Whisper of the Heart is a 1995 Japanese animated romantic drama film directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and produced by Studio Ghibli. This movie is based on a manga that shares the same title, and it follows the story of a girl named Shizuku Tsukishima (Yōko Honna), who absolutely loves reading, and dreams of becoming a writer.

Shizuku is probably one of my favorite animated characters. Her journey in her self-identity and searching for what she wants to do with her life is something that everyone, including myself, can relate to. 

She is a very relatable character who doubts her ability to do good and has a fear of failure. However, she has people around her to help. Her family and grandpa Nishi give out great advice and reassurance when it comes to her life and her potential career. 

Seiji Amasawa (Issei Takahashi) and Shizuku’s romance allows them to push and inspire each other to change and say that there are more options in life than one particular career path. 

The ending is optimistic for both of the characters’ futures. 

This movie inspired me to become a writer when I was younger. If I ever wanted inspiration to write something, I would play this movie because Shizuku’s struggles inspire me to keep going even when I feel like giving up. 

Whisper of the Heart gives out a life lesson that there is no one pathway to life. You are going to start out doing something, and you may or may not like it. The thing is, you have to keep going even if you face obstacles. 

This film is about finding yourself in who you are and what you want to do with your life. There will always be someone who will be by your side through it all. You just have to keep trying and never give up on your hopes and dreams. 

I rate this movie a 10/10.