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“Whisper of the Heart,” a live-action film of the coming-of-age romance manga, also known as an animated film by Studio Ghibli, will be released nationwide on October 14, 2022. In conjunction with the film’s release, its trailer and the main visual have been unveiled. The theme song will be “Tsubasa wo Kudasai,” a masterpiece covered by Anne.

The original story of “Whisper of the Heart” is a coming-of-age romance manga published by Hiiragi Aoi in the girl’s comic magazine “Ribbon” in 1989. The story follows Tsukishima Shizuku, a junior high school girl who loves books, and her gradual development of a crush on Amasawa Seiji, a boy pursuing his dreams. The animated film produced by Studio Ghibli in 1995 was a huge hit.

This live-action film combines the story of the characters’ junior high school days as depicted in the manga and animated film, with an entirely new story depicting ten years after.
Seino Nana plays the grown-up Tsukishima Shizuku, and Matsuzaka Tori plays Amasawa Seiji, while Yasuhara Runa and Nakagawa Tsubasa play Shizuku and Seiji in junior high school days. The blockbuster creator Hirakawa Yuichiro directs the film.

The trailer released this time shows Shizuku, played by Seino, visiting the antique shop “Chikyu-ya” to reunite with Baron, and Seiji, played by Matsuzaka, playing the cello.
For the theme song, Anne covers “Tsubasa wo Kudasai” with her refreshing, clear voice.

The official website also announced the additional cast members: Otoo Takuma for the head of the publishing company where Shizuku works, Matsumoto Marika as Shizuku’s senior, and Nakata Keisuke as her junior.
In addition, Tanaka Kei will play Sonomura, the writer Shizuku works for, Kobayashi Takashi and Moriguchi Yoko will play her parents, and Kondo Masaomi will play the grandfather of Seiji, played by Matsuzaka, who is also the owner of “Chikyu-Ya.”

The visual places the tagline, “Yume ni Massugu na Kimi wo Suki na mama Oto ni narimashita. (I’m still in love with you, who is straightforward towards your dreams, and it has become a sound.)”. The image also depicts Shizuku and Seiji fulfilling their promise on a hilltop with a beautiful view and the morning sun shining on them.

Movie ticket cards with a design of Baron, looking straight ahead, will also be on sale from Friday, July 15, at theaters nationwide.

The live-action film “Whisper of the Heart” will premiere on October 14, 2022.

(C) Junko Tamaki (t.cube)
(C) Hiiragi Aoi/ Shueisha © 2022 “Whisper of the Heart” Production Committee