Whisper of the Heart (1995) – 8/10

Copyright Holder: Aoi Hiiragi Yoko Honna: Shizuku Issei Takahashi: Seiji Tachibana Takashi: Shizuku’s Father Muroi Shigeru: Shizuku’s Mother Tsuyuguchi Shigeru: Baron Kobayashi Keiju: ‘World Emporium’ Proprietor Brittany Snow: Shizuku David Gallagher: Seiji Cary Elwes: The Baron Writer (Original Manga) Published by Shueisha: Aoi Hiiragi Writer (Screenplay): Hayao Miyazaki Storyboard: Hayao Miyazaki Producer: Toshio Suzuki General Producer: Hayao Miyazaki Director: Yoshifumi Kondo

Whisper of the Heart (1995) Middle School girl Shizuku spots that a boys name keeps appearing before hers in library books she is taking out and builds a romantic ideal in her mind. Her schoolmates are also having the beginnings of romantic entanglements but, one day, a cat will lead Shizuku on to the path of self discovery and, perhaps, true love. 8/10 Sweet, charming and exceptionally animated. Very exceptionally animated. Tragically, this would be director Yoshifumi Kondo’s only film for Studio Ghibli due to his untimely death from an aneurysm (he was 48). Miyazaki is reported to have intended Kondo to be his successor at Ghibli and that makes his death even deeper felt. Of all the non-Miyazaki directed output at Studio Ghibli, this one (though scripted by Miyazaki) is closest in tone to the master’s work. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All. Available on DVD.