Mimi o Sumaseba - Louise (Benelic)Louise · Benelic

Benelic presents Louise from the Studio Ghibli film Mimi o Sumaseba, known in English as Whisper of the Heart. This figure captures a character from one of Ghibli's most heartfelt coming-of-age stories. Mimi o Sumaseba is a 1995 film directed by Yoshifumi Kondo and written by Hayao Miyazaki. The story centers on Shizuku, a young girl who discovers that the books she borrows from the library have all been previously checked out by the same boy, Seiji, who aspires to become a violin-maker. The film explores the struggles of young people trying to take their dreams seriously while accommodating their families' wishes. Shizuku's journey involves writing a complete draft of a story, experiencing both the excitement and self-doubt that comes with creative work. Miyazaki intended the film's ending, in which Seiji proposes to Shizuku, as a deliberate statement about commitment, believing too many young people are afraid to commit and stay on moratorium forever. This Benelic figure of Louise brings a piece of this beloved Ghibli classic into collectors' hands, celebrating the film's enduring themes of dreams, creativity, and young love.