Whisper of the heart review (2nd edition)

This is my second review for Whisper of the Heart. The reason being is that my views and perspective towards the anime may changes according to time, experience and perhaps getting a deeper insight:

As the movie starts, it starts from with a view looking down from a bird eye view of the town. Seeing the numerious night lights glow like magical fire flies and the voice of Shizuku echoing a sound of Country road that her voice stretches in the way that instantly touch the soul, making you feel enchanced and almost sacred. Rather like a prayer. The echoed voice also instantly brings us to that mysterious sacred state. At the same time overwhelm by numerious wonderful and mysterious life moving in the town, something that we can’t comprehend all, hence making it mysterious and wonderful. As the scene goes on, the view zoom closer toward the town, gradually being able to see the river, bridge and town around. Then to major roads, shops, building with the number 1-5-7. Later, the echoed voice transformed into a normal voice with the instuments playing along . That instantly shift the mood from a sense of heavenly feeling into a sense of down to earth, happy mood. It again from fairy tale feelings into reality feel. The voice of Shizuku were ordinary, in order to make majority to understand and comprehend.

As I watch it in more detail, I have noticed that the art work of it is extremely detailed, considering the intricate shades. This realism in art work and realistic story line that mingles well with the animation really makes the fairy tale alive. A mix between fairy tale and realism.

The emotion displayed by the characters at subtle, so again it brings out a realistic form of animation.

Shizuku house was messy yet there is something warm and nice about it, a sense of ordinary and down to earth is what makes it nice. it’s ok to be not perfect. At the same time, the house was filled with books and this in the sense shows that even though the family do not have wealth, there are true qualities in terms of character and knowledge, where image doesn’t matter as much as doing or functionality. Again, it shows how shizuku was the one who successful write quality songs and had looking for her ambitions. In comparison, Yuko (Shizuku’s friend) lived in a bigger, richer and yet lonely house wasn’t warm nor very functional. The argument and cold silent relationship between Yuko and her dad illustates cold bonding, similar to the cold house environment. Nor was Yuko functional in terms of doing activities or having ambitions.

Not just Shizuku’s house was appealing, but also the library and cafe was a pleasant sight. The library interior deign was simple, warm, spacious and cosy. Something that makes us happy.

As Shizuku encountered a guilty experience of being loved by a person her friend liked, she felt a shame even though it wasn’t her fault. Not only did that made her a shame, but it was a first transition towards adulthood, where she realised life was not innocent no more, and she sees her self as uncute and lost in life. She sat alone with the cat, and we could all relate to that feeling, how we are or were lost emotionally and mentally in times of our lives.

During her time to see whether she could fulfill her potential as a writer or not, it was a hardship struggle for her. What was inspiring was her whole hearted determination and effort she put into it, the positive energy and courage that makes you feel satisfy, like a young child that faced their fears and really do it. Meaningful whole hearted effort completes the gaps in the heart. We could really feel the fight even though it was not literally a fight. She handled it well, something that she does not have to look back with regrets. We felt the sheer positive motivation when she began her work, we felt the determine persistence when she proceeded, we felt the passion, shrive and shruggle when she shruggled on beyond the point which she felt was her limits and holding on to the picture on the violin maker was the thought that kept her going. We felt pleasing satisfying effort of hard work and the reward of finishing it. The peace, satisfication and light hearted (from the load off of burden) when she finished it.

There are numerous meaningful messages in the story, such as how Shizuku thought that having an ambition was want she really wanted, but through the whole ordeal of pursuing her ambition, she comes to realised that it is not enough, how education is also important and perhaps a foundation of what needed to be done first. She learnt the hard way, although it was an meaningful experience to her. Her father even warned her about it, how hard it is in life without education, as it is what determines jobs, career, financial support and indirect survival means. So her wise father voice influenced her, which is also a message for the audience, in particular younger students to learn from.

The anime focus alot of the setting, some how making the weather of rain, cloudy, sunny, breeze with various seasons very sensational, rather sort of like glorifying the weather and setting. Especially how Shizuku opens her arms or smile during the sunny days. Even the simple walk home seems very pleasant and nice. That it self helps us to really appreciate the weather, appreciating the simplity and simple things in life.