I’ve been a big fan of the Studio Ghibli films for quite some time. The movie that I fist saw that connected me with their movies was ‘Spirited Away’, which I saw back when I was in middle school. I instantly fell in love with the story and the characters, and decided to pursue more of the movies, only to find out Disney had a whole back catalog of this wonderful films. But one I had never managed to see, until now, was ‘Whispers of the Heart’, and quite frankly, I’m sad that it took me this long to see it. Not only has this become one of my favorite Studio Ghibli productions, but also one of my favorite animated movies period. It’s a sweet coming of age story that is easily relatable for those who watch. Featuring a voice cast that includes David Gallagher, Brittany Snow, Ashley Tisdale, Harold Gould, and Cary Elwes, ‘Whisper of the Heart’ is a just a sweet, funny, and moving look at life in our adolescent years, when we are still trying to figure out who we are and who we’re going to be.
Shizuku Tsukishima (Brittany) is a very bright, but quiet, middle school girl who really isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life yet. She thinks she needs to have it all planned out and known, and can’t help but think about the future. She spends all her time outside of school reading, letting herself get whisked in the stories of true love and adventure. But an encounter with a cat named Moon leads Shizuku to meet a young man named Seiji (Gallagher), who opens her eyes to a whole new world, with the help of a cat statue known as The Baron. Together, the pair embark on adventure of self discovery, love, and fun that will change them forever.
