The appeal and evaluation of "Whisper of the Heart": A moving story and deep characters

Whisper of the Heart: A youthful story that shines between dreams and reality

■Overview of the work

Whisper of the Heart is a 1995 animated film produced by Studio Ghibli. It is based on the manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi, directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, and written and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki. It was released on July 15, 1995, and distributed by Toho. It has an Eirin rating of 114426, a total running time of 111 minutes, and one episode. The film is a moving tale of the growth of Tsukishima Shizuku, a middle school girl torn between the dreams of her youth and reality.

■ Story

Tsukishima Shizuku is a third-year junior high school student about to take the high school entrance exam. She loves reading and notices the name "Amasawa Seiji" who has already borrowed and read most of the books she wants to borrow at the library. She then learns that Amasawa Seiji is a classmate who is aiming to become a violin maker. Seiji's dream is to study abroad in Cremona, Italy after graduating from junior high school in order to become a violin maker. Meeting Seiji, who is steadily living his life while looking into the distance, brings about a big change in Shizuku, who did not know what to do. Shizuku struggles to find her own dream and eventually decides to write a story. This story depicts young people working hard towards their dreams, inspiring and encouraging the audience.

■Explanation

Whisper of the Heart is based on the manga by Hiiragi Aoi and is a work that celebrates the wonder of life. The protagonist, Tsukishima Shizuku, is depicted trying to discover her own dreams through reading. Her growth and change resonates with many young people and conveys the importance of having dreams. Furthermore, through her encounter and interaction with Amasawa Seiji, Shizuku broadens her own possibilities. This work is a story of youth torn between dreams and reality, and is sure to deeply move audiences.

■Cast

・Shizuku Tsukishima/Yoko Honna ・Seiji Amasawa/Issei Takahashi ・Yasunari Tsukishima (Shizuku's father)/Takashi Tachibana ・Asako Tsukishima (Shizuku's mother)/Shigeru Muroi ・Baron/Shigeru Tsuyuguchi ・Shiro Nishi (owner of Earth House)/Keiki Kobayashi

■ Main staff

・Screenplay and storyboard: Hayao Miyazaki ・Chief animation director: Kitaro Kosaka ・Art director: Satoshi Kuroda ・Character color design: Michiyo Yasuda ・Director of photography: Atsushi Okui

■ Main Characters

Shizuku Tsukishima The second daughter of the Tsukishima family. A third-year student at Mukaihara Junior High School. A girl with a keen sense and a strong independent spirit. Seiji Amasawa A third-year student at Mukaihara Junior High School. A boy who aspires to be a violin craftsman.
・Tsukishima Yasunari Shizuku's father. A librarian at the city library. Shizuku's mother is Tsukishima Asako, a local historian whose main job is not making her a penny. A lively and energetic woman, Baron Nishi, inherited a doll called the Cat Baron from a cafe in town when she was a young man studying in Germany. To be precise, he is Baron Humbert von Sickingen, and Nishi Shiro Seiji's maternal grandfather. He has an atelier on the hill of Suginomi, and is the owner of "Chikyu-ya", a shop that repairs and sells classical furniture and mechanical clocks.

■ Theme songs and music

Theme song: Country Roads Lyrics: Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver
Composer: Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver
Arrangement: Yuji Nomi Singer: Yoko Honna Original title: "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
・Japanese lyrics: Mamiko Suzuki ・Assistant: Hayao Miyazaki

・Insert song ・Country Road ・Lyrics by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver
Composer: Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver
・Vocals: Olivia Newton-john
・Original title: "Take Me Home, Country Roads"

■Detailed review

Among Studio Ghibli's works, Whisper of the Heart is known as one that depicts the brilliance of youth. The protagonist, Tsukishima Shizuku, is depicted trying to discover her own dreams through reading. Her growth and change resonates with many young people, conveying the importance of having dreams. Furthermore, through her encounters and interactions with Amasawa Seiji, Shizuku broadens her own possibilities. This work is a story of youth torn between dreams and reality, and is sure to deeply move audiences.

The appeal of this film lies above all in its realistic portrayal of youth. Shizuku's worries, conflicts, and process of growing up will resonate with many young people. Also, Seiji's efforts to achieve his dream give the audience courage and hope. Furthermore, Shizuku's interactions with her family and friends also add depth to the story. In particular, the presence of Shizuku's father, Tsukishima Yasuya, has a major impact on her growth. His warmth and understanding are a great support for Shizuku in finding her own dream.

There are also many noteworthy aspects to the film's visuals. The beautiful background art that is unique to Studio Ghibli and the detailed depiction of the characters' expressions further enhance the moving impact of the story. In particular, the scene where Shizuku writes a story and Seiji makes a violin leave a strong impression on the audience. These scenes symbolize the young people working hard towards their dreams, and deeply move the audience.

Musically, this film is also outstanding. The theme song, "Country Roads," is used to symbolize Shizuku's inner thoughts, giving the story a deep emotional impact. The inserted song, "Country Roads," is also used to symbolize the relationship between Shizuku and Seiji, adding depth to the story. These pieces of music further enhance the emotional impact of the story and leave a strong impression on the audience.

■Reasons for recommendation

Whisper of the Heart resonates with many young people as a story of youth torn between dreams and reality. Shizuku's growth and change, and Seiji's efforts to achieve his dream, give courage and hope to the audience. Furthermore, the beautiful visuals and music that are unique to Studio Ghibli further enhance the moving story. This film conveys the importance of having dreams, and will surely give courage and hope to young people. It is a film that I hope many people will see.

Related information

Whisper of the Heart is known among Studio Ghibli's works as a work that depicts the brilliance of youth. It is based on the manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi, directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, and written and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki. It was released on July 15, 1995, and distributed by Toho. It has an Eirin rating of 114426, a total running time of 111 minutes, and one episode. This work is a moving story that depicts the growth of Tsukishima Shizuku, a middle school girl who is torn between the dreams of her youth and reality.

The appeal of this film lies above all in its realistic portrayal of youth. Shizuku's worries, conflicts, and process of growing up will resonate with many young people. Also, Seiji's efforts to achieve his dream give the audience courage and hope. Furthermore, Shizuku's interactions with her family and friends also add depth to the story. In particular, the presence of Shizuku's father, Tsukishima Yasuya, has a major impact on her growth. His warmth and understanding are a great support for Shizuku in finding her own dream.

There are also many noteworthy aspects to the film's visuals. The beautiful background art that is unique to Studio Ghibli and the detailed depiction of the characters' expressions further enhance the moving impact of the story. In particular, the scene where Shizuku writes a story and Seiji makes a violin leave a strong impression on the audience. These scenes symbolize the young people working hard towards their dreams, and deeply move the audience.

Musically, this film is also outstanding. The theme song, "Country Roads," is used to symbolize Shizuku's inner thoughts, giving the story a deep emotional impact. The inserted song, "Country Roads," is also used to symbolize the relationship between Shizuku and Seiji, adding depth to the story. These pieces of music further enhance the emotional impact of the story and leave a strong impression on the audience.

Conclusion

Whisper of the Heart resonates with many young people as a story of youth torn between dreams and reality. Shizuku's growth and change, and Seiji's efforts to achieve his dream, give courage and hope to the audience. Furthermore, the beautiful visuals and music that are unique to Studio Ghibli further enhance the moving story. This film conveys the importance of having dreams, and will surely give courage and hope to young people. It is a film that I hope many people will see.