Ghibli Fest ’24 Purrs Ahead with ‘Whisper of the Heart’ & ‘The Cat Returns’

Tickets are on sale now for Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, which paw their way back to theaters in August for two nationwide screenings of each title as GKIDS and Fathom Events continue the 2024 edition of Studio Ghibli Fest. These two enchanting tales were brought to life by veteran Ghibli directors Yoshifumi Kondo and Hiroyuki Morita.

This year, audiences can look forward to Studio Ghibli Fest 2024’s biggest slate of films to date with a 14-title lineup, and upcoming anniversary celebrations including Howl’s Moving Castle’s 20th Anniversary, Kiki’s Delivery Service’s 25th Anniversary and Pom Poko’s 30th Anniversary.

The films will be shown in both original Japanese and English dubbed versions. In addition to the full feature, screenings will include a sneak peek of the bonus features from the new Blu-ray release of The Boy and the Heron, available now.

Tickets for Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns can be purchased online by visiting GhibliFest.com, FathomEvents.com, or at participating theater box offices (Theaters and participants are subject to change).

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a quiet schoolgirl, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, a magical cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. This beautiful tale based on a screenplay from Hayao Miyazaki will delight and amaze audiences of all ages!

Show dates (all times local):

• Sunday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (English Language Version)
• Tuesday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. (Japanese Language Version)

The Cat Returns (2002)

In this sequel to Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical feline world and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes 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 as a truck is rapidly bearing down. Haru manages to scoop the cat away to safety. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely.

Strange behavior indeed, but this is nothing compared to what happens later that evening when the King of Cats shows up in a feline motorcade replete with vassals, maidens, and even Secret Service cats. In a show of gratitude for saving his son’s life, the king cat showers Haru with gifts – including a large supply of individually wrapped live mice – and decrees that she shall marry the cat prince and come to live as a princess in the secret Kingdom of Cats.

Show dates (all times local):

• Monday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. (English Language Version)
• Wednesday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. (Japanese Language Version)