Who directed Whisper of the Heart?
Whisper of the Heart was directed by Yoshifumi Kondō. It was his only film as director; he died in 1998. Studio Ghibli had hoped Kondō would become the successor to Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
Questions about Whisper of the Heart
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What manga is Whisper of the Heart based on?
Whisper of the Heart is based on Mimi o Sumaseba, a manga by Aoi Hiiragi that was serialized in Shueisha's shojo manga magazine Ribon from August through November 1989. A single collected volume was released on the 20th of February 1990.
What song plays a central role in Whisper of the Heart?
John Denver's 1971 song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" plays a central role in the film. Shizuku translates it into Japanese for her school chorus club and writes her own version called "Concrete Road." A recording by Olivia Newton-John plays during the film's opening sequence.
How did Whisper of the Heart perform at the box office?
Whisper of the Heart was the highest-grossing Japanese film on the domestic market in 1995. It grossed $34.9 million worldwide.
What spin-off film came out of Whisper of the Heart?
The Cat Returns, released in July 2002, is a spin-off of Whisper of the Heart. Directed by Hiroyuki Morita and produced by Studio Ghibli, it focuses on the Baron, a minor character from the original film, and the stray cat Muta.
Was there a live-action sequel to Whisper of the Heart?
Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a live-action sequel in January 2020. The film, directed by Yūichirō Hirakawa and starring Nana Seino as Shizuku and Tori Matsuzaka as Seiji, was released on the 14th of October 2022 after being postponed from September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.