Whisper of the Heart

About Whisper of the Heart

Whisper of the Heart, released in 1996, is a touching Japanese animated drama film directed by Yoshifumi Kondō. The film is a feature film adaptation of the 1989 manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi. The story revolves around Shizuku, a junior-high school student who is struggling to find her own identity, while juggling her studies, family relations and personal aspirations. The film intensifies when she encounters a mysterious antique cat figurine, which leads her to Seiji, a young aspiring violin maker whom she falls for.

Making / Production

The movie was produced by Studio Ghibli and was the first theatrical Studio Ghibli film to be directed by someone other than its founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Despite the change in direction, the film still bore the touch of Ghibli’s aesthetic, characterized by detailed animation and unique storytelling.

Actors

• Yōko Honna: Voiced the protagonist, Shizuku Tsukishima. Her expressive voice acting truly brought out Shizuku's youthful charm and vivacious spirit.
• Issei Takahashi: Voiced Seiji Amasawa, Shizuku's love interest. His performance captured Seiji's dedication and maturity despite his age.
• Takashi Tachibana and Shigeru Muroi: Voiced Shizuku's supportive parents. Their performances ably depicted the warmth and subtlety of a typical Japanese family.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• 'Whisper of the Heart' was the first theatrical Studio Ghibli film to be directed by someone other than its founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
• The film is a feature film adaptation of the 1989 manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi.
• The film's success led to the production of a spin-off movie, The Cat Returns, released in 2002.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack was composed by Yuji Nomi, whose melodies brilliantly capture the film's range from soaring joy to thoughtful introspection.
• "Country Roads", the iconic song covered by Shizuku in the movie, serves a major plot point and forms a recurring theme in the movie's soundtrack.

Quotes

• "Life is a quest. Gradually, you'll find clues leading to the secret"
• "Sometimes, the Rd we've been traveling on gets a little rough. So, we should take a Break...and maybe also look how far we've come"
• "We each need to find our own inspiration, it's not that simple"