Whisper of the Heart

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Whisper of the Heart

G

2006

1h 51m

Kids & Family

Romance

Anime

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Based on the manga with the same title, this animated film follows Shizuku, an inquisitive young girl and a voracious reader, who longs to be a writer when she grows up. One day she notices that all of her library books have previously been taken out by one Seiji Amasawa. Amid chasing after a large cat, befriending an eccentric antiques dealer and writing her first novel, Shizuku aims to find this mysterious boy who may well be her soul mate.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

Sep 16, 2026

3/5

With the trademark Ghibli charm and airy optimism in almost every frame, it's something more than a rough gem but, lacking the symphonic flow of Spirited Away et al, not quite polished to sparkling.

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Romey Norton

DMovies

Sep 20, 2026

A

Nearly three decades after its original release, Whisper of the Heart remains an appealing example of anime’s ability to make the ordinary feel magical.

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Sep 18, 2026

5/5

Pure, concentrated Studio Ghibli.

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CJ Sheu

Critics at Large

Jun 10, 2025

Whisper achieves what we hope the best children’s fantasy does.

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Lisa Laman

Culturess

Jan 7, 2025

Kondō’s sole directorial effort is a masterpiece uncovering so much potent pathos from understated corners of life.

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Josh Slater-Williams

Vague Visages

Nov 14, 2023

When Shizuku and a group of supporting players break into a performance of John Denver’s “Country Roads” about halfway through, this modest gesture takes on a major stirring quality thanks to Whisper of the Heart’s surrounding aesthetic.

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Daniel

Apr 26, 2026

What a charming movie. Great use of the Country Roads song, including a Japanese version!

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PJ C

Mar 26, 2025

Ghibli gold. As always, Japanese audio with English subtitles is a treat.

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izzy

Dec 10, 2024

such an underrated ghibli film, cute story with a puppy love kinda feel to it. so nostalgic.

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Derek G

Oct 31, 2024

Hands down one of my favorite movies of all time! So glad I was able to see this on the big screen this year for Ghibli fest! I love them showing the less well known Ghibli movies this year!

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Jamie D

Feb 3, 2023

Ah!~ Whisper of the Heart live action was truly a dream come true if I’ve ever lived long enough to see one!🫶🏽 The story stayed true to the original movie w/ uttermost flattery to the all characters as you remembered them The cast chosen both young & adult versions were breathtaking to watch :) Out of all the Studio Ghibli films to get a live action I’m so happy it was whisper of the heart b/c it isn’t a westernized Lovie Dovie romance but a satisfying episodic tale of individual self growth w/ innocence of finding love in the process of living a dream driven life (//_^) Now for my unbiased opinion of the film it's a very captivating story, cute characters, rich imaginative scenes, delightful performances and a heartfelt message!! Giving it a solid 10/10..!!🙌🏾😁 P.s Fingers crossed that they'll make more live action adaptation films from the other iconic Studio Ghibli masterpieces! :)

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James E

@JamesE167 Sep 21, 2026

This is charming and wholesome. Very successful at most of the things that makes Ghibli successful.

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Yoshifumi Kondo

Director

Brittany Snow

Shizuku Tsukishima

David Gallagher

Seiji Amasawa

Courtney Thorne-Smith

Shiho Tsukishima

Cary Elwes

The Baron

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Synopsis

Based on the manga with the same title, this animated film follows Shizuku, an inquisitive young girl and a voracious reader, who longs to be a writer when she grows up. One day she notices that all of her library books have previously been taken out by one Seiji Amasawa. Amid chasing after a large cat, befriending an eccentric antiques dealer and writing her first novel, Shizuku aims to find this mysterious boy who may well be her soul mate.

Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
Producer: Ned Lott
Screenwriter: Cindy Davis Hewitt, Donald H. Hewitt
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Romance, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 2006, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2019
Runtime: 1h 51m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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