Whisper of the Heart, the heart-warming coming-of-age classic from Studio Ghibli, the globally celebrated animation house, comes to IMAX® for the very first time in UK and Ireland cinemas, newly remastered in 4K, from Wednesday 16 September 2026. The film will also be released wide in cinemas from Friday 18 September. Tickets are available now.
The film, originally released in 1995, is a coming-of-age classic from celebrated studio veteran Director Yoshifumi Kondo based on the original manga by Aoi Hiiragi and a screenplay and storyboards by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. The new 4K remaster highlights the great thought and care put into every frame of the film, celebrating the authentic craftsmanship of Studio Ghibli’s detailed artwork. The film will show in both the original Japanese language with subtitles and English language dubbed versions.
Watch a brand new trailer for Whisper of the Heart in the player below:
In the film, a chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a girl with her head in the clouds, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, an antique cat figurine who guides her to listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. Based on a screenplay and storyboards from Hayao Miyazaki, WHISPER OF THE HEART is a precious gem in the Studio Ghibli catalog, directed by veteran animator Yoshifumi Kondo.
The release follows the recent announcement that GKIDS has acquired, through Goodfellas, the UK and Ireland distribution rights to the 23 film-library of Japan’s renowned Studio Ghibli, one of the most acclaimed and influential animation studios in the world. GKIDS previously released Kiki’s Delivery Service in IMAX and in cinemas nationwide. Like GKIDS and IMAX’s partnership in North America, fans can look forward to additional IMAX releases of new Studio Ghibli 4K Remasters in Autumn 2026 and beyond, plus the re-release of the entire library across all home video platforms.
In the UK and Ireland, GKIDS will be working in close partnership with sister-company and long-time collaborator Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor, which was recently acquired by GKIDS’ parent company Toho Global.
