When looking at anime or entertainment media as a whole one of the most important things to keep track of is the setting the current show/movie plays in. Its so important because correctly utilized it can help massivley in shaping a shows story characters and the level of immersion we as viewers feel while watching it. Whisper of the heart is a fantastic example in this regard To bring a setting to life in this case one inspired by real places you need animation and art. Fundamental principles in this media obviously and an area where Studio Ghibli once again shines brightly. The attention to detail in this movie is amazing. Not only is the art very detailed and realistic as expected from a grounded slice of life movie it truly stands out when it comes to character interactions. The famous little country roadsscene in the violin workshop is a wonderful example of this. Worthy of note are also the short digressions into more fantastical territory which really bring to light the studios affinity with this style of animation Shows and movies of this genre rise and fall with their characters though. Thankfully almost every character in this film is likeable and most importantly believable. While the story likes to fall back on some classical stereotypes especially in the beginning a half fulfilled love triangle for example it never feels unrealistic. As I have mentioned above the use of the shows setting urban japan during the latter half of the 20th century in its story structure is quite amazing. Character motivations seem realistic and the whole set up for the unfolding lovestory is believable while at the same time admittingly being a bit clich. In many ways we can probably observe the influence of its source material in this regard. The main theme of the story is selfdiscovery and realization. Undermined with meaningful symbolism the movie never feels pretentious in its messages. It shows us that finding ones way through life is never easy a theme many people should be able to relate to At the same time it also displays that you dont have to tread this path alone only make the first steps and that sometimes you have to compromise to get your happy ending. A meaningful message especially at a time where instantgratification seems to be becoming the norm. Lastly I want to mention the soundtrack of the movie. Except for the obvious track Country Roads in its varying iterations throughout the movie the movie doesnt feature too many memorable soundtracks Song of the Baron comes to mind. It also doesnt really have to though as the soundtrack is mostly used to accentuate the scenes. The usage of Country Roads is really inventive though as it is not only used as a way to hammer home the themes of the movie but also played by the characters themselves therefore immersing you further into the world. Overall a great movie that perfectly shows the importance of good settingutilization while at the same time telling an intriguing and believable story. If you area fan of its genres and if you can handle a little bit of fluff youll probably have a great time with this one.