students who get into high school usually spend the majority of their summer studying for exams . Shizuku , who is a good girl , does a lot of studying when she does not read books , which is one of her favorite pastimes .
Shizuku makes many visits to the library where her father works and she borrows large numbers of books . Through the old way of keeping the records of who borrowed what book Shizuku discovers the name Amasawa Seiji on more than one of the books that she has borrowed . This begins an innocent and secretive romance for Shizuku who uses her imagination to create an image for Amasawa . Despite this beginning , Whisper of the Heart is not a teenage love story , yet love is an important part of the film as it illustrates the complexity of being a teen .
When Shizuku does not read she translates and writes her own poetry , carries food to her father at work , and helps out with the house chores . In the summer heat she even finds time for a little friendship , which is huge element of being a teen . The ability to socialize with friends is affected by what they do most of the time , which is studying for the entrance exams . In one of these moments she provides a translation of John Denver's Take Me Home , Country Road of which she has also created in her own Japanese version . This is an interesting scene as it displays how hard these teens work even when they are relaxing .
On one of Shizuku's short ventures with food to her father who is working a stray cat leads her astray . The cat leads her unintentionally into a small antique shop owned by an old man . In this store she gets to hear the story of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen , a cat statue , which becomes the foundation for the film Cat Returns ( 2002 ) . Shizuku also meets a young teenage boy who dreams of becoming a violinmaker and who dreams of going to Italy to study violinmaking . Through this teenage boy she learns to look into herself in order to discover what she desires to do with her life .
Shizuku sets out on a quest to discover if she has what it takes to become a writer and she drops her studies and focuses solely on writing . Her older sister becomes irritated over her lack of respect for her parents and her parents are bewildered to see how she is changing . The film does not simply imply that one should follow ones dreams . Rather , it takes the notion one step further by applying hard work , dedication , and desire to the idea of following ones dreams . Thus , it does not become a pretentious teenage film , which often teaches the superficial value of follow thy dreams . Instead , it provides a realistic perspective on success , as most of it is due to hard work and rarely only dreams and hopes .
In this process Shizuku comes of age as she discovers what she wants to do while applying dedication and zealous work ethic to what she loves the most . Yet , the film is not only about follow thy dreams , it is about so much more . As mentioned beforehand she falls in love with this mysterious Amasawa , has friendships that go through difficult times , experiences hurt feelings , has looming exams , goes through failure , and deals with whatever else life presents . In essence , Whisper of the Heart is about coming of age while dealing with the ups and downs of life . The film does not focus on one of the moments in life , but rather on the journey through life as Shizuku is acquiring wisdom .
Whisper of the Heart is a brilliant animated film by Yoshifumi Kondo who unfortunately passed away in 1998 , which makes Whisper of the Heart the only film that he directed . Kondo worked as an animator on wonderful animated films such as Grave of Fireflies ( 1988 ) , Kiki's Delivery Service ( 1989 ) , Porco Rosso ( 1992 ) , and Princess Mononoke ( 1997 ) . It is sad to know that his visual talent and skill never got to make more flawless cinematic experiences such as Whisper of the Heart , which still has not been released in the United States . Hopefully , this film will also reach this nation as it has so much to offer in the sense of entertainment , enlightenment , and contemplative bemusement .
009 4 Whisper of the Heart ( 1995 ) , animated coming-of-age story was scripted and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by the Yoshifumi Kondo . Hayao Miyazaki ( Kiki's Delivery Service , My Neighbor Totoro , Howl's Moving Castle , Spirited Away , and Princess Mononoke ) saw in Kondo his successor as Studio Ghibli's film director . Unfortunately , Kondo was only able to direct a single Ghibli film , Whisper of the Heart , before his untimely death in 1998 . As magical and beautiful as the rest of Studio Ghibli feature films I've seen , gentle Whisper of the Heart focuses on the dreams , feelings , insecurities , and search for life's meaning of two teenagers - middle school students Shizuku Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa in modern Tokyo . We also meet Shizuku's and Seiji's friends and families . We will follow a smart and curious cat that likes to ride the subway train by himself and one day would lead Shizuku to a magical shop run by Mr . Nishi , a kind , wise old man whose teenaged grandson Seiji Amasawa checks out from the local library the same books Shizuku does . The boy dreams of becoming a violin master . There are untold stories behind the beautiful objects in Mr . Nishi's store that wait to be told , but it would take a talent to capture and to write them down . In the shop , Shizuku meets her first love and starts the long road on becoming the writer .
The beauty of the film lies not in the mythical worlds or the fantastic creatures from the fairy tales . It is in the little film's universal appeal , in the way all viewers , the children and their parents , can relate to one girl's search for place in life , for her determination to follow the dream , and for support , guidance , and approval she so desperately needs and receives from her busy but loving and understanding parents . My favorite scene in the film is the conversation 15 - year-old Shizuku has with her mother and father at the kitchen table about her future . It was so realistic , filled with the warmth , love , and understanding that children need from their parents . Whisper of the heart reminded me the films of the great Japanese film director , Yasujiro Ozu . While watching this new Tokyo story , I felt the same warmth , soft tenderness , power of human emotions and moving simplicity as in the Ozu's films from over than 50 years ago .
010 4 Yoshifumi Kondo's first and only film for Studio Ghibli ( he died a few years after it was completed ) , WHISPER OF THE HEART , is an absolute delight . Gentle but not syrupy , this modern-day story about a girl and boy discovering that they have a lot in common is beautifully animated , compellingly characterized , and full of heart ( pun intended ) .
Based on a graphic-novel by Aoi Hiragi with a script by Hayao Miyazaki , the movie centers on Shizuku Tsukishima , a spacey yet sympathetic young High School student who would rather read books from the library rather than study for her school tests . Shizuku discovers that a certain Seiji Amasawa checks out the same books that she does , as detailed on the library checkout cards . When Shizuku first meets Seiji in person , she thinks he's a stupid jerk ( he makes a somewhat snide remark about her supposedly corny writing abilities ) , but she soon discovers that he is a strangely gentle fellow who longs to become a violinist yet feels that his playing isn't as good as others say it is . Shizuku can relate to this , given that she doubts her talents as a writer . The story takes a dramatic turn when Shizuku discovers that Seiji will be temporarily leaving for Italy to train as a violinist . This inspires Shizuku to pursue her own talent , and she proceeds to write her first story .
At the surface , this would sound like a rather simple love story , but that's not all WHISPER OF THE HEART has going for it . Miyazaki's screenplay ingeniously allows the viewers to identify with Shizuku as she expresses the following emotions : frustration , disappointment , fear , joy , and vulnerability . This is displayed not only in her growing relationship with Seiji , but with her daily interactions with her friends , family , and her inner thoughts . We even see Shizuku deal with humiliation ( and even guilt ) when a boy reveals he had a crush on her all along , yet she only considered him a friend . Sometimes certain movies can delve a little too much on these angst-ridden elements , but in WHISPER OF THE HEART , this is handled in a way that is not so overbearing ( or frustrating even ) to the viewer .
The film also works in a subplot involving a captivating antique shop containing all kinds of sparkling treasures , including a charming statuette of a cat known as Baron . The kindly owner , Mr . Nishi , is warm and supportive of Shizuku , especially when she decides to write her story based on the aforementioned Baron statue . He reminded me of Uncle Pom from CASTLE IN THE SKY , a similarly gentle old man who sadly only showed up for one scene ; having this kind of character play an even bigger role in WHISPER is a delight .
Speaking of which , the scenes where Shizuku imagines her story are among the movie's most imaginatively animated moments . The film's artwork , typical of Ghibli , is top notch , but this sequence ( one of the studio's first experiments with computer animation ) is especially stunning . Here we see the Baron come alive and escort a fair young maiden ( who strangely resembles Shizuku ) across a graceful sky of floating islets . The character of the Baron is quite charismatic and one of the more memorable characters in the film ; the only other notable feline we see is a pudgy furball known as Moon ( aka Muta ) , who appears quite grumpy whenever Shizuku tries to talk to him .
Incidentally , both of these felines appeared in another Studio Ghibli production , THE CAT RETURNS , a pleasant but merely forgettable family flick considered by many ( myself included ) as an inferior spin-off . Not that Hiroyuki Morita's film doesn't have any charm , but WHISPER has something that THE CAT RETURNS didn't have , hence why it holds up better .
Interestingly , John Denver's immortal Take Me Home , Country Roads plays a crucial part in the story : the first half of the movie deals with Shizuku trying to translate the song into Japanese . This part of the story obviously gave Disney a lot of problems in terms of translation , hence why it was delayed from its English release for quite some time . Fortunately , their dub handles it in a way that remains true to the original intent , yet at the same time makes it easier for American audiences to connect with . Here Shizuku tries to write her own lyrics for the song , with each attempt improving as she learns to write from the heart . This approach works rather well , as I could sense little , if any , lost in the translation .
As much as I've heard people criticize Disney for the actors they've chosen to voice the characters in their dubs for Ghibli's works , I have practically enjoyed every one of their voice casts - - and , in the case of WHISPER OF THE HEART , I think cynics are going to be very hard-pressed to find any real fault with the performers assembled here . As the insecure Shizuku , Brittany Snow speaks in a very expressive , believable way without being saccharine , and has an equally lovely singing voice . David Gallagher - - no stranger to voice acting , given his work in KINGDOM HEARTS - - provides an excellent contrast to Snow through his understated yet effective turn as Seiji . Cary Elwes reprises his role as the debonair Baron from THE CAT RETURNS . The person who takes the prize for best acting in the dub , though , is Harold Gould , who brings just the right amount of warmth , poignancy , and compassion to the kindly Mr . Nishi .
I had heard so many wonderful things about WHISPER OF THE HEART , but I never expected to like it as much as I did . And now that it is available as yet another top-notch dub from Disney ( although their DVD extras are a little bit sparse here ; good thing the movie looks fantastic though ) , it pleases me that this film will hopefully discover an even wider audience . All in all , WHISPER OF THE HEART is a real winner as both a Studio Ghibli film and a Disney revamp , and I highly recommend it .
011 4 I like John Denver's Country Road as well as that by Olivia Newton John . They give me the memory of my high school days when I sang the song in English .
Shizuku Tsukishima of this story does the amazing . She makes the Japanese language version of the song at the age of 14 ! ( Miyazaki-san is also involved in the Japanese lyrics ) . Other than that she is ordinary but bit like Anne Shirley of the Anne of the Green Gables . She is a bookworm just like my elder sister . She likes borrowing books on fantasy novels . With Miyazaki / Kondo combination ordinary suburban Tokyo life was made much vivid and real . Characters ' conversation is often interrupted by the rushing autos . Sounds so real . Violin featured Country Road is really nice . I just hope I want to explore the inside story written by Shizuku Tsukishima much further . Maybe you can enjoy the sequel ? of that Shizuku's story at THE CAT RETURNS movie . Cat figurine BARON and drifting cat MOON ( MUTA ) also make the movie special . Miyazaki's brilliant scene cuts shines even at suburban Tokyo and the last sunrise scene is excellently described . Yeah Miyazaki and Kondo tell us we can find a little bit of fantasy in urban life . Shizuku's mother's eco-friendly attitude is cool as well .
Verdict : Wonderful coming of the age movie by late Yoshifumi Kondo .
Rating : 97 out of 100 . Makes me want to go back to Junior High School Days .
Recommended for : Every Ghibli fans who may like The Cat Returns and My Neighbor Totoro .
012 4 One of the lesser-known Studio Ghibli productions , Whisper Of The Heart is also one of the most brilliant gems in a Ghibli crown that seems to be studded with nothing but brilliant gems . It begins with two simple premises - 1 ) during summer vacation a book-loving girl named Shizuki discovers that the same person - a reader named Seiji - is also listed on the library cards of most of the fable-books she checks out as having checked them out also , and 2 ) during the simple act of taking a train to deliver her father the lunch he's forgotten to take to work , Shizuki is uncannily intrigued by a distinct cat riding the bus and decides on a whim to follow the cat off the train and see where he goes . From these two beginnings the movie and its phenomenal cast of characters branch off in a myriad of directions . Both hilarious in a way few live-action comedies can match and incredibly moving on a level few live-action dramas can ascend to , Whisper Of The Heart is also , undoubtedly , one of the most gorgeously romantic tales ever told . The closest comparison , in non-animated terms , might be to imagine The Notebook crossed with Serendipity but with certain elements toned down to open the movie up for younger viewers as well as older ones . In the transition it loses not one whit of its power , enchantment , or depth .
It's also about a lot of other things . It's about insecurity vs . taking the plunge . It's about a quaint old antique shop and its owner and patrons . It's about a striking statue of a bipedal , nattily-attired cat whose gem eyes catch and refact the sunlight in a mesmerizing way , in that shop . It's about the value of story , it's about impromptu musical singalongs , it's about dreams vs . societal expectations , and more further tangents than can be listed here , all coming together in one extraordinary package . Absolutely unforgettable , one of the most essential movies ever made . Movie lovers of all tastes and stripes owe it to themselves to give this masterpiece a try .
013 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
When you watch a Studio Ghibli film you expect certain things . A fantastic cast of characters , an origional story line and moments that tug at all human emotions . ' Whisper of Heart ' directed by Yoshifumi Kondo brings it all out in a heartwaming coming of age story .
Shazuku is a young 14 year old who is growing up following motions of ordinary life . Though she craves to live in the worlds of magic and fairytales , she always keeps brining herself back down to earth thinking she can never be her own person . Then with all the worries about getting into high school and helping her friends as they develop intrests in boys , her dreams are further from her reach than ever . Then one day she notices the same name showing up in all the library books she checked out and wonders who this mystery boy is who shares all these same intrests as her . Not realizing it's him at first she meets Saiji a guy with big ambitions and trying to find his own way to become a professional violin maker . Their friendship blossoms into a beautiful story like Shazukus ' fairy tales and soon she is able to follow her dreams with the help of some unlikly friends .
' Whisper of the Heart ' is such a warm movie that shows the togetherness of family , friendship and love . It is a movie that will whisk you away and melt your heart as you see a young girl realize that there is a place for her in the big world . All she has to do is listen to her heart .
014 4 When you watch a Studio Ghibli film you expect certain things . A fantastic cast of characters , an origional story line and moments that tug at all human emotions . ' Whisper of Heart ' directed by Yoshifumi Kondo brings it all out in a heartwaming coming of age story .
Shazuku is a young 14 year old who is growing up following motions of ordinary life . Though she craves to live in the worlds of magic and fairytales , she always keeps brining herself back down to earth thinking she can never be her own person . Then with all the worries about getting into high school and helping her friends as they develop intrests in boys , her dreams are further from her reach than ever . Then one day she notices the same name showing up in all the library books she checked out and wonders who this mystery boy is who shares all these same intrests as her . Not realizing it's him at first she meets Saiji a guy with big ambitions and trying to find his own way to become a professional violin maker . Their friendship blossoms into a beautiful story like Shazukus ' fairy tales and soon she is able to follow her dreams with the help of some unlikly friends .
' Whisper of the Heart ' is such a warm movie that shows the togetherness of family , friendship and love . It is a movie that will whisk you away and melt your heart as you see a young girl realize that there is a place for her in the big world . All she has to do is listen to her heart .
015 4 This is a great , though somewhat different , Studio Ghibli film . Make no mistake about it , this is a teenage love story , there's very little fantasy and no real action to speak of . It is still a very well told and heartfelt film though , and definitely has Ghibli's impressive storytelling written all over it .
The film tends to be pretty slow paced , but actually feels more realistic as a result . It is this sense of realism that is the movies greatest strength I've found . The characters and their behavior , their lives and how they live , and just about everything else has a sense of realism that you don't often get from this genre . So many movies / shows in this genre seem to have some kind of hook , but this film doesn't rely on one . Yeah , you have the minor fantasy sequences , but those aren't really a hook so much as a result of Shizuku's imagination . You'll know what I mean when you view it if you haven't .
It's great to see the relationship form , and then to witness how it effects Shizuku's life and how they deal with the hurdles placed before them . This relationship is really the focus of the story , and it only benefits from the sense of realism I mentioned previously .
The dub is pretty well done , though Seiji's performances was hit or miss . Overall he did a good job , but there were a few scenes where the delivery was a bit lacking . Cary Elwes pulls off a perfect sounding Baron yet again , even though his role in this film is significantly less than in The Cat Returns . Brittany Snow played a great Shizuku and pulls off the scenes with singing wonderfully ; she has a great singing voice . The use of Country Roads was actually pretty well done I thought , and it didn't feel strange at all ; I mean , after watching this film I actually have the song stuck in my head now .
Despite the films age I did not feel that it suffered from it . The animation was terrific and the imagery didn't really make it feel dated . The artwork was great and is a testament to Ghibli that they can animate a plain modern city and still manage to impress the audience with the visuals . Their eye for detail is also strongly presented in this film , as you see the characters act or move in a manner that is more realistic , but many other studios wouldn't bother animating . Ghiblis attention to subtle details is one of the things that sets them apart . Seeing these subtleties and movements in a more familiar setting only makes their appearance that much more noticeable .
In the end this is yet another Ghibli great . For fans of their more unique films , this might be a bit of a disappointment though . This isn't a fantasy film , or sci-fi , nor does it have any action or a vital life or death plot to it . It's a love story through and through , but it's also a very well told love story with impressive storytelling to back it up .
016 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Whisper of the heart is a wonderful , gentle movie in which Miyazaki's love for children will warm the hearts of old and young alike .
The main character of the story is Shizuku , a girl at the threshold of her teenage years . In the movie she discover her strengths and weaknesses with the help of the Baron , ( a statue of a cat ) , an old man who runs an curiosity store , ( when he feels like it ) and Seiji , a boy who has been in love with her for a long time and finally succeeds to make her notice him .
Seiji had dreams of becoming a violin maker and Shizuku wants to be a writer . Both of them find out that it takes schooling and hard work to reach their dreams .
Miyazaki has a wonderful way of portraying children , gentle and still very natural and realistic . When watching this movie I felt I got a glimps of life in Japan and wonder if this is a life of the past or if one still lives that way .
This movie will be enjoyed by kids of any school age and by anyone who loves children .
017 4 Whisper of the heart is a wonderful , gentle movie in which Miyazaki's love for children will warm the hearts of old and young alike .
The main character of the story is Shizuku , a girl at the threshold of her teenage years . In the movie she discover her strengths and weaknesses with the help of the Baron , ( a statue of a cat ) , an old man who runs an curiosity store , ( when he feels like it ) and Seiji , a boy who has been in love with her for a long time and finally succeeds to make her notice him .
Seiji had dreams of becoming a violin maker and Shizuku wants to be a writer . Both of them find out that it takes schooling and hard work to reach their dreams .
Miyazaki has a wonderful way of portraying children , gentle and still very natural and realistic . When watching this movie I felt I got a glimps of life in Japan and wonder if this is a life of the past or if one still lives that way .
This movie will be enjoyed by kids of any school age and by anyone who loves children .
019 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
I'm a big fan of Studio Ghibli movies , and this is my current favorite . The visuals are wonderful . Yes , they can seem to move slowly , as another reviewer pointed out . That suited me just fine - more time to indulge in the mood they so beautifully create . The story , too , is delightful and pure .
As for the girl movie accusation , well , I'm a 47 year old guy and I definitely get this movie .
Enjoy !
020 4 I'm a big fan of Studio Ghibli movies , and this is my current favorite . The visuals are wonderful . Yes , they can seem to move slowly , as another reviewer pointed out . That suited me just fine - more time to indulge in the mood they so beautifully create . The story , too , is delightful and pure .
As for the girl movie accusation , well , I'm a 47 year old guy and I definitely get this movie .
Enjoy !
021 4 Hard to believe , but there are places on earth where people are making movies that do not have the standard doses of hollywood toxins . Films that don't play to the lowest common denominator of esthetics and attention span , without shallow sentimentality or arrogant brutality , without the requisite nihilism of postmodern sophistry . This movie is the antidote to all that , and it came from one cluster of brave people who live in Japan : the Ghibli studio . Be forewarned , once you taste the real thing - and Whisper of the Heart is a prime example - you may not be able to go back to the schlock that Hollywood dishes out . Which will pretty much keep you out of the cinema in the U.S . Sadly , the total output of Miyazaki and Ghibli is maybe a dozen films , not all yet translated to English - but at least they HAVE made the magnificent films they have .
I put this film in the top 10 of any cinema I've ever seen . Story , music , design , every aspect is just right , an absolute work of Art . As with all Ghibli productions , in the first 5 minutes you'll forget it's animated . This film succeeds at encapsulating something that's essential and priceless for literally anyone , child or adult . I'd challenge anyone not to fall at least a little bit in love with Shizuku , or rather , the true feminine spirit she represents .
An additional benefit of watching this film is that you'll have some new , more interesting words to the old John Denver song . Trivia : the tall fellow who plays the tambourine is modeled after the landscape artist Inoue Naohisa , whose art created the fantasy sequences in the film .
022 4 Lets start off by saying , if you're experience with Ghibli studios is Monokoke , Naussica , Spirited Away and Howle's Moving Castle , and that is what you are looking for , this is NOT your movie .
' Whisper of the Heart ' is a touching , heartwarming story of a young Jr . High girl trying to discover who she is and where she is going . It reminded me a bit of a Japanese version of the 1979 film A Little Romance with Sir . Laurence Olivier and Diane Lane . The heart is incredible , the characters around her are supportive and wise , and she and her friends are passionate , insecure and trying to figure out love , life , career , future and how to grow up .
This is a movie you want to watch if you want a ' feel good ' movie , and you can appreciate art - things like the lead reaching up to turn her lamp off , but it takes her a second or two to find the switch . Very realistic and artsy ( to the point where at times it seems possibly a little dragged out , but as a filmmaker myself I really appreciate the realism that is the Miyazaki / Yakahada style ) .
This movie can not compare to movies such as Porko Rosso and Naussica , it's a completely different type of film . You could compare this to Miyazaki's Grave of the Fireflies . This film is NOT a high flying imagination adventure , it is a heartwarming , laid back , touching look into the life of a young tween trying to find her calling .
023 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
This is yet another great story by studio Ghibli . I watched it with my daughters . They loved the references to the cat returns , but it is a good story in its own right . It is a great story about following your dreams , and much better than the flashier , flicker screen mentality of holywood . There is a sense of setting , place , and character development , and a plot that is interesting and rich . Enjoy this movie with your family if you liked Spirited Away , Totoro , and The Cat Returns .
024 4 This is yet another great story by studio Ghibli . I watched it with my daughters . They loved the references to the cat returns , but it is a good story in its own right . It is a great story about following your dreams , and much better than the flashier , flicker screen mentality of holywood . There is a sense of setting , place , and character development , and a plot that is interesting and rich . Enjoy this movie with your family if you liked Spirited Away , Totoro , and The Cat Returns .
025 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
I really enjoyed this movie , as I do all of Hayao Miyazaki's films . It was cute and told a story of self-discovery that appeals to all . Very well done , and humurous in it's own right . I especially like the musical scene . Very cute .
026 4 I really enjoyed this movie , as I do all of Hayao Miyazaki's films . It was cute and told a story of self-discovery that appeals to all . Very well done , and humurous in it's own right . I especially like the musical scene . Very cute .
027 4 Wow , another great film from Studio Ghibli . This is a wonderful story of a young girl who follows a cat and ends up following her dreams . A great story for all .
028 4 I loved this movie !
It's been tough finding quality movies lately that are okay for my kids to watch but the treasure trove of movies from Ghibli continues to impress .
We recently bought Porco Rosso as well and I loved it too !
029 4 I've seen every Studio Ghibli feature film , and this is still my favorite one . Whisper of the Heart is a charming coming-of-age story of thirteen year old Shizuku and her encounters with family , classmates , and love interests . The film uses Shizuku's personal conflicts , self discovery , and external relationships to explore questions concerning social expectations and self worth . There is so much detail to the story and setting that you may not grasp it all the first time . Whisper of the Heart is a great watch for any age and is one animated film you will not want to miss .
030 4 I have lived in Japan for quite a few years and have watched many Japanese films . The story line for this is great but probably some of the scenes drawn are very close to what living in Japan is really like . I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have .
031 4 I fell in love with this movie , the very first time i saw it . It's the kind of movie that describes you so much , and leaves a tingley feeling behind . The characters are thought out and portrayed perfectly . This is the type of movie you can watch over , and over again , and not get sick of it !
032 4 This is one of my favorite Miyazaki films . It's also probably the only one that doesn't have as much fantasy as his other films . One of the reasons I love this film is because it sort of reminds me of when i was Shizuku's age , but I definitely am not as creative as she is ! I preferred the Japanese audio better ; I didn't really care for the English version because I felt that it took away from the movie . Half of the film is good because of the language . I also wish they kept the original japanese credits because i would have liked to know who were the original japanese voice actors .
033 4 Still , I loved it ! It's a highly detailed , entertaining movie .
Whisper of the Heart has no fantasy element . The movie is about a young girl going through some emotional introspection , experiencing love for the first time , and trying to figure out what to do with her life . It's nothing serious , she's just growing up , yet the story is compelling enough to hold your attention .
The animation is great ! Small , subtle , details pop up everywhere [ just watch ] , giving this story and setting fantastic depth . The background sounds are just as full and thought out , of passing cars and bicycles , and other ambient details .
Each of the characters in this film are well portrayed , from Shizuku's parents and sister , to her friends , and the old shop keeper . [ I loved the impromptu jamb session with the shop keeper , two of his friends and Shizuku singing Country Roads . ]
Now there is a surprise ! The main theme song of the film is Country Roads by John Denver , though they have a female vocalist . At first it seemed a little out of place in an Anime , but it doesn't take long to fit right in .
[ Note : This is ' sort of ' the prequel to The Cat Returns , and in fact the ' Barron ' is in this story . However here he is only a statue , and nothing more . He comes alive within Shizuku's story , and the animation sequences of Shizuku's story telling are lots of fun . But in Whisper of the Heart he is just a statue . ]
034 4 as a miyazaki fan , i knew i had to buy this movie . . . but i had no idea i would fall in love with it ! it is by far my favorite miyazaki film to date . the innocent first love story is genuine and adorable , and helps us to remember what it was like to have a crush for the first time . this movie is great for children , teens , and adults , and is a light-hearted , feel-good movie . i definitely recommend this one !
035 4 When you think about kids in love you know it's just puppy love but Whisper Of The Heart seems to be full-grown . Even in middle school these kids get great grades and still are able to maintain lives of love . The story is simple girl hates guy but eventually they fall in love with each other except this is a pure love story that isn't tainted by raunchiness or anything too old that would feel uncomfortable . It's truly the way true love stories are created and that's at an early age when it is considered as friendship first . Originally made in 95 but the animation is perfect for this type of movie and the voice actors hit the target . Whisper Of The Heart makes you wish you had the same whisper when you were this age and shows you what it could've been like if you did .
036 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Having purchased this film knowing nothing of it but its pedigree ( the wonderful Ghibli Studio whose other terrific films I was familiar with ) , I couldn't believe in retrospect how fortunate I was that I took such a chance . The last time I felt this enchanted with an animated film was the first time I saw Spirited Away in the theater ( although Wallace and Gromit runs a close second ) . The film moves from strength to strength , filled with naturalistic dialogue , convincing voices and stunning animation . But what makes it extraordinary is the charming , emotionally resonant story . The filmmakers have captured the moments in every child's life when they first feel the inklings of adult love . That they do so in such a sensitive manner with three dimensional characters portrayed visually in two dimensions only makes the accomplishment that much greater . No matter your own age , this film will be a revelation to you , as it was to me .
037 4 Having purchased this film knowing nothing of it but its pedigree ( the wonderful Ghibli Studio whose other terrific films I was familiar with ) , I couldn't believe in retrospect how fortunate I was that I took such a chance . The last time I felt this enchanted with an animated film was the first time I saw Spirited Away in the theater ( although Wallace and Gromit runs a close second ) . The film moves from strength to strength , filled with naturalistic dialogue , convincing voices and stunning animation . But what makes it extraordinary is the charming , emotionally resonant story . The filmmakers have captured the moments in every child's life when they first feel the inklings of adult love . That they do so in such a sensitive manner with three dimensional characters portrayed visually in two dimensions only makes the accomplishment that much greater . No matter your own age , this film will be a revelation to you , as it was to me .
038 4 For me , the Ghibli films are difficult to put in an order of best to worst as whenever I think of one to put at the top , I think ' . . oh but then what about . . ' . However , I can be pretty certain that Whisper of the Heart comes in the top three , if not at the head of my list . It baffles me why it doesn't even get mentioned in the Studio Ghibli trailer that comes with this waves releases .
Though it centers on children on the verge of adulthood , I think its audience is meant to be a little older than that - perhaps about 20 onwards . Whisper of the Heart is a slow-moving film , and so a child brought up on anime such as Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z may quickly become bored , so if this is a present for a youngster / teen , choose according to your childs tastes .
It , like many films centers in on a life-changing period of the protagonists ' lives but on the way stops a little to show the beauty and magic of the world they inhabit . The film is sprinkled with small , sometimes inconsequential scenes which were designed to make the viewer not outright laugh , but smile on both the outside and the inside . One small example is where Shizuku is in the antiques shop , and as she stares into the emerald eyes of the Baron cat statue , the camera fixes on the last rays of sunshine as they disappear from the window , filtered by the branches of the tree outside . Its only a few seconds in length but verges on the photorealistic , with a perfectly judged color pallette . Its an incredibly calming scene and uses no ' magic ' in the conventional sense of the term to delight the viewer , just the raw elements of life . It reminded me of the Safflower fields scene in that other great Ghibli film , ' Only Yesterday ' .
Occasionally , as Shizuku begins to test herself by writing her first novel , the normal world gives way to her imagination and we see several scenes drawn by INOUE Naohisa . These scenes are suitably magical reflecting the raw ideas and imagination rushing to the front of her mind . They represent the only fantasy element to the story and are beautiful to look at .
The music for the film , dispite Amazons ' listings , were not done by Joe Hisaishi , but are still very good - the opening is ' Country Road ' sung by Olivia Newton John , and the ending is a parody sung by the Japanese acress who plays Shizuku , which ends the film on a high . In between are a selection of pleasant tunes which fit the film well .
I could describe the story more but that would be to spoil it for new viewers . When I first watched this film it was at a screening of the original Japanese dub in Cambridge . After it ended , I couldnt believe how relaxed and calm it made me and I sat for a good half hour in the park watching the world go by with a smile on my face . It has that effect .
I would say however that , at least on your first viewing that if possible , please watch the original Japanese dub . After watching the ' behind the microphone ' item it became clear some of the actresses were too ' britney ' for me and a few sections of the dialog were changed a bit too much for my liking . ( I listened to the english dub of the last scenes and that was more than enough ) .
A note about the DVD quality - though the reproduction of the film is excellent , the Japanese ( but not the US ) dub of the film cuts off about an inch of the top of the closing credits - cutting off the heads of the characters so you cant see the resolution of one of the story threads . Bad Disney ! To your room !
Finally , if you liked this film for its pace , artistry and emotional impact , I recommend Haibane Renmei , which is a similarly beautiful anime series .
039 4 Set in the suburbs of Tokyo , Whisper of the Heart is a story of finding ones place in the real world and of finding one's first true love . The teenage main character , Shizuku , wants to be a writer and is seeking her place in the world . While she is a voracious reader , she reads only fantasy which tends to skew her world view . After meeting a hansome boy , Seiji , who both infuriates and intrigues her , Shizuku sets a personal goal . Because Seiji knows he wants to study violin making in Italy and is going there for a short apprenticeship to see if he has the skills , Shizuku sets a goal of writing a story by the time he returns in order to know conclusively if she should be a writer . During the course of Whisper of the Heart , she learns that life and love is not as easy as in a storybook but that with hard work , one may find true love and happiness in real life as well as in stories . A subplot is Shizuku's relationship with Seiji's Grandfather who serves as the voice of wisdom and experience . He teaches her that many beautiful things are hidden and may only be exposed with hard work . He also teaches that life does not always give a happy ending .
Other than the scene showing Shizuku's writing , the story has none of the strange characters , magic , or fantastic settings of other Studio Ghibli U.S . releases . ( In my opinion , some of their best real-life style stories such as Omoide Poro Poro do not translate well into American culture or the American market . ) The animation is fantastic , which I attribute to the detail Studio Ghibli includes . This is the film which gave rise to The Cat's Return and several of the characters are found in both ( the Baron , Muuta ) .
Regardless of the subject matter , I was easily caught up in the story and found it quite compelling . My wife and I often set the language to Japanese with subtitles ( my Japanese is abysmal ) and as we found with Kiki's Delivery Service , the translation of the Japanese dialog is better than what was written for the English version . Those with some knowledge of Japanese culture will notice some other facets of that culture which underlie the story . These include studying for the High School admission tests and the Goodbyes of long-time classmates following junior high school . I found this to be a good family movie and highly recommend it , particularly to anyone with teenage daughters .
040 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
I like most of Miyazaki's works . Some of his movies are a bit ham handed about the environmental message , which can be a bit repetitive and preachy . He also likes to focus on a strong female lead . I really enjoyed this movie as it focused on the characters and their development . He also has a strong male lead as well , with both coming together as a strong couple . I can see myself watching this many times over the years , without losing any of its charm . Highly recommended !
041 4 I like most of Miyazaki's works . Some of his movies are a bit ham handed about the environmental message , which can be a bit repetitive and preachy . He also likes to focus on a strong female lead . I really enjoyed this movie as it focused on the characters and their development . He also has a strong male lead as well , with both coming together as a strong couple . I can see myself watching this many times over the years , without losing any of its charm . Highly recommended !
042 4 First thing you all need to know : I am a 16 year old guy .
That's right , not a Tween girl , and I loved this movie . ( Borrowing my family account , so that's why it says Christine , btw )
True , it doesn't have any of the action or adventure that made Mononoke or Nausicaa great , but it does have something that ( in my mind ) makes up for it . Real charecters . This is a movie about real people doing real things . Any number of teenagers could have lived this movie , there's no magic or fantasy , but there's also none of the bull that makes most modern romances so bad .
Watch this if you are mature enough to appreciate real charecters doing real things against a backdrop of really beautiful art . It's all about the directors ability to create actual people out of paper and ink , which I think he does spectacularly .
( I only rated this three stars because I know it's not what most people expect from Ghibli )
043 4 Whisper of the Heart is a film produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Yoshifumi Kondo . It is based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi . Whisper of the Heart is a very well-told and well-animated coming of age story . You really feel for the characters , and you can identify with them and the situations they go through if you've been through adolescence yourself . Whisper of the Heart is also a good family viewing experience ; there's really nothing in the film that is inappropriate for younger viewers .
When Whisper of the Heart was released on DVD in the United States , it was released as a two-disc set . The first disc contains the film and two special features . For the film , you can select what scenes you want to see . You can also choose between English and Japanese audio , and you can also choose to have English captions for the Hearing Impaired or to have English subtitles , or to not have subtitles at all . The main menu also has a Sneak Peeks option , which allows you to choose which of the trailers you want to see that are included at the beginning of the disc .
The first bonus feature on the disc is a roughly eight minute long documentary titled , Behind the Microphone . During the documentary , you see some of the English voice actors recording the English dialogue for the dub version of the film . There are also interviews with some of the English dub actors and staff ( Brittany Snow , Ashley Tisdale , Ned Lott , Rick Dempsey , David Gallagher , Martin Spanjers , Courtney Thorne-Smith , Jean Smart , Harold Gould , and Cary Elwes ) . It's not a bad documentary for what it is .
The only other special feature on the disc are the Japanese trailers and TV spots for Whisper of the Heart , which run for about eleven minutes . There are six in all , and they have Japanese audio and English subtitles . The spots are in one continuous piece , and there is no way to select which ones you want to see .
All that is on the second disc of Whisper of the Heart is a storyboard version of the film . This is basically the same as the movie , except it utilizes storyboards and none of the actual animation . I really don't understand the point or appeal of seeing the complete film in storyboard form . This release would have been stronger if it was just one disc instead of two , and only had brief storyboard-to-animation comparisons of some of the scenes on the first disc . I believe that including the second disc is a waste .
If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli's films , then you should see Whisper of the Heart . Even with the unnecessary second disc , and the few minor complaints about the bonus features on disc one , this is a DVD that should be in the collection of any anime fan .
In order to write this review , I checked out a copy of this DVD through the King County Library System .
044 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
I'm an anime fan who also enjoys most Disney productions . Whisper of the Heart combines the best of both . It's a light hearted story of two youth who find their way in the world . . . Lot's of great music , light comedy , and awakening romance . I highly recommend it . No age limits .
045 4 I'm an anime fan who also enjoys most Disney productions . Whisper of the Heart combines the best of both . It's a light hearted story of two youth who find their way in the world . . . Lot's of great music , light comedy , and awakening romance . I highly recommend it . No age limits .
047 4 This is my personal favorite film from Studio GHIBLI to date . And the best coming of age story I've seen ( animated or not ) . Miyazaki is great and all , but I tend to prefer Yoshifumi Kondo's films whenever he worked on a Ghibli film . It seems a bit more down to earth and something most people can relate to . And in the end , you're left with a warm and fuzzy feeling . Definately a date movie , so I'd recommend watching this with someone special .
048 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Just look at the picture - - this is not an action film , or an environmental fable , or an epic in any sense . It is , quite simply , one of the finest young persons development and coming-of-age films out there . The characters are believable , the supportive but non-helicoptering parents are realistic , and though Country Roads in the main title at first seems out of place , it turns out to be a plot element in its own right . I can't recommend this movie highly enough - - we watch is several times a year when we need a guaranteed feel good film .
049 4 Just look at the picture - - this is not an action film , or an environmental fable , or an epic in any sense . It is , quite simply , one of the finest young persons development and coming-of-age films out there . The characters are believable , the supportive but non-helicoptering parents are realistic , and though Country Roads in the main title at first seems out of place , it turns out to be a plot element in its own right . I can't recommend this movie highly enough - - we watch is several times a year when we need a guaranteed feel good film .
050 4 Whisper of the Heart / B000CDGVOO
Although I usually avoid movies with youthful angst and uncertainty , Whisper of the Heart touched a deep nerve with me . The characters are touchingly realistic and poignant as they navigate a difficult period of growth and development with a mix of intense creativity and unfocussed existential uncertainty . In particular , the character of Suzuku tugs deeply at the heart-strings of the viewer , as she fluctuates between the ennui of young adulthood and a fevered dream of creativity as she attempts to prove herself to her family , her loved ones , and even to herself .
Stricken with low self-esteem , she mistakenly believes that everyone around her - including her love interest - is confidently following their dreams , without a single second thought or self-doubt . Suzuku believes that she alone is ` not good enough ' , that she is wasting her life and her talent by failing to produce - immediately ! - a material example of her dedication , hard-work , and raw talent . After she pours her heart and soul into a youthful novel , she is able to find peace with the understanding that she is good enough with or without a successful novel , if only because she genuinely tried . The movie ends on a note that I wish more ` creative genius ' features would focus on - Suzuku plans to hone her craft , because it needs polishing , but she has found a quiet peace and acceptance with herself and those around her .
A long and introspective movie , Whisper of the Heart is a lovely movie for anyone who has ever struggled with low self-esteem or with general self-acceptance .
~ Ana Mardoll
051 4 I've been a comic strip junky all my life . You know , the panels in the newspaper ? Like Li ' Abner , Dick Tracy , Peanuts , Doonesbury , Calvin and Hobbes , Get Fuzzy . . . ? That's just the American tradition , of course , and it's quite distinct from the European - - Tintin , for instance , or Asterix and Obelix - - and from political cartooning . The daily strips are addictive ; even though 4 out of 5 installments are utterly boring in and of themselves , the ongoing development takes on a life inside your own Life . Perhaps the key is that Life itself is a steady panel of trivial moments that accumulate interest as memories .
But I'm not an anime addict . I watched Whisper of the Heart as an outsider , much as a Turk or an Icelander might pick up an American newspaper and find himself thoroughly non-plussed by a panel of Rex Morgan MD . I rented Whisper simply because a musical colleague told me that I'd be blown away by one scene in which three elderly Japanese men pull out instruments and join in a jam session with the two teenage lovers-to-be who are the principal characters . Well , I rented , I watched , I waited . Beautifully drawn animation ! Marvelously evocative of Japan , where I have lived . Sweet , humane , and stunningly boring for the first 45 minutes . . .
. . . and then , the jam session ! Hard to believe my eyes ! Is this an in-group joke perpetrated by some Japanese animationist who happens to be a Baroque music dilettante ? The song they play is the goldy-moldy Country Road , Take me Home , but the instruments the oldsters play are a viola da gamba , a six-course lute , and a Renaissance cornetto , while the boy hero plays Bassano-like diminutions on his violin . Huh ? and again , huh ?
The jam session is , happily , the turning point of the film . Thereafter the story-line develops some gentle momentum ; one starts to engage with the cute little cartoon kids , to have a pocket of warmth in one's heart for them , like for the children of a distant cousin . . . or for the grandchildren of Dagwood and Blondie . Without any justification , I had always supposed that Japanese anime films were invariably dark , violent , edgy . . . but Whisper of the Heart is pure syrup , a mushy love story without the truly Japanese denouement of a ' double-suicide ' .
Net evaluation : watch it for the gorgeous graphics , and don't expect much from the story .
052 4 this movie reminded me slightly of kiki's delivery service . kiki's delivery service was made before it though , and i'd have to say that it was a better story of self discovery . but as whisper of the heart is alos from studio ghibli , the fact that it pales in comparison to kiki in no way makes it a bad film .
whisper of the heart is the story of a girl who is at odds with herself . she has no direction and doesn't know what she will do in the future . she meets a boy who loves music and is inspired by his passion , so decides to write a novel . there isn't a lot of action in the movie , but watching shizuku struggle with her frustration at discovering what she enjoys and what she should do with her life , and then the passion and effort she puts into attempting to fulfill that endears her to the audience . she struggles with some conventions that the young people of today are encouraged to participate in . i won't say exactly what so as not to spoil anything , but suffice it to say that she resisted this convention because didn't see the use of participating and later returned to it when she saw the use .
at the end of the movie , shizuku finds her beginning , and i have to say that the story she is writing bears more than a resemblance to the cat returns , another ghibli film created after this one .
overall a sweet film , but kiki does a better job of it on the whole .
053 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Miyazaki , the master filmmaker behind Studio Ghibli , has produced another fine film with Whisper of the Heart . This movie , like his others , can be enjoyed by younger audiences and adults . Children will see it as a boy meets girl movie , but older viewers will admire both the story and the exquisite scenery provided by Studio Ghibli . We have yet to be disappointed by any of Mizazaki's works , and this film is a fine blend of story and art , and of the world we live in and the fantasy that awaits us just around the corner . This is an excellent and beautiful movie from the master of Japanese animated cinema .
054 4 Miyazaki , the master filmmaker behind Studio Ghibli , has produced another fine film with Whisper of the Heart . This movie , like his others , can be enjoyed by younger audiences and adults . Children will see it as a boy meets girl movie , but older viewers will admire both the story and the exquisite scenery provided by Studio Ghibli . We have yet to be disappointed by any of Mizazaki's works , and this film is a fine blend of story and art , and of the world we live in and the fantasy that awaits us just around the corner . This is an excellent and beautiful movie from the master of Japanese animated cinema .
055 4 I was sure when I heard Country Road at the beginning of Whisper to the Heart that somebody had turned on the radio . But no , the song is a very present element to this wonderful animated movie . It's a distinct film in Studio Ghibli's repertoire , given that it's not a tangent fantasy and the setting of Tokyo is never really abandoned . It instead explores the subject of magic in other forms ; just what is magic , and where can one find it ? The first and only film directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo , it is a heart-warming movie that explores the magic of life , and what it means to find yourself . It's something many can relate to , including yours truly .
Shizuku is a well-meaning but insecure junior high school student in Japan . Pressure is high on her year as they need good grades if they are to get into a good education . Shizuku , however , is restless and spends most of her time helping out other people , particularly with adopting English language songs into Japanese for her friends . Still , she longs for a direction . Her kind-meaning but demanding family don't help her there .
A series of events , however , lead Shizuku to meet Seiji , a boy from her year who wants to be a violin-maker . The two set up a warm , believable friendship . Inspired by Seiji's belief in his dream , Shizuku realises that to find herself , she has to follow her heart . Seiji's uncle , who runs an antique store ( one of the items there is the Baron Cat featured in The Cat Returns ) , helps her in looking inside herself . Shizuku realises she wants to be a writer . But should she stay in school , or quit like Seiji and follow her dream ? Can she find the courage ?
John Denver's Country Road is a solid backbone to Whisper of the Heart , which is a beautiful piece of filmwork - written and storyboarded by Hayao Myazaki , it's a deep film with a profound , human insight . It's possibly even more distinct for the visual style of Shizuku's fantasy world , visualised by established artist Naohisa Inoue , whom Myazaki approached for the film . Though copyright issues may have led to its late US-release , Whisper of the Heart is a different kind of gem from Ghibli - a thoughtful revelation on what it means to not only look inside yourself and find out who you are , but what it means to act on it . It is an animated movie to be cherished , beautiful both visually and philosophically .
056 4 Purchased item for a Hayao Miyazaki fan . Went over very well . Recipient appreciated addition their collection .
057 4 We love most of Hayao Miyazaki movies ; particularly Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service , Howl's Movie Castle , and even Porco Rosso . This movie is along the lines of Kiki , Totoro , and Cats Return . If you are looking for something along remotely similar to Princess Mononoke , you'll be dissapointed . It's a coming of age movie about a jr high student who meets a boy that knows what he wants to do when he grows up and makes her think about her own life . It's cute and the animation is wonderful , as always . [ . . . ] . We'll be enjoy this movie as a family for years to come .
058 4 Great Movie I am a big fan of the director I have most of the movies that he is involved in . My package got here very fast to
059 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
I don't know . . . this is a good movie , but a bit slow and
kiddy for me . I love the dream sequences and Carey Elwes does a good job in the English dub , but this is no Spirited Away .
060 4 I don't know . . . this is a good movie , but a bit slow and
kiddy for me . I love the dream sequences and Carey Elwes does a good job in the English dub , but this is no Spirited Away .
061 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Looking for a good love story with no fantasy or fairy tail BS in it ? Just down to Earth good clean story of girl meets boy and hates him at first . I really love this story . It's wonderful characters keep you interests high through the whole movie .
062 4 Looking for a good love story with no fantasy or fairy tail BS in it ? Just down to Earth good clean story of girl meets boy and hates him at first . I really love this story . It's wonderful characters keep you interests high through the whole movie .
063 4 what a lovely film this is . i had seen the cat returns and been rather disappointed by it after enjoying many other studio ghibli things greatly , but whisper of the heart is totally different , both in the kind of thing it's trying to do ( it's not fantasy ) and in its levels of emotion and inventiveness . i'm giving this film full marks - sure there are things i don't like so much here ( e.g . the kitschiness of the baron himself and his lady friend ) , but they're of minor significance . the characters are so great - i feel such affection for them that it's genuinely sad to reach the end of the film and know that that's all i am ever going to know about their lives .
as a bonus , if you watch the dub , that's very nicely done as well .
064 4 I love this movie ! It is about love , but also adventure . Hayao Miyazaki captures the true story ! It is a great family movie !
065 4 I have finally seen this movie and I fell in love with both the storyline and the art as well as the characters about 7 months ago I got The Cat Returns and I watched the special features and it showed scenes from Whisper of the Heart and ever since I have wanted this movie I got to watch it from one of my friends and as soon as I get paid I will be going to buy it it would be worth every penny I think . I would recommend this movie to anyone , as well as My Neighbor Totoro I just saw that one as well I liked that one also . Now that I have seen it I was mad at myself that I hadnt seen it before now . I love this movie get it when u have the chance
067 4 This is one of Miyazaki-san's greater films in my opinion . It is a story about almost every girl .
Shizuku thinks that her boring life is never going to get any better , until one day she decides to follow a cat home and finds a wonderful antique shop . Inside lies more than just treasures from long ago , but treasures for the future , too .
Also , for any of you fans of The Cat Returns , the Baron makes a suprising visit .
Personally , I think this film was better off left in Japanese and subtitled . It was painful to watch Dubbed , since the voice actors never seemed to match the mouth animantions .
Over all , as a movie , it was great . It was just not a great movie for dubbing .
068 4 The beauty of this film is breathtaking . It is definitely one of my favorite Miyazaki films . As usual his themes and messages familiar yet communicated in a unique way . I found this film to be personally inspirational . Also , the love story's ending is much more satisfactory than it is for several of his other films . I recommend this to every Miyazaki fan .
069 4 I have been Anime fan since Totoro and I would rate Whisper of the Heart as one of the best . It , as with some Anime for children , portrays an intelligent , viable approach on life as a teenager or making that difficult transition from adolescent into adulthood , unlike most of the youth culture movies / tv in America today . It not only is entertaining but retains it's youthful essence throughout with a magical flair . At times , it can be corny , but not over-the-top . All in all , I would recommend this as a great family film .
070 4 Another great film from Studio Ghibli . I've been collecting all of their movies and haven't been dissapointed yet .
071 4 I loved this movie and really identified with the characters . I actually bought this movie before seeing it because I had seen The Cat Returns and thought this would be just as good . It was even better than I expected because there was a depth of character in this movie that is not seen in The Cat Returns ( though it is also a wonderful movie ) . I would recommend this for children and adults , a heart warming movie .
072 4 When I first saw Whisper of the Heart , it seemed to go on forever . This was because I had seen its sequel , the aptly titled The Cat Returns , first . If you haven't seen either yet , I recommend seeing Whisper of the Heart first . It's slightly slow , and focuses on the nuances of everyday life more than adventure . The main character , a girl named Shizuku , wants to be a writer and finds inspiration in The Baron , a beautiful statue of a nattily dressed cat . However , the story takes its time in transcribing Shizuku's life and thus might be boring to some who like adventure . I recommend Castle in the Sky or Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind if this movie sounds too boring for you .
074 4 I first became a Studio Ghibli fan when I saw Spirited Away . As I have fallen in love with numerous films from this studio , I have no qualms purchasing films they offer without previously viewing them . Such was the case with Whisper of the Heart and I was not disappointed . This film is perhaps one of my favorite offerings from Studio Ghibli . It is down to earth and presents relatable characters in a beautifully written storyline .
Synopsis :
Our story starts out with Shizuku who is determined to read 20 books during the summer . Her father works in the local library and she can be constantly found there as well . She reads loads upon loads of books , particularly fairy tales . In fact , she reads so much that she cares for little else , friends and writing lyrics excepted , and her grades are suffering as a result . Apparently in Japan ( or just in this movie ) your entrance tests to high school are a huge deal . The High School you go do partly determines your success in life and the oppertunities available to you ( something like that ) . Instead of being caring particularly about the exams Shizuku is instead facinated at solving a mystery revolving around her library books . It seems that every book she has checked out a Seiji Amasawa has checked out before her . She can't help but wonder who this boy is like .
Meanwhile , Shizuku figures out that her best friend , Yuko , likes a fellow classmate of theirs , Sugimura . After her friend leaves her this valuble piece of knowledge , Shizuku figures out she left her library book somewhere and races off to retrieve it . In the process she bumps into a boy who proceeds to insult the lyrics she had been working on ( and incidentally had left in the library book that he found ) . Calling him a jerk all the way home , Shizuku ends up revising said lyrics , and showing them to her friends at school who are deeply impressed . Later , Shizuku is on the subway to the library to drop off a lunch for her Dad when she spots a cat on said subway . Intrigued , she follows the cat to an antique shop , leaves the lunch in the shop and once again runs into the rude boy .
Later , at school , Sugimara tries to convince Yuko to go out with a friend of his . Yuko blows up and him and leaves crying . Sugimara is crestfallen at what he could have possibly have done wrong and Yuko decides not to go to school the next day , telling the whole story to Shizuko . At school , with pleading from Sugimara , Shizuku tells the boy that her best friend has a crush on him . Sugimara then admits he's been in love with Shizuku for years . This is bad . Shizuku realizes that this is a horrible situation to be in , turns Sugimara down because she doesn't return his feelings and also would never steal her best friend's crush , and rushes over to the antique store for some solice . Who should she run into but the rude boy ? The rude boy lets her into the antique shop and Shizuku finds out that the boy's dream is to be a violin maker . She also finds out that he is none other than Seigi Amasawa ! But the time they spend together , between talking about a cat , an antique , and violins proves to smooth over any past rudeness and they become friends .
However , everything can't stay peaches and cream . The next day at school Seigi tells Shizuku his dream is coming true ! His parents have allowed him to apprentice himself to a violin maker in Italy for 2 months . If he shows promise he will be allowed to stay , after his Jr . High graduation , but if he doesn't show promise he must go to High School . In the same conversation , Seigi admits to checking out so many books in hope that Shizuku would notice him as she always seems to have her nose stuck in a book . ( Make no mistake though , Seiji still has read the books he has checked out ! ) . Shizuku realizes that she has developed a crush on Seigi but it is all for naught as he is going away for two months . Despondant , Shizuku has tea with her best friend , Yuko , and tells her how inadaquate she feels compared to Seigi , who not only has read a lot of books , but puts his talents to use and knows what he wants to do with his life . Shizuku , determined to proove herself worthy of him , decides to use the two months to write a book , as she has been told she's a gifted writer . Inspired by one of the antiques in the store , Shizuku starts writing constantly , staying up at least once until 4 am . , to the detriment of her grades . Her parents , however , say that she must follow her heart . The two months rolls along and she finishes her book . She still feels so inadaquate to Seigi and believes that she can never catch up with his greatness .
This is when Seigi's grandfather , owner of the antique shop , tells her this valuable lesson . Artists are like geodes ; there are valuable gems inside an ordinary rock . Now these gems can be overshadowed by the showy crystals inside , and you can waste your time polishing those . But the real gems are uncut and rough , needing not only to be unearthed but polished . You can't tell just by looking , what valuable stone a geode may contain , but that doesn't mean there isn't one inside of the rock . He also tells her that we have to keep polishing , and yes , her initial story is good , but she needs to polish it . That is when Shizuku realizes she still has a lot to learn and decides to buckle down and study for her entrance / High School exams .
Meanwhile , Seiji has returned from Italy . He too , shows promise in his craft of choice . He decides to go to High School and then pursue his dream of making violins . Seiji and Shizuku share a touching romantic moment before the film ends .
Summary help with jogs in memory by : ( I highly recommend this sight as it pertains to all Studio Ghibli films ) .
Whisper of the Heart is certainly delightful , containing many a poignant lesson on love , friendship , success , imagination , and goals . I highly recommend it !
075 4 Whisper of the Heart is a wonderfully simple story , filled with characters that you genuinely care about , namely that of Shizuku , a struggling teenager who is trying to discover herself . Through the course of the movie , she discovers her talents , and gains a renewed desire to make her dreams a reality .
076 4 Whispers of the Heart is a different approach than most of the anime line of movies . It is a delight to watch and well developed . One of my favorites . I would recommend this movie to anyone .
077 4 Miyazaki wrote the screenplay so it has to be good , one way or another . This one has Miyazaki's signature elements , flying machines and an early-teen heroine , but is much more sedate than many of his more fantasy-based movies . In fact , the emphasis on relationships almost makes it a chick flick , but for the junior high set .
Still , even I enjoyed it . There's a little bit of everyday mystery in Moon and The Baron . There's more than a little of the perpetual embarassment of being 14 . There are also little lessons on finding and creating your own inner strength , on earning a place in the adult world , and maybe on what it is that makes real friendship and affection .
I have to admit that I'm more of a fan of Miyazaki's fantasy / action movies . The fact that this one held my attention anyway says a lot .
/ / wiredweird
078 4 I'm a writer and my goal in this career i have chosen is to tell stories about people and emotions and the things we go through in life .
having watched all the ghibli films released in america , i can say that this is probably my favorite next to spirited away .
words can't describe the sheer nakedness of the story and how the company has captured the innocent nature of young adults .
i have noticed that all ghibli films touch on the human aspect of development and the coming of age story .
the characters act like real people and the movements and gestures make it seem more full than most anime .
i won't describe the plot since many below me have already done that . i just wanted to tell my experience with this film .
i purchased it the day it came out . along with howls moving castle .
i went home and watched it first . it totally captivated me and embraced me with it's honest feelings and truthfullness .
i highly recommend seeing this movie .
here's hope that ghibli and disney will release the other lost gems from their collection . only yesterday and ocean waves
cheers !
079 4 The first time i watched this movie it was in japaness . i had missed the first few minutes of the movie and had to read the sub titles just to understand what they're saying.But even though I missed words and my eyes were really sore by the time i reached the half way point i loved this movie . I own a number of anime DVDs and Manga books you could call me an anime fanatic . i know my anime and i strongly suggest you buy this movie . I haven't met any one that has watched it and hasn't loved it so take my word and buy it .
080 4 Whisper of the Heart is a heartwarming story that follows a young girl's journey to true love and realizing her talents .
The story line is unforgettable . It is unlike anything I have ever seen . It is a mixture of love , fantasy , mystery , and pure wonder . The main character Shizuku finds that a boy has read all the books she has , always coming up on the library card before her . She does everything trying to find him , and one day , after visiting an old antique shop filled with mystery , she runs into him . At first , their relationship is tense , and Shizuku finds the boy , Seiji , to be a bonafide jerk . Over time , they come to know eachother and realize eachothers interests . Shizuku wants to write a book , but doesn't think she has the talent . Seiji dreams of becoming a violin maker in Italy . They both incourage eachother to reach there goals and despite obstacles along the way , they do . They realize that they have fallen for eachother , and the last line of the movie is actually Seiji saying , Shizuku ! I love you ! The beauty of this movie almost brought tears to my eyes .
I very highly recommend this movie . It is wonderful for the whole family and teaches a lesson on life that we should not soon forget .
081 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Had been looking for this video and was very happy to find it . . . . came very fast and is in perfect shape . . . thanks ! ! !
082 4 Had been looking for this video and was very happy to find it . . . . came very fast and is in perfect shape . . . thanks ! ! !
083 4 This movie is like so many other studio ghibli or miyazaki movies deep and cute . The movie has its own path that you explore and grow with the characters , a great buy !
084 4 With the exception of Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim , this animated movie is one of the most moving dialogues I have seen about the insecurities , difficulties , and eventual joys of the artistic process .
As an extra bonus , the second DVD of this movie has the original storyboard ( or at least a large portion of it ) shown in sync with the audio of the movie playing in the background . This shows very clearly the artistic genius of Hayao Miyazaki , and just how much of his creative vision is infused into this movie .
As with other Studio Ghibli films , I felt that it moved rather slow , but nowhere near as slow as Castle in the Clouds .
Recommended .
087 4 Ghibli studio in Japan give's American studios a run for it's money . They don't need to make their cartoon movies in 3D in order to make it good animation like the U.S . does all the time . Cause America lost it's talent in doing hand drawn cartoons .
I have never seen such a touching love story between two young people , driving each other to achieve their aim in life by doing self-discovery . What makes me realize is we don't have to know someone in real life to push ourselves to achieve something . They can be far away from us or a stranger to be our role model in life .
This story can occur in reality and who knows ? The story line is simple but very interesting . It also makes you think whether you have such an inspiration in life , whether our partner give us an inspiration in doing what we want in life or just live another day .
088 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Whisper of the Heart is a wonderful story about a schoolgirl , Shizuku , who is worried about her future . What will she be ? What can she do ? When she meets Seiji , a mysterious boy who seems to be able to do anything , her fears for her future increases . So she starts out to follow her dreams , to see how far she can get . Will she prove able to meet her goals and fulfill her dreams or will she fail , lost and with no direction in life ?
In addition to the main plot there is also a touch of romance and fantasy . The two disc set includes some special features but don't buy it for the extras . The movie is the one and only reason to buy the set . Brought to us by the folks of Studio Ghibli ( Spirited Away , My Neighbor Totoro ) which is a studio I feel great respect for . They really make good anime , with high standards and touching stories that don't talk down to the viewers , be they adults or kids .
089 4 Whisper of the Heart is a wonderful story about a schoolgirl , Shizuku , who is worried about her future . What will she be ? What can she do ? When she meets Seiji , a mysterious boy who seems to be able to do anything , her fears for her future increases . So she starts out to follow her dreams , to see how far she can get . Will she prove able to meet her goals and fulfill her dreams or will she fail , lost and with no direction in life ?
In addition to the main plot there is also a touch of romance and fantasy . The two disc set includes some special features but don't buy it for the extras . The movie is the one and only reason to buy the set . Brought to us by the folks of Studio Ghibli ( Spirited Away , My Neighbor Totoro ) which is a studio I feel great respect for . They really make good anime , with high standards and touching stories that don't talk down to the viewers , be they adults or kids .
090 4 I hate to give anything by Ghibli a negative review , trust me it has NEVER happened before , but Whisper of the Heart is hardly as good as any of Ghibli's great films , such as
Spirited Away
,
Grave of the Fireflies ( 2 - Disc Collector's Edition )
, and
My Neighbor Totoro
. The technical aspects of the film are on par with anything Ghibli has done up to this time , and a lot of the same plot devices are present in this film , but Whispers lacks the magic and wonder which made other Ghibli films , including its sequel
The Cat Returns
, great .
Although Hayao Miyazaki (
Howl's Moving Castle
,
Princess Mononoke
) wrote the script and storyboarded for this film , he didn't direct it . It has a lot of the same elements of any Miyazaki film , female lead , a coming of age story , romance , etc . but whereas Miyazaki's films almost always held a universal appeal in that almost anyone could enjoy them Whispers is directed and will appeal to only one group of people , young girls , of which I personally am not . This is a coming of age story about a young middle school girl who , at the start of the film , spends most of her time in a book or fooling around doing absolutely nothing . Her life is turned upside down , however , when she meets a young man named Seiji . She sees that he knows what he wants to do with his life and that he has a purpose for livening , which forces her to examine herself . She realizes that her life , for the most part , is meaningless and sets out on a journey to find herself .
Parts of this story are extremely easy to relate with , the overbearing overachieving sister ( she was EXACTLY like my own sister ) , the self doubt , the insecurity , the hopeless search for happiness and meaning in ones life are all emotions which are easy to see in oneself . Unfortunately the movie doesn't focus on these elements as much as they should ; instead it decides to turn the story into yet another generic and cliché tween romance . The story starts out so heartwarming , so beautiful and light , but then takes a nose dive straight into mediocrity . Maybe romance just isn't my thing , but whenever I see middle scholars talk about romance , love , and ( cough ) getting married when they grow older , I can't help but role my eyes . There is nothing more annoying then tween romances .
The animation , like all Ghibli's works , is good for the most part and great in all the right places . The character designs are relatively simple , the motion fluid , and the backgrounds detailed and diverse . One of the closing scenes , when Shizuku and Seiji are together looking at a sunrise , was one of the most beautifully animated scenes for any Ghibli movie ever made . I'm a sucker for a good sunrise scene , and although it didn't match the brilliance of similar scenes from movies like
The Place Promised in Our Early Days
, for the time it was made ( 1995 ) its fantastic .
Overall if you like tween romances , then go ahead and see this film . Just because I didn't like it ( and I'm in the minority here ) doesn't mean that you won't , but I warn you do not expect the same wonder and excitement of Miyazaki's films , this is a romance and nothing but .
Replay value ; moderate .
091 4 Very pretty movie . Loved all the neat antiques in the film . the visuals in this film are really great too . The story was also very nice . Another great film from ghibli .
092 4 It's always strange reviewing certain movies because you keep feeling like you're going to get lynched if you badmouth it . While most just simply say don't buy this , buy teh creed ! ! ! 111 , others go into heavy detail about why it wasn't one of their favorites . Whisper of the Heart of course has a charm about it and there's obviously nothing offensive about it such as bad acting , dialogue and such but there wasn't that kind of wonder and magic I got from Totoro , Spirited Away or even Nausicaa .
Shizuki is a high school student who impresses many with her poetry , does her chores and reads a lot of books but she's quite unhappy . She meets Seiji , a violin maker which at first she gets off on the wrong foot with but then starts to like him . Eventually she gets inspired to write a story based on the Baron , a strange cat statue found in a shop .
Many people say Spirited Away is the best Studio Ghibli film while it does have its detractors with usually a common complaint : its length . The film clocked in at a sliver over 2 hours . The Cat Returns , Whisper's sequel , was at a small 1 hour and 10 or so . Whisper is at around an hour 50 and it does feel like it at times . So much stuff happened but it ultimately doesn't propel the story forward it's just a lot of stuff . The Baron in his chatty form shows up past the hour mark and his appearance is cameo at best .
Will kids love it though ? I don't know , it has none of the magic that previous Ghibli films had . It's at least worth a rental but it's hard to recommend if you're thinking it's going to be another Totoro or Spirited Away .
093 4 After seeing The Cat Returns I just had to see the inspiration behind that fantastic movie . I was prepared from reading previous reviews that whisper of the Heart would not be a fantasy laden tale . That being said , I must still say that I did enjoy it . I must also say that it is a bit slow . I think they could've cut out about 1 hour's worth of filler ( numerous scenes of the girl just walking or the entire first portion of the movie that's nothing but her running errands ) and still conveyed their message . Compared to other Studio Ghibli films this was just somewhat boring ( most of their films are slow , but this was really slow ) . Also , I felt the choice of Country Roads as a theme song was very out of place in this film . As soon as you hear the words Virginia and Mountain Mama you start to wonder why they ever chose the song . I laughed everytime I heard it because it sounded so out of place in Tokyo . Other than that , the movie is a very touching coming of age story , although the ending was a bit unbelievable . Overall , it was worth watching at least once to see the origin of The Cat Returns and I'm glad I did . I do recommend seeing this at least once if you are a fan of Studio Ghibli or of The Cat Returns .
094 4 My girls own all of Miyazaki's other movies . This one has the art style they expected but has a romantic storyline and a mundane quality that didn't appeal to them . Not terrible or anything , just different .
095 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
This is not the most exciting one , but it is a nice story , innocent and encouraging and giving somewhat an idea of Japanese life , even though I think they like to use European elements as well . .
My personal favorites are Howl's moving castle , Nausicaa and Spirited away . After these , this one is a nice one too .
096 4 This is not the most exciting one , but it is a nice story , innocent and encouraging and giving somewhat an idea of Japanese life , even though I think they like to use European elements as well . .
My personal favorites are Howl's moving castle , Nausicaa and Spirited away . After these , this one is a nice one too .
097 4 This movie was very good , I would expect nothing less from Miyazaki . It was great and anybody who likes Ghibli would love it .
098 4 Being a huge fan of Studio Ghibli , I waited for months to rent this movie from Blockbuster online . It was not worth the wait . Despite the previews , and the indication of reviewers that it was a prequel to The Cat Returns , the movie contains no fantasy , and the script is very much like an average Japanese TV high school drama , except without more serious themes .
There is really no reason this had to be depicted as a cartoon , and that makes this have the least in common with the rest of the Studio Ghibli collection . If you are male , whether an adult who enjoys animation , or a kid , you will be very disappointed in this film . Even my wife was bored , and wondering why it was such a conventional story .
099 4 As this movie has the Baron in it , I expected a child-friendly adventure . This is more of a romance / soap-opera sort of movie . We watched it once and will probably never do so again . The Cat Returns we watch fairly frequently . I am pretty disappointed .
100 4 After watching Studio Ghibli / Mizayaki's other movies for elementary school and adult audiences , I'm not sure what this one's target audience is . I'd say Japanese middle school girls . It's got romance , romance , and did I say romance ? There is the usual high quality Japanese animation , and the contemporary Japanese setting . The usual American audience is going to find this movie very boring , no action , no magic , just romance , romance , and did I say middle school romance ?
101 4 If you are a young girl , you might like this . To most mature-minded young people and adults this is going to seem simplistic , shrill , and pretty boring . I'm not sure which was more annoying , the stilted dialog or the incessant background score . This is a far far cry from Spirited Away .
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Great movie with amazing sounds and music that you'll love . It's ONE of the FIRST MIYAZAKI MOVIES . The price was great . It was chaper here than instore or other places . The dvd came within 3 days , which was very fast and suprising since I chose the standard shipping .
085 4 This review is from :
Whisper of the Heart ( DVD )
Great movie with amazing sounds and music that you'll love . It's ONE of the FIRST MIYAZAKI MOVIES . The price was great . It was chaper here than instore or other places . The dvd came within 3 days , which was very fast and suprising since I chose the standard shipping .
102 4 Give me break . DEFINITELY not worth $30 , even $20 was too high . Everyone should wait until the price drops to $15 at least .
