Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 continues with the following films at selected theaters:
“Whisper of the Heart” (1995) on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. In Japanese with English subtitles.
When quiet bookworm Shizuku follows a mysterious cat to an antique shop, she meets Seiji, a classmate who is determined to become a violin maker. Captivated by the boy, Shizuku vows to pen her own story before Seiji returns from Italy. Inspired by The Baron, an antique cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a quest to uncover her true talent.
Based on a screenplay from Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, “Whisper of the Heart” is a heartfelt coming-of-age tale of self-discovery and first love from the legendary Studio Ghibli.
“The Cat Returns” (2002) on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. In Japanese with English subtitles.
On her way home from school, Haru spots a cat with a small gift box in its mouth attempting to cross a busy street. The cat fumbles the package in the middle of the road, but Haru manages to scoop the cat away to safety before a truck can hit it. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely.
That night, a feline motorcade replete with vassals, maidens, and Secret Service cats shows up at Haru’s door with the King of Cats. In a show of gratitude for saving his son’s life, the King showers Haru with gifts and whisks her away to marry the cat prince and rule over their kingdom. In order to find her way back to the human world, Haru must turn to the mysterious Baron von Gikkingen for help.
The fantasy adventure from Studio Ghibli and director Hiroyuki Morita is a delightful feline fairytale for the whole family.
Upcoming films:
“Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004), Sept. 26-Oct. 3
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” (1989), Oct. 26-30
“Pom Poko” (1994), Nov. 24 and 26
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” (2013), Nov. 25 and 27
“My Neighbor Totoro” (1988), Dec. 7-11
Theater locations and tickets: www.fathomevents.com/series/studio-ghibli-fest/