The Best Studio Ghibli Movie Is an Anime No One Talks About

Ghibli is arguably the most well-known studio in anime, boasting several movies that have become hits around the world. Four of those films, Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo,are all in the top 10 highest-grossing Japanese films in history. The studio co-founder and legend of the industry, Hayao Miyazaki, is an instantly recognizable name for any fan of anime and film in general, having directed many of the most popular anime movies ever.

Miyazaki and Ghibli are synonymous with one another, with titles like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke, alongside the studio's four highest-grossing projects, all being works by the world-famous director. However, Hayao Miyazaki isn't the only Ghibli director with top-notch work under his belt. Many of the studio's other films offer experiences just as worthwhile, despite not being quite as popular. And one of those underrated movies is among Ghibli's very best.

Whisper of the Heart Is One of Ghibli's Best, Most Underrated Movies

The 1995 Film Offers Everything Fans Want From Ghibli and More

To the countless Ghibli fanatics around the world, 1995's Whisper of the Heart is a well-known and beloved film. The casual viewer, on the other hand, is likely to have never seen it. Rarely held in the same regard as Studio Ghibli's other most popular works, Whisper of the Heart is an incredibly moving, heartwarming story that is guaranteed to speak to all the creatives in its audience. Following 14-year-old Shizuku, the film focuses on the young teen's life in Tokyo and her journey of self-discovery, often set to varying renditions of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

Howl Pendragon, Ponyo, Calcifer from Studio Ghibli

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A coming-of-age movie with a touch of romance and Ghibli's trademark beautiful visuals, Whisper of the Heart slowly reels in the attention of the viewer and refuses to let go until the final credits roll. Shizuku learns to express herself through writing, while Seiji, whom Shizuku eventually befriends after a somewhat rocky start between the two, is an aspiring luthier, or a maker of musical instruments. The film chronicles their time spent both together and apart, showcasing their intertwining creative journeys.

A Uniquely Grounded Story for a Ghibli Film

Whisper of the Heart Leaves Ghibli's Usual Fantasy Behind

Shizuku sits at her desk, eating and writing something in Whisper of the Heart

Studio Ghibli movies, especially those by Hayao Miyazaki, typically use heavy fantasy elements to drive home deeply human themes. Whisper of the Heart, however, is unique in Ghibli's lineup for just how grounded a film it is. Leaving behind mythical creatures, floating castles, and fish girls, Whisper of the Heart instead turns its focus on the very human characters moving its narrative forward. Each of the cast members is endearing and enjoyable to have on-screen, from Shizuku and Seiji, to Shiro and his musician buddies.

The closest the film comes to the usual Ghibli fantasy elements is during its sequences with the Baron, which is a statue of a cat wearing a top hat that Shizuku uses as the main inspiration for the story she writes in the latter half of the movie. The rest of the film is a simple, wholesome exploration of two young people discovering and following their creative desires. From a narrative standpoint, Whisper of the Heart plays like a prototype to 2024's Look Back, which takes cues from the former in its tale of two young artists inspiring one another.

Fujino's back to the audience as she draws manga in Look Back

Fortunately for the audience, Whisper of the Heart largely avoids the tragedy which defines Look Back in its second half, while delivering just as hopeful and inspiring a story. Yoshifumi Kondo, who directed the film, was set to become Miyazaki's successor at Studio Ghibli, having lent his talents as art director to other works like Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke. However, Kondo tragically passed away in 1998 at age 47.

Whisper of the Heart Is the Rare Ghibli Film to Have Sequels

The Film Spawned a Spin-Off and a Live-Action Sequel

The Cat Returns' title character stands in front of the main heroine. — The Cat Returns

It's incredibly rare for Ghibli films to be revisited down the line in sequels. In fact, the studio has only ever produced one: 2002's The Cat Returns. Featuring Whisper of the Heart's Baron and Muta, The Cat Returns isn't so much a sequel as it is a spin-off, leaving Shizuku and the rest of the original cast behind to tell an all-new story. Though not quite as impactful as its predecessor, the film is tightly paced and an overall good time, packing quite a bit into a concise 75-minute runtime.

Blue collage of a wide variety of Ghibli characters with Totoro front and center.

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The much stranger follow-up comes with 2022's live-action sequel, also titled Whisper of the Heart. Directed by Yuichiro Hirakawa and with no involvement from Studio Ghibli, the film follows Shizuku and Seiji 10 years after the events of the 1995 movie. Both now struggling with the careers they made from following their creative desires, they must rediscover the passion they once had for their work. The film is an inoffensive sequel, though it largely fails to capture any of the magic of Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart.

Many Other Non-Miyazaki Ghibli Films Are Also Worthwhile

Though the films by Hayao Miyazaki will always dominate the spotlight, Studio Ghibli has quite a bit to offer other than his many iconic movies. 1988's Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata, is one of the most haunting World War II films ever created, and sticks out among Ghibli's other works in just how relentlessly dark it is throughout. On the other hand, films like 2010's The Secret World of Arriety and 2011's From Up on Poppy Hill offer the typical coziness fans can find throughout the Ghibli catalog.

Seita and Setsuko surrounded by fireflies during the night in Grave of the Fireflies. — Seita and Setsuko during the night in Grave of the Fireflies.

However, no other non-Miyazaki-directed Studio Ghibli film can quite compare to Whisper of the Heart. From its classic visuals to its masterful soundtrack, and story that will warm the coldest of hearts while inspiring the most creatively troubled, the movie is by far the most underrated to have ever been produced by the iconic animation studio. If anime fans are searching for Ghibli quality but a story that's a bit more grounded than its usual works, there's no better place to look than 1995's Whisper of the Heart.