耳をすませば

MIMI WO SUMASEBA

MOVIE

MOVIE
Dubbed
SOURCE
MANGA
RELEASE
July 15, 1995
LENGTH
111 min

DESCRIPTION

During summer vacation, a schoolgirl named Shizuku, who longs to discover her true talents, observes an ordinary-looking cat riding by himself on the train. Intrigued, she decides to follow him. This chance encounter leads her to the mysterious Seiji, a boy who is determined to follow his dreams, and The Baron, a magical cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers in her heart. Soon, Shizuku's exciting adventures carry her far beyond the boundaries of her imagination.

(Source: Disney)

CAST

Seiji Amasawa
Issei Takahashi
Shizuku Tsukishima
Youko Honna
Humbert von Gikkingen Danshaku
Shigeru Tsuyuguchi
Muta
Nishi Shiro
Keiju Kobayashi
Seiya Tsukishima
Takashi Tachibana
Yuko Harada
Maiko Yoshiyama
Shiho Tsukishima
Yorie Yamashita
Asako Tsukishima
Shigeru Muroi
Kousaka
Minami Takayama

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MANGA RomanceMimi wo Sumaseba

MOVIE AdventureNeko no Ongaeshi

REVIEWS

Daemonplay
93/100
The effect of great setting-utilization
When looking at anime, or entertainment media as a whole one of the most important things to keep track of is the setting the current show/movie plays in. It's so important because correctly utilized it can help massivley in shaping a show's story, characters and the level of immersion we as viewers feel while watching it. Whisper of the heart is a fantastic example in this regard,

To bring a setting to life (in this case one inspired by real places) you need animation and art. Fundamental principles in this media obviously and an area where Studio Ghibli once again shines brightly. The attention to detail in this movie is amazing. Not only is the art very detailed and realistic (as expected from a grounded slice of life movie) it truly stands out when it comes to character interactions. The famous little "country roads"-scene in the violin workshop is a wonderful example of this. Worthy of note are also the short digressions into more fantastical territory which really bring to light the studio's affinity with this style of animation,

Shows and movies of this genre rise and fall with their characters though. Thankfully almost every character in this film is likeable and most importantly believable. While the story likes to fall back on some classical stereotypes especially in the beginning (a half fulfilled love triangle for example) it never feels unrealistic. As I have mentioned above, the use of the show's setting (urban japan during the latter half of the 20th century) in its story structure is quite amazing. Character motivations seem realistic and the whole set up for the unfolding love-story is believable while at the same time admittingly being a bit cliché. In many ways we can probably observe the influence of its source material in this regard.

The main theme of the story is self-discovery and realization. Undermined with meaningful symbolism, the movie never feels pretentious in its messages. It shows us that finding one's way through life is never easy, a theme many people should be able to relate to, At the same time it also displays that you don't have to tread this path alone (only make the first steps) and that sometimes you have to compromise to get your happy ending. A meaningful message especially at a time where instant-gratification seems to be becoming the norm.

Lastly I want to mention the soundtrack of the movie. Except for the obvious track "Country Roads" (in its varying iterations throughout the movie) the movie doesn't feature too many memorable soundtracks (Song of the Baron comes to mind). It also doesn't really have to though as the soundtrack is mostly used to accentuate the scenes. The usage of "Country Roads" is really inventive though as it is not only used as a way to hammer home the themes of the movie but also played by the characters themselves therefore immersing you further into the world.

Overall a great movie that perfectly shows the importance of good setting-utilization while at the same time telling an intriguing and believable story. If you area fan of its genre(s) and if you can handle a little bit of fluff you'll probably have a great time with this one.
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Pucci
95/100
Gems, dreams and crossroads.
"When you become an artist, you are like that rock. You are in a raw, natural state with hidden gems inside.You have to dig down deep and find the emerald studs way inside you. "

Crossroads. Something we're all familiar with, especially during our adolescent years where expectations may give us the impression that we're running out of time. It doesn't help seeing other people progress whilst we're still unsure on how to really approach the near-future, the lingering fear of disappointment begins to weigh some people down.

Whisper of the Heart is a charming coming-of-age story wrapped around an adorable romance. For some, this Studio Ghibli addition may serve as a warm embrace, reminding viewers that they're not alone in their feeling of doubt and that it's perfectly fine to go at your own pace. This addition is also one of the movies by the studio to not be directed by Hayao Miyazaki but instead by Yoshifumi Kondo, who unfortunately passed away 3 years after it's release.

This movie is one of the more grounded narratives from Studio Ghibli, the hurdles which the main character has to overcome are hurdles which we've all had to face or for some of us, still facing. The movie follows a 14-year old girl who aspires to be a writer as she struggles to transition into a different stage in her life, a stage built upon independence and ambition. A boy who seems to possess a mutual interest in literature is introduced and the two begin to slow-dance around their feelings for each other.

The hand-drawn animation style paired alongside the honesty which the narrative is presented with evokes a nostalgic feeling. Whisper of the Heart successfully comes of as a sincere and thoughtful watch, it is the embodiment of all of Studio Ghibli's intentions regarding the art of film. It exists as a safe space or a pit stop in this long road of existence and self-discovery. We as humans are forever growing and forever discovering the gems which reside within us therefore this movie will forever be relevant.

Overall, Whisper of the Heart is definitely worth the watch and is almost guaranteed to lift your spirit. This story of teenage love, passion and self-discovery is, in my opinion, the greatest movie to come out of Studio Ghibli.
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CyberSage999
94/100
A wonderful film starring a deeply relatable protagonist, stellar audiovisuals, and an inspiring message of purpose
It's no secret that Ghibli films often invoke that wondrous sense of childhood nostalgia that can't be replaced by anyone. From the gorgeous backgrounds to the expressive animation, to the incredible fantasy worlds or the down to earth slice of life stories they tell, it's hardly a surprise that they are still a beloved animation studio after all these years. However, this film takes a different approach. This film explores that kind of childhood wonder that so many of these other Ghibli films give by focusing on the perspective of a young girl who feels like she isn't doing enough. A girl who has a deeply relatable inferiority complex wants to be an author and desires to feel like she's good enough to both herself and for the boy she likes. This is the tale of Shizuku Tsukishima, a girl who's struggling to grow up.

Shizuku Tsukishima is a middle school student who loves reading fantasy books and getting lost in the stories that she reads. She often doesn't focus on what she's supposed to do because she's so wrapped up in her fantasies. She's known to often frequent the library and her older sister worries that she isn't focusing on her schoolwork because of her antics. What's interesting about Shizuku is that she starts as this cheerful but hot headed kid who butts heads with a boy her age who also reads fantasy novels named Seiji Amasawa and gets herself into awkward situations with other people, to a young girl who's revealed to has self-esteem issues and after seeing how incredibly talented Seiji as a violin carpenter. She feels like she is aimless with her life and she isn't doing enough with her life. As a middle schooler and still going through adolescence, she's not sure what she wants to do with her life and decides that she wastes too much of her time slacking off via reading books. It's hard not to see myself in Shizuku, as I feel somewhat lost as to what I should do going forward and end up comparing myself to those who are far more accomplished. Without going into detail, I love how the romance between these two has made her try to become more accomplished and write her fantasy novel. The ending, in particular, is tearjerk inducing because it's like she finally proved to herself that she is good enough. It's such an inspiring moment that it instantly got me teary eyed. Shizuku is such a well realized protagonist who grows and learns from her experiences that she feels like a genuine kid struggling to figure out what to do with herself.

Seiji Amasawa is the love interest and deuteragonist of the film. The very same man who checked out all the different fantasy novels she would end up reading. At first, he comes off as somewhat rude as he loves messing with Shizuku, but the film reveals he is a passionate young man who will stop at nothing to achieve his ambitions. As mentioned, he's a violin carpenter and plans to move abroad in order to improve his skills. I love the romance between Seiji and Shizuku because Seiji inspires her to work harder and try to improve herself. He helps her realize that writing is her talent and she should prioritize polishing her talent until it's able to shine brightly. I also just love the dialogue between the two, with their banter coming off as both charming and snarky. Shizuku can't stand him at first, but she realizes they're on the same boat. They're both struggling artists who want to be better at their craft, and while she may believe that he's just way ahead of her since he has an end goal in mind and she doesn't, he was the one to help her discover her own path in life and present her a motivation to write to prove herself and to the boy that she grew to love.

Then there's Nishi Shiro, Seiji's grandfather who owns an antique shop in Shizuku's town. A kind and talented elder figure who loves collecting unique items, such as a grandfather clock with a fairy tale story. One of the antiques that he owns is Baron, the anthropomorphic cat gentleman doll who got separated from his beloved Louise, another anthropomorphic cat doll. Nishi named the female doll Louise after his beloved since he left Germany before WW2. When he returned, he never saw her or her cat doll again. When Shizuku decides to use the Baron for her story and she's scared the story isn't going to be any good, he tells her that she can't expect perfection, especially when she's a novice writer. He has the best quote in the film: "When you become an artist, you are like that rock. You are in a raw, natural state with hidden gems inside. You have to dig down deep and find the emerald studs way inside you." He helps her see her true potential as a writer and inspires her to take action. When growing up, you need a parental figure like Nishi to guide you and make you see the potential that's deep inside you. Something you might not realize yourself because you might be drowning in self pity like Shizuku.

There are other characters like Shiho, Shizuku's older sister who's worried about her little sister and is wondering if she's actually doing the work she's supposed to. There's Asako, Shizuku's mother who is going to college and her father Seiya who works as a librarian. These three don't get too much focus, but they do try to make sure Shizuku is focusing on her work, especially her older sister Shiho. Last but not least, there's Shizuku's best friend Yuko, and she mainly has a crush on one of the boys at the beginning of the movie and grows concerns for Shizuku once she starts to focus on writing her book rather than her studies. They're more in the background, but they do bring a grounded sense of reality to Shizuku's delusions.

Finally, there's the audiovisual department, which is about as outstanding as you'd expect from Studio Ghibli. The vibrant and detailed setting, the expressive character animation, and the whole movie is beautifully hand drawn. Directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondou who sadly passed away at age 47 due to an aneurysm in 1998 caused by overwork. Hayao Miyazaki wanted him to be his replacement and his death is why he took a temporary retirement in the same year Kondou died. The movie's stellar presentation certainly helps explain why he was favored by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, as everything about it screams classic Ghibli. The opening song is probably my favorite opening song in the entire Ghibli line up. It invokes this countryside feeling while also being incredibly catchy. I also love how it's used in the actual plot to help Shizuku gain confidence through her writing as she's making her own versions of the song and even sings it a few times throughout the film. The voice acting for the dub is also great, as they fully bring out the emotions for the cast and bring their struggles to life.

All and all, this is one of Ghibli's best films by a country mile. It's such a heartfelt tale of self discovery, love, and hard work. Everything about it is so sincere and awe inspiring that I wish more people would talk about this film when talking about Ghibli's body of work. It's a charming and beautifully animated film that I would recommend to anyone.
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