Whisper of the Heart [DVD]

As someone who has only just discovered Ghibli's films very recently, "Whisper of the heart" seems the most mature and profound of those films I have seen. Effectively it is a romance and this was what initially put me off buying this DVD. However, it soon becomes apparent that there is more to the story than this as it chronicles the principle character Shizuku's endeavours to become a writer by taking inspiration from her boyfriend's desire to learn how to make violins. Effectively, it is the tale of how she learns to follow her heart and not the career path her parents have laid out for her. On the face of it, this does not seem a compelling storyline yet the films swiftly transpires the college setting to explore family relationships in the kind of detail that would have garnered Oscars had the characters not been animated. All in all, I was gripped by this tale. Granted that the cover is deceptive (and actually refers to the characters in the story that the heroine eventually writes and has little to do with the main thrust of the story), the animation is never the less as stunning as you would expect from Ghibli. The panoramas of Tokyo are particularly well drawn. I suppose that this film's target audience was probably teenage girls yet Yoshifumi Kondo ended up creating something that transcends this which is a very good piece of drama in my opinion. As a result, the film will appeal to more mature viewers for it's strong narrative in addition to the obviously exceptional artwork. Whilst not as epic as the sometimes disturbing "Spirited away", I feel that this remains one of the best Ghibli's I've seen and Shizuku's behaviour is etched very convincingly. Previously I have enjoyed many of the Pixar and Dreamwork CGI animation films and would argue that films like Shrek are extremely inspired and intelligent in the manner that they appeal to children and adults at the same time. "Whisper of the heart" is a different proposition and endeavours to prove that hand-drawn animation can operate at the same level as "real life" cinema. Less maudlin and far better drawn than your average Disney, this film is a high water mark in the Ghibli collection.

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.

I have been expanding my collection of Ghibli movies (I recently got 'Tales from Heartsea' and 'Ocean Waves', which are also excellent), and found this to be a beautiful, touching, heart-warming story. I was captivated right from the word 'go'. The animation is excellent; the blu-ray transfer is first-class; you would hardly guess the movie was made in 1995 - it looks (and sounds) very fresh; no complaints there! The story revolves around high-school girl Shizuku Tsukishima, who wants to be a writer (the name 'Whisper of the Heart' or 'Mimi o Sumaseba', lit. "If you listen closely", is the title of a story she is writing), and her school friends in Tokyo in 1994. Then, the mysterious Seiji Amasawa comes on the scene, initially through his name appearing on many of the library tickets in books Shizuku gets out of the library (her dad is a librarian); she is fascinated and decides to find out more... I won't say any more, so as not to spoil the story, but I would heartily recommend this movie, it is absolutely superb; I would place it in my top 10 favourite movies of all time; it is that good. I felt really good and moved by the end of the story, and the 'feel-good' factor will stay with you. Highly recommended!

Shizuku is a teenager dealing with the usual problems of growing up; high school entrance exams, busy parents, a bossy older sister and of course, relationships. Whilst reading library books over the holidays, she notices the same name in all the books Seiji Amasawa and begins to wonder just what this mystery boy who shares her tastes would be like in real life. At the same time, Shizuku starts running into an annoying young man wherever she goes, this boy couldn't possibly be Seiji could he OooOOoOO? Whisper of the Heart won't satisfy those looking for a fantasy epic packed with magic and action, but if you're a fan of the quieter slice of life genre, you'll find much to like here. The themes of finding love amidst the complex web of teen relationships and working out future goals may be nothing new, but they will no doubt strike a chord with the majority of viewers. Central to all this is lead character Shizuku perhaps not as spunky or outgoing as the average Ghibli heroine, she is nonetheless a strong willed character who likes setting herself tricky goals, from reading twenty books over the holidays, to writing Japanese lyrics to `Take Me Home, Country Roads'. Through her attempts to achieve these goals, we see Shizuku grow as a person over the course of the film; not only becoming more aware of herself, but also taking the important step of beginning to empathise with others. Unfortunately, the limited runtime of the film does have a noticeable effect on the story Shizuku's relationship with Seiji in particular feels a little rushed in places, as he goes from peripheral annoyance to an important person in her life. Given that this is very much Shizuku's story, there isn't much time to spare for the supporting characters although we get interesting glimpses into the lives and personalities of the various cast members, only Shizuku's best friend Harada and Seiji himself receive much in the way of additional development. It is however worth noting that fat cat Muta and cat doll The Baron make brief but important appearances here, both characters went on to feature prominently in The Cat Returns. Apart from a few dives into Shizuku's imagination, the film remains firmly grounded in more realistic settings, but the visuals are none the less impressive for it. Both interior and exterior locations are animated with the studio's usual attention to detail, bringing to life everything from the streets of Tokyo to the cluttered interior of an antiques shop. Character designs, however, are less impressive given that they stick closely to standard Ghibli lines, there won't be anything here that hasn't been seen in the studio's other works. Background music remains solid throughout, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the feature. ALL IN ALL: A simple tale about the trials and tribulations that inevitably come with growing up, Whisper of the Heart presents an engaging story, but unfortunately lacks the time to explore the characters and setting as fully as they deserve. Nonetheless, as it stands, the film makes for a heart warming tale that will bring a smile to the faces of drama and romance fans & is very enjoyable indeed

Great dvd to watch. The adventures great

Perfect like a perfect diamond. Unique, subtle...irreplaceable. A movie - an artwork - that operates on the subtlest and most delicate levels. Not really a children's movie -- and indeed more than just a "coming of age" work. Whipser of the Heart touches immediately the nature of human love and existence ... family love, self love, romantic love: via the most subtle and ... quiet ... happenings. And the artwork, the backgrounds, are beyond belief....the artists have found something about the gray concrete of west Tokyo that is soul-changingly beautiful; the art is a complete testament to our era. Every shot - I mean EVERY shot - is an important work of art to be studied like a Caravaggio. Wait till you see the coming rain; the moving train; the changing light; the interiors that are Utterly Real (far more real than in live action filmmaking). A "really good movie" in the sense that "Pride & Prejudice" is a "really good novel" or Vermeer was "quite good at lighting effects." The final conviction that: studio Ghibli films are the Shakespearean ouvre of this historical era. The overall output of Studio Ghibli offers a complete system of thought and humanity that advances consciousness.

Studio Ghibli is famous for it's fantasy style films. Much liek Disney. But unlike it's previous films, Ghibli has taken a different step towards animation and done a serious, legitament film. Most animated films usually keep background animation simple, by which I mean the background characters don't move or they use the same backgrounds over and over again. Whisper of the Heart however makes the animation so close to real life and creates a world where not everything in live is perfect. The Story is very emotional and really glues you to the characters and the plot. You'll fall in love with the main characters, Shizuku and Seji who will show you how special the talents within you can help you see deep within yourself.

The movie was by far ONE OF THE BEST!! Studio ghibli films, i loved the drama, the atmosphere, the slice of life elements and the snse of realism it gives off! In stunning high definition make sure you do not miss out on this on. Originally i would hav rated it 3 stars due to Amazons poor packaging, a bent slipcover when i bought tyhe item, i really hope amazon review upon this and really change the way they handle things i would want this to look presentable on a shop and a bent slip cover just makes it look slightly bad also the DVD wasnt stuck on properly and i found nit inside unattached and with a amqll scratch.. Anyway Great release, Great Movie and minor iasuea that shpuildnt really bother most :)

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.

Que peli encantadora!

Zuerst muss ich sagen, dass sich "Stimme des Herzens" deutlich von anderen Ghibli Filmen unterscheidet. Das betrifft vor allem die Welt, welche nicht von fliegenden Schlössern oder sprechenden Tieren durchsetzt ist. Sie ist ganz normal. Dennoch ist es ein Super Film der ebenso viele Liebe zum Detail enthält, wie alle anderen Ghibli Filme. Die Geschichte ist wirklich schön erzählt und bleibt bis zum Schluß spannend, wenn auch Spannung in Ghibli Filmen relativ ist. Vielleicht ist der Film eher was für Mädchen, da die Geschichte hauptsächlich von pubertierenden Kindern erzählt. Hat mich aber nicht gestört. Wer jedoch gar nix mit Liebesfilmen, oder Filmen über Selbstfindung und das Erwachsen werden, anfangen kann, sollte nicht zuschlagen. Von mir trotzdem eine absolute Kaufempfehlung. Die Extras sind leider recht übersichtlich, wenn man schon andere Ghibli Blu Rays hat. Das Bild wurde sehr gut restauriert. Für einen fast 20 Jahre alten Film sieht das sehr gut aus!

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.

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。