Whisper of the Heart (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Whisper of the Heart is a 1995 Studio Ghibli film and the only film to be directed by Yoshifumi Kondo before his untimely death. Slated to be both Miyazki's and Takahata's successor, Kondo shows his skill as he successfully lives up to his would-be title. Whisper of the Heart is a fun and light-hearted coming-of-age story that has you smiling from start to finish. The film does a great job of making you love all of the characters, cheering them on each step of the way. Shizuku Tsukisma is a junior high school student who does what most girls her age do. She reads books in her spare time, talks about boys with her best friend, and spends most of her time making up songs, or adapting them from older westerns and singing them (These are things normal girls do...right?). The whole film revolves around the old John Denver song "Take me Home, Country Roads," and throughout the film Shizuku is trying to adapt the lyrics to help express her feelings for her junior high graduation. Shizuku also reads a lot and as a result of this, checks out many books from the library. Eventually, she starts to notice a pattern in the books she checks out: the have all been checked out by the same person before her. This sends Shizuku in search for the seemingly elusive Seiji Amasawa, and sets the story for our film. In May 2012, the North American blu-ray version of Whisper of the Heart was released alongside Castle in the Sky and the Secret World of Arrietty. The movie came shipped from Amazon in great condition, along with the sleeve cover (no bends or tears, the movie was shipped in a box with giant bubble wrap). Inside the packaging you have your standard bluray on one side, DVD on the other, as well as paperwork for a code to Disney Movie Rewards (something I would HIGHLY recommend you start taking advantage of. Signing up is free, and if you buy enough Disney movies, you might as well reap the full the benefits, especially at 35+ bucks a pop, MSRP). The English dub of Whisper of the Heart is one of the best I've heard and is just as enjoyable as the original audio to me. If you are, however, a stickler for the Japanese audio, the good thing about this release is that it comes with both a verbatim subtitle track of the English version, as well as the original translation subtitle track, so you get to choose. The only thing that I had a real problem with was the cover art. The Japanese releases on these films got way cooler, exclusive artwork, which would have been great, but of course that's not how these things go. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase, and I'm glad I own this timeless classic. I give the film a 5/5. Good luck getting Country Road out of your head! It'll be stuck in there for days after each time you watch this film.

Directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo (screenplay and storyboards by the acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki), "Whisper of the Heart" is one of those films that capture so many things - the pangs of growing up, adolescent angst, finding one's place in the world, and following that inner voice within one's own heart. The setting is Tokyo - teenager Shizuku Tsukishima is a bookish girl who'd rather while away the hours buried in a book than study her school books. Shizuku feels there's something missing in her life and a chance encounter with an indifferent yet strangely captivating cat on a train one day changes the course of her life. Shizuku follows the cat to an old antique store, where she is captivated by the statue of a mysterious cat (the Baron, who made a lasting impression on fans in The Cat Returns ). Later, Shizuku discovers that the store is owned by an old man who happens to be the grandfather of Seiji Amasawa, the very young man whose name had been on the library cards of many of the books Shijuku's been checking out. A gentle friendship develops between the two teenagers, one that baffles and delights Shizuku. Her lack of confidence in herself makes her question the balance in this friendship as she thinks very highly of Seiji's talents as a budding violin maker, whereas she thinks she has nothing much to offer in return. She just writes song lyrics and wastes time reading fairy tales, pursuits she deems worthless. It takes a while, but Shizuku does finally find her true calling, and the statue of the Baron serves as an inspiration towards this end. I loved the way the story took its time to unfold. Nothing felt rushed or plodding - this is one of those movies that I would watch again on a leisurely weekend afternoon, and reflect upon my younger days. It is such a sweet, if a tad melodramatic, coming of age story that is sure to warm anyone's heart. Note: The picture quality is crisp and clear. There are scenes of Shizuku's father smoking, and minor language (in some earlier scenes, Shizuku calls Seiji "stupid jerk" several times, and also uses the term "idiot", but that's it).

I am a big Hayao Miyazaki fan (Spirited Away is one of my favorite movies of all time), and I thrive on his work- the look, the atmosphere, the "heart" of his characters. Note that I watched this in Japanese with English subtitles (not English captions for the hearing impaired, that's the American reworking of the dialogue). As an aside I cannot bear what Disney/Americans do to Miyazaki dialogue, ruin it every time (for me, anyway). But it's possible the English-dialogue version was somewhat better (I very much doubt it). I purchased the DVD to complete my Miyazaki collection. I love the look, the sound, the essential purity and goodness of Miyazaki's films, so after I got used to the fact that it wasn't a particularly magical or metaphysical film, like Spirited Away, I delighted in it (after several viewings). It's quiet, episodic, full of small happenings with big import. ***SPOILER ALERT*** There's gorgeous animation, atmospheric music, magical thinking, a mysterious cat, memorable people (e.g., an old craftsman), an interesting family dynamic, a sense that some things are preordained, and the oriental sensibility of the universe being animistic, alive- all very subtle. Will she study for exams or go to the library and check out extracurricular books? Does she like an enigmatic boy she keeps seeing around? Who does this strange cat belong to? The film is strikingly beautiful. I reveled in Shizuku's quest for meaning and purpose in life, in the notion of a young girl seeking a test (a la A Man Called Horse, perhaps) of her mettle, her abilities, along with her strength of character (it's subtle and underplayed though). This has mostly to do with the inner life of a junior high school girl, and I think that girls of that age and younger may find it interesting and appealing but wonder if boys and men, or older girls and women will. Unless you are ultra-sensitive and revel in slow-moving, episodic films, thrive on eye candy, and are especially moved by a young girl being treated as very important in the scheme of things, you might rent it or watch it online before buying. I liked it better with each viewing. I also recommend Spirited Away or Song of the Sea, both splendid in every way. P.S. I read other reviews after writing this, and many of the negative ones comment on disrespect towards parents and adults- there is NONE of that in the Japanese language version with English subtitles.

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.

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.

This is a pleasant movie. My two sons (aged 2 and 5) both LOVE "My Neighbor Totoro" (as do I). We have been going through the Ghibli films this summer. After "Spirited Away," "Kiki's Delivery Service," "Ponyo," and "Howl's Moving Castle," we tried this one. The plot is somewhat boring, and the visuals are obviously nothing like the others we've seen. Compared to those, it's a bit colorless and slow. This is set in the real world with very little magic compared to the other movies mentioned. But the characters are sweet, and the nuanced facial expressions and non-verbal communication makes it one you can watch again and again and find something new to love every time. If you think of yourself as an artist and are interested in stories about artists' struggles, this is a good one. My 2-yr-old loves watching the cat navigate the city and the trains all on his own. He thinks it's hilarious. My 5-yr-old is too young to understand the teenage romance parts, so he has little use for this movie! But I like it.

Wow. It has been a while since I saw this movie but I am so glad I bought the Blu-Ray. The HD transfer is absolutely amazing. And the story is so engaging - a girl who is not sure what she want to do with her life and is drifting in school meets a boy who knows that he want to do and works at realizing his dream. This causes the girl to push herself to see if she can be what she has previously only played at. This story can speak to anyone who is unsure of what they want to do with their lives. And this Blur_ray package does not disappoint. As I already mentioned the HD transfer is wonderful. There is a DVD copy (handy for soccer Moms and Dads who need to keep the rugrats occupied for long trips in the family van), multiple commentaries, subtitles and languages. There is even even the English subtitle of the Japanese audio, as well as the English subtitle of the English audio. A perfect 5 stars!

I look forward to this film coming out on Blu-ray. I have seen it in a theater and own it on DVD. This is one of my favorite Studio Ghibli films. It follows a middle school student as she begins to look inside herself to find her creative talent as a writer. On the surface, it is a romance, but it is really about creativity and developing a skill at creative work. Shizuku begins to look at what she wants to do in life after becoming interested in a boy who is determined to master a highly skilled craft. The film follows her first exploration into finding out whether she has a talent and how to develop it. The location is the Tama area of Tokyo which was featured in an earlier Ghibli film "Pom Poko" when the area was developed and tanuki (Japanese raccoon dogs) fought the developers for their homeland. Whisper of the Heart takes place after the development is completed and the area populated. Since most Ghibli films take place in beautiful countryside, the studio wanted to make a film that urban and suburban children could relate to directly. So, they applied their luscious style to the Tama area. One thing I've always found appealing about Ghibli films is the gorgeous backgrounds. Not being a fan of the urban landscape I was surprised at how appealing they made the Tama area. This is a beautiful film depicting a slice of life and the development of a creative talent.

The film itself is my favourite Studio Ghibli film and dare I say; my favourite anime feature movie. I wont go into detail as Mohd Jafar (most helpful reviewer on this film) describes why this film is a subtle masterpiece. It just spoke to me personally and shouldn't be missed by any fan of film to be honest. Regarding the blu ray edition of this movie and I can safely say this is the superior format to watch the film on, 100%. Colours are more vibrant and the outlines of everything is clearer. So if you haven't got a blu ray player I advise to just get this 'combo edition' as you get both the DVD and the Blu Ray versions of this film. The dub of this film is quite adequate, and if you are planning to show this to younger audiences it's alright. For me though, I wish they didn't always go straight to American actors though. But in my opinion, and this goes for almost all anime I've watched so far (exceptions - Spirited Away, Castle in The Sky) - the original Japanese dialogue (with English subtitles) is always best. There are two reasons for this, both apply strongly to this film; 1. It's the original actors voicing the original script. This means all the subtle nuances like expressions, mannerisms etc etc fit and make sense. In this film, the Japanese cast fit and give voices to all the characters perfectly. 2. This might just be me; But when watching any subtitled foreign film I cast myself into the film too. Subtitles can't give an EXACT replication of what has been said/being said 100% of the time (Of course it is very accurate and true to the translation/scene) This is fundamentally down to how languages are just different from one another. This is not a bad thing in my opinion, as I read the text, normally slightly ahead of audio; I think about what's just been said, or is currently occurring and use my imagination slightly, putting my own words/emotions in gear for the scene. A bit like a book. One negative about the overall package is that the 'Special Features' are a bit lackluster. Mainly because there are no interviews with the director, or anyone who had something to do with making the film. Only a short video with the dub actors giving their opinion on voice acting in general :S The storyboards and extra artwork is nice, but a bit niche. Anyway, got a bit sidetracked there. Buy this film! I felt I needed to rate this 5/5 so I did this review just to do that. It's very sad the director of this film, Yoshifumi Kondo, passed away a few years after this released. Miyasaki was right to put him in charge of it and to have him lined up in 1st place to take reign of the Studio.

Que peli encantadora!

Ce film d'animation des studios Ghibli sorti en 1997 n'avait à priori rien de particulier pour figurer parmi les meilleurs. Le graphisme est certes toujours aussi excellent mais l'histoire est un fait de tous les jours et s'éloigne des grandes fresques sur fond historique avec une grande part d'imaginaire, de fantastique. Mais c'est parce que l'histoire peut arriver à tout le monde que ce film finit par nos toucher : une jeune fille (Shizuku) qui tombe amoureux d'un garçon brillant (Seiji), qui se destine à devenir luthier, et qui, pour se mesurer à lui, tente elle-même de savoir quel sera son avenir en testant ses capacités d'écrivain. Les grandes questions que sont "Qui suis-je ?", "Que fais-je ?", "Que ferai-je ?" reviennent régulièrement et donnent de la matière à un scénario soigné et juste. Pour autant, l'aspect onirique des grandes réalisations Ghibli n'est pas absent : il fait partie intégrante du décor et naît de l'imagination de Shizuku, laquelle a une prédilection pour les contes, qui lui permet de s'évader de son quotidien. Par exemple, la séquence où elle suit un chat évoque fortement Alice qui suit le lapin et la boutique du grand-père de Seiji (située "dans" les nuages, dominant largement la ville) a quelque chose d'irréel (elle est d'ailleurs plus souvent fermée qu'ouverte, comme si elle n'existait qu'en songe). Et l'histoire que va faire Shizuru à partir de la seule statue de chat "aristocrate" aux yeux de lapis-lazuli, qui brillent de riches couleurs quand ils sont exposés au soleil, crée l'aspect le plus imaginaire de cette histoire finalement assez banale mais traîtée sur le mode de la poésie. Les personnages secondaires de l'histoire ne sont pas laissés pour compte : la soeur, qui la ramène sur terre ; les parents, qui échangent peu avec leur fille mais qui la soutiennent dans ses choix ; le grand-père, avec qui Shizuru établit une relation très intense et complice, qui manifeste beaucoup d'intérêt pour elle et ses amis, avec qui les relations sont finalement conventionnelles, malgré son amie Yuko, avec qui elle est plus intime. Enfin, la musique (essentiellement la chanson "Country Roads") parachève ce magnifique film pour tout public, n'était l'absence de sous-titres pour les non-initiés à l'anglais.

The way everyday life is captured in the animation is amazing. The subtle jestures, expressions, the way light reflects off objects... Amazing. As an adult i found the story realistic but weak, but my adolescent nieces, for whom i purchased the dvd, loved it and is now their all time favourite. Captures perfectly that awkward age when they are too old to be kids and too young to be teenagers. Really well done.

英語を勉強するのにベストなジブリアニメです。基本的に２種類のビデオです。一つは英語台詞で英語字幕、二つ目は日本語台詞で英語字幕が洗濯できます。内容は普通の家庭にある中学生の学校生活を通して、友達との友情や恋愛感情などを巧に表現しており、英語日常会話を勉強するには優れた商品です。私にとって初めてのイディオムや単語も出てきますが、例えば、 It was like something straight out of a fairy tale. や You've got a crush on someone else, don't you? Don't even try to hide it. You know I'll get it out of you. 等、どうしても分からない時は、日本語台詞を聞いたり、英会話の先生に聞いたりします。