An underrated gem from the Japanese powerhouse Studio Ghibli, this coming-of-age tale follows the gentle romance between an introspective teenage girl who loves to read and a teenage boy who attracts her attention by borrowing the same books that she reads from the library. A sweet tale of creativity, fantasy, and artisanship written by Hayao Miyazaki, Whisper of the Heart was the only Studio Ghibli film directed by Yoshifumi Kondo before his untimely death in 1998. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, Whisper of the Heart screens as part of Art House Theater Day, a nationwide celebration of arthouse theaters and independent cinema.