Whisper of the Heart
耳をすませば
Whisper of the Heart
耳をすませば
Your feedback improves this guide
Your feedback highlights guides that need a second look and keeps the rating trustworthy.
Does this age rating seem accurate to you?
Sign in to vote
Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
0/5
None
Fear
1/5
Mild
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This Japanese animated film follows a fourteen year old girl in a very gentle story about books, creativity, early romantic feelings, and uncertainty about the future. The sensitive material is mainly emotional, including school stress, a few family arguments without violence, repeated teasing between young teens, and a notable crying scene tied to self imposed pressure. Overall, the film stays soft and grounded, with no real physical danger, no sexual content, almost no harsh language, and only mild moments of tension, so it is far more suitable than many dramas but still asks for more attention and emotional maturity than a preschool title. For parents, the main consideration is not fear but whether a child can connect with themes of ambition, disappointment, and comparing oneself to others. Watching with younger viewers can help open a helpful conversation about burnout, self esteem, and the tenderness of first adolescent affection.
Synopsis
Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: "Seiji Amasawa."
Difficult scenes
Shizuku is teased several times by Seiji about the song lyrics she wrote, and at first this can feel like slightly sharp mockery between young teens. The scene is not physically aggressive, yet a child who is sensitive to ridicule may find these exchanges uncomfortable before the relationship becomes clearer. When Shizuku decides to devote herself seriously to writing, she loses sleep, keeps her worries to herself, and her school grades begin to fall. The conversations with her family reflect real pressure about school and the future, which may resonate strongly with children who already feel performance anxiety. After finishing her manuscript, Shizuku breaks down in tears from exhaustion and relief. The moment is gentle and caring, but it portrays the build up of anxiety in a realistic way and shows how much pressure she has placed on herself. Seiji's grandfather shares an old story connected to lost love and youthful separation. Nothing is frightening on screen, but the sequence brings a more mature sadness than the rest of the film and may go over the heads of very young viewers or leave them slightly wistful.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 1995
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Countries
- Japan
- Original language
- JA
- Directed by
- Yoshifumi Kondo
- Main cast
- Yoko Honna, Issey Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana, Shigeru Muroi, Minami Takayama, Mayumi Izuka, Yorie Yamashita, Keiju Kobayashi, Naohisa Inoue, Shigeru Tsuyuguchi
- Studios
- Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television Network Corporation, Tokuma Shoten, Hakuhodo
Content barometer
Violence
0/5
None
Fear
1/5
Mild
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This Japanese animated film follows a fourteen year old girl in a very gentle story about books, creativity, early romantic feelings, and uncertainty about the future. The sensitive material is mainly emotional, including school stress, a few family arguments without violence, repeated teasing between young teens, and a notable crying scene tied to self imposed pressure. Overall, the film stays soft and grounded, with no real physical danger, no sexual content, almost no harsh language, and only mild moments of tension, so it is far more suitable than many dramas but still asks for more attention and emotional maturity than a preschool title. For parents, the main consideration is not fear but whether a child can connect with themes of ambition, disappointment, and comparing oneself to others. Watching with younger viewers can help open a helpful conversation about burnout, self esteem, and the tenderness of first adolescent affection.
Synopsis
Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: "Seiji Amasawa."
Difficult scenes
Shizuku is teased several times by Seiji about the song lyrics she wrote, and at first this can feel like slightly sharp mockery between young teens. The scene is not physically aggressive, yet a child who is sensitive to ridicule may find these exchanges uncomfortable before the relationship becomes clearer. When Shizuku decides to devote herself seriously to writing, she loses sleep, keeps her worries to herself, and her school grades begin to fall. The conversations with her family reflect real pressure about school and the future, which may resonate strongly with children who already feel performance anxiety. After finishing her manuscript, Shizuku breaks down in tears from exhaustion and relief. The moment is gentle and caring, but it portrays the build up of anxiety in a realistic way and shows how much pressure she has placed on herself. Seiji's grandfather shares an old story connected to lost love and youthful separation. Nothing is frightening on screen, but the sequence brings a more mature sadness than the rest of the film and may go over the heads of very young viewers or leave them slightly wistful.