Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Whisper of the Heart

Original title: Mimi wo sumaseba
  • 19951995
  • GG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
61K
YOUR RATING
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.
Play trailer0:31
7 Videos
69 Photos
  • Animation
  • Drama
  • Family
A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
61K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Yoshifumi Kondô
  • Writers
    • Hayao Miyazaki(screenplay)
    • Aoi Hiiragi(comic)
    • Cindy Davis(screenplay: English version)
  • Stars
    • Yoko Honna(voice)
    • Issey Takahashi(voice)
    • Takashi Tachibana(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Yoshifumi Kondô
  • Writers
    • Hayao Miyazaki(screenplay)
    • Aoi Hiiragi(comic)
    • Cindy Davis(screenplay: English version)
  • Stars
    • Yoko Honna(voice)
    • Issey Takahashi(voice)
    • Takashi Tachibana(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 182User reviews
    • 82Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos7

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    Trailer
    Whisper of the Heart
    Clip 1:19
    Whisper of the Heart
    Whisper of the Heart
    Clip 1:10
    Whisper of the Heart
    Whisper of the Heart
    Clip 1:47
    Whisper of the Heart
    Whisper of the Heart
    Clip 2:00
    Whisper of the Heart
    Whisper of the Heart
    Clip 0:55
    Whisper of the Heart
    Whisper of the Heart
    Clip 1:54
    Whisper of the Heart

    Photos69

    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)
    Whisper of the Heart (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Yoko Honna
    • Shizuku Tsukishimaas Shizuku Tsukishima
    • (voice)
    • (as Youko Honna)
    Issey Takahashi
    Issey Takahashi
    • Seiji Amasawaas Seiji Amasawa
    • (voice)
    • (as Issei Takahashi)
    Takashi Tachibana
    • Seiya Tsukishimaas Seiya Tsukishima
    • (voice)
    Shigeru Muroi
    • Asako Tsukishimaas Asako Tsukishima
    • (voice)
    Shigeru Tsuyuguchi
    • The Baronas The Baron
    • (voice)
    Keiju Kobayashi
    • Shiro Nishias Shiro Nishi
    • (voice)
    Yorie Yamashita
    • Shiho Tsukishimaas Shiho Tsukishima
    • (voice)
    Maiko Kayama
    • Yuko Haradaas Yuko Harada
    • (voice)
    Yoshimi Nakajima
    • Sugimuraas Sugimura
    • (voice)
    Minami Takayama
    Minami Takayama
    • Kosaka-senseias Kosaka-sensei
    • (voice)
    Mayumi Izuka
    Mayumi Izuka
    • Kinuyoas Kinuyo
    • (voice)
    • (as Mayumi Iizuka)
    Mai Chiba
    • Naoas Nao
    • (voice)
    Satoru Takahashi
      Akiko Sakaguchi
        Hiromi Yasuda
          Tatsuya Okada
            Yoshihiro Imai
              Naohisa Inoue
              • Tall Friend of Mr. Nishias Tall Friend of Mr. Nishi
              • (voice)
              • Director
                • Yoshifumi Kondô
              • Writers
                • Hayao Miyazaki(screenplay)
                • Aoi Hiiragi(comic)
                • Cindy Davis(screenplay: English version)
              • All cast & crew
              • See more cast details at IMDbPro

              More like this

              From Up on Poppy Hill
              7.4
              From Up on Poppy Hill
              The Cat Returns
              7.2
              The Cat Returns
              The Secret World of Arrietty
              7.6
              The Secret World of Arrietty
              Kiki's Delivery Service
              7.8
              Kiki's Delivery Service
              Castle in the Sky
              8.0
              Castle in the Sky
              When Marnie Was There
              7.7
              When Marnie Was There
              Ponyo
              7.6
              Ponyo
              The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
              8.0
              The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
              Pom Poko
              7.3
              Pom Poko
              My Neighbor Totoro
              8.1
              My Neighbor Totoro
              Howl's Moving Castle
              8.2
              Howl's Moving Castle
              My Neighbors the Yamadas
              7.1
              My Neighbors the Yamadas

              Storyline

              Edit

              Did you know

              Edit
              • Trivia
                This marked the first use by Studio Ghibli of digital composition, meaning that elements of a scene were composed using a computer. In this case, it's the flying scene with Baron within Shizuku's story. The scene contains a lot of elements moving independently, including the small "planets" and Shizuku's characters. Although all these elements were animated by traditional means, they were combined using computer technology.
              • Goofs
                It is not clear whether this is a mistake or a hint that the Baron is alive, but in every scene that the Baron is shown, he looks different than the time before (position of hands, cane and hat).
              • Quotes

                Shizuku: I'm no man's burden! I want to be of use!

              • Crazy credits
                During the credits we see people walk by the bridge. The "stray" cat (the one with many names) walks by the bridge as well. Also the young students who had struggled with unrequited love, named Sugimura and Yuko in the American version, meet on the bridge and appear to begin a dating relationship.
              • Connections
                Featured in The Cat Returns (2002)
              • Soundtracks
                Take Me Home, Country Roads
                Written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver

                Performed by Olivia Newton-John

              User reviews182

              Review
              Top review
              10/10
              Perfect family entertainment -- great cultural insights, too
              Whisper of the Heart is the perfect English title of this masterpiece.

              It was such a joy to watch an animated film so effectively produced that you start to forget it is an animation. Characters become real; situations and thoughts and feelings come alive. The story is clean, decent and uplifting in every way. Plus, American viewers get an accurate glimpse into the way younger Japanese teens are viewed and view themselves.

              I lived in Japan for several years as a child, and a number of the background sounds (the peculiar insects singing in the trees, the electric trains passing) and customs (bowing to elders, enjoying the wonderful soups, singular focus on school success) struck a deep chord of remembrance. This film is fashioned with such detail and consideration for artistic elements -- I just loved it. I wish my kids were still under 10 and I could have shared it with them. Nowadays, I'm afraid the older boys (over 12) would lack the patience to enjoy the film because, frankly, it bears no relation to high-action animation from Japan or the U.S.

              I found this film by accident on Turner Classic Movies, and viewed it the English-dubbed version. There is also a subtitled version, but if you want to enjoy it as a family with youngsters, you'll prefer the English language version. The English voices are clear and well done.

              It's a beautiful story with a timeless theme presented with loving care. This film is so good, and so insightful, that I would suggest it could be shown in schools or home-schools for its cultural content alone. And if you have an ounce of sentimentalism, sense of wonder or appreciation for creative beauty, then you'll watch it all by yourself after the kids have gone to bed.
              helpful•90
              9
              • dial911book
              • Jan 21, 2006

              FAQ1

              • Why does Shizuku's uniform change?

              Details

              Edit
              • Release date
                • December 13, 1996 (United States)
              • Country of origin
                • Japan
              • Official site
                • Disney's Official Site
              • Language
                • Japanese
              • Also known as
                • Susurros del corazón
              • Production companies
                • Tokuma Shoten
                • Nippon Television Network (NTV)
                • Hakuhodo
              • See more company credits at IMDbPro

              Box office

              Edit
              • Gross US & Canada
                • $498,156
              • Gross worldwide
                • $585,013
              See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

              Technical specs

              Edit
              • Runtime
                1 hour 51 minutes
              • Color
                • Color
              • Sound mix
                • Dolby Digital
              • Aspect ratio
                • 1.85 : 1

              Related news

              Contribute to this page

              Suggest an edit or add missing content
              Whisper of the Heart (1995)
              Top Gap
              What is the Hindi language plot outline for Whisper of the Heart (1995)?
              Answer
              • See more gaps
              • Learn more about contributing
              Edit page

              More to explore

              View list
              List
              Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
              See the full list
              View image
              Photos
              Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
              See the full list

              Recently viewed

              Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
              Get the IMDb App
              • Get the IMDb App
              • Help
              • Site Index
              • IMDbPro
              • Box Office Mojo
              • IMDb Developer
              • Press Room
              • Advertising
              • Jobs
              • Conditions of Use
              • Privacy Policy
              • Interest-Based Ads
              IMDb, an Amazon company

              © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.