Studio Ghibli is now selling a set of finger puppets inspired by the cat-filled cast of Whisper of the Heart.
Studio Ghibli’s official online store, Donguri Sora, recently released a five-piece expansion for its “Yubi Ningyo” (“finger puppet”) collection. Each of these characters appeared in Ghibli’s 1993 film Whisper of the Heart, about a high school girl named Shizuku who dreams of becoming a writer. Ghibli’s new finger puppet set includes three different versions of Baron, the dignified cat statue that inspired Shizuku in the film, along with his elegant female counterpart, Louise. There is also a puppet based on Moon, the strange stray cat that leads Shizuku to the Baron. Including tax, the entire set costs 2,475 yen (about $16.57 USD).
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Whisper of the Heart (known in Japan as If You Listen Carefully) is based on the popular 1989 manga by Aoi Hiiragi. The film opens with Shizuku contemplating the identity of “Seiji Amasawa,” whose name keeps appearing under hers on the card of every library book she borrows. One day, she spots an ownerless gray cat on her train and decides to follow it. This is why she goes to the antique shop owned by Seiji’s grandfather Amasawa and discovers the Baron, this man’s prized possession. She also learns that Seiji’s ultimate dream is to become a master violin maker. Feeling unworthy of him, Shizuku decides to challenge herself by writing a novel starring Baron.
In the film, Baron appears before Shizuku both as a statue and as a real character in her imagination. Two of the finger puppets were designed based on the appearance of his statue, which has green bejeweled eyes. The third puppet depicts the “living” Baron inhabiting the world of Shizuku’s novel. While Shizuku created an alternate version of the Moon for her book, the character’s corresponding finger puppet depicts him when he is first introduced.
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Whispers of the Heart is considered by many to be a coming-of-age classic that realistically portrays the struggles that often hinder young artists. While Ghibli never produced a direct sequel, Shochiku released a live-action film in 2022 that follows adult versions of Shizuku and Seiji. In 2002, Ghibli also reintroduced Baron and Moon as the stars of a new film called The Cat Returns. The film’s plot revolves around a high school girl named Haru, who feels bored and dissatisfied with her daily life. One day, she saves a stray cat from being hit by a truck, which attracts unwanted attention from the ruler of the Cat Kingdom. Desperate for help, Haru follows a large white cat named Muta to the Cat Bureau. This is where she meets Baron, who promises to save her from the Kingdom’s clutches.
Whisper of the Heart and The CatReturns are both available to stream on Max.
The deep poetry of the heart
A love story between a girl who loves to read and a boy who has previously gone through all the books she chose in the library.
Release date December 13, 1996
Running time 1 hour 51 minutes
Story by Hayao Miyazaki, Aoi Hiiragi, Cindy Davis
Characters by Yoko Honna, Issei Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana
Production company Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Hakuhodo
Source: Donguri Sora
