The Studio Ghibli canon is arguably one of the best known and most widely beloved collections of anime films. Recognized for their sweeping fantasy narratives and stunning visuals, movies such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle are often the first to come to mind when thinking of the studio, but there is one underrated gem that shouldn’t be ignored, especially by creative audiences.

Whisper of the Heart, directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki, follows the story of Shizuku Tsukishima, a middle school student and avid reader, as she tries to figure out what to do once she graduates. It is a small-scale story of growing up, young love, and balancing dreams and realities. It is this smallness that makes it work so well and certifies it as a must-watch.

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The Role of Others in Shaping Dreams

Shizuku and Seiji talking on a rooftop in Whisper of the Heart.
Shizuku and Seiji talking on a rooftop

From the start of the movie, the audience knows that Shizuku is always reading, regularly skirting her responsibilities such as studying or taking care of household chores. Shortly after her introduction, it is also shown that she has a talent for writing that her friends are consistently encouraging. While she enjoys writing, she has little confidence and even less motivation, that is until she meets Seiji Amasawa.

Seiji, a boy in her year who has been admiring her from afar, motivates Shizuku through both encouragement and example. He serves as a foil to Shizuku’s aimlessness: where she has no clue what to do with her life, he is sure about his dreams of being a violin maker, despite the challenges. Just seeing his dedication inspires Shizuku to try harder to figure out if she really stands a chance as a writer.

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Balancing Dreams and Reality

Shizuku and her mother in the kitchen
Shizuku and her mother in the kitchen

Shizuku’s other primary foil in the story is her older sister, Shiho Tsukishima. Shiho has already graduated from high school and is attending college. She is successfully following a well-laid path and is realistic about her responsibilities to herself and her family. She isn’t shown to have any career aspirations beyond becoming self-sufficient and helping to support her family, but she also has an active social life and appears to be happy. Shiho shows that there is nothing wrong with finding fulfillment outside her career, making Shizuku’s decision to pursue her passion all the more impactful.

Shiho is also there to remind Shizuku of their family’s economic standing. Unlike Seiji, who has his family’s resources but has to fight for their support, Shizuku has her family’s support, but her family simply does not have access to the same resources. If she wants to be a writer, she will need to be able to support herself.

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Creativity As Work, Not Genius

Shizuku working in the library
Shizuku working in the library

Never in the movie are Shizuku or Seiji portrayed as prodigies at their respective arts. The translation of John Denver’s song “Country Roads” that Shizuku’s friends compliment her on is told to be a revised draft, one that receives further revisions throughout the film. Seiji’s told to have been nearly inconsolable after the first violin he made turned out to be sub-par. Neither character chose their path because they were possessed by genius, and they had to work hard just to know that they actually wanted to pursue their dreams.

This is a comforting and rarely-seen narrative. Stories about artists often highlight their skill, glossing over the hard work it takes to simply find inspiration. Shizuku spends hours in the library researching fairytales and gemstones for her story. Seiji struggles with the knowledge that there is only room for exceptional talent in the violin-making industry and works late into the night refining his skills. By the end of the film, neither character has shown that they are exceptional at what they do, but they have proven to themselves that they have what it takes to do the work to become exceptional.

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Finding Meaning in Whisper of the Heart

Shizuku and Seiji in the workshop
Shizuku and Seiji in the workshop

Despite having been made almost 30 years ago, Whisper of the Heart is still beautifully relevant. Anyone working in or pursuing a career in a creative field will likely recognize the uncertainty and insecurity portrayed through Shizuku. Anyone else can find comfort in the slice-of-life aesthetics and wholesome relationships between the characters.

While it may not have the same breathtaking animation as Ponyo or other Studio Ghibli films, Whisper of the Heart is perfect for a comforting night in.