The Secret World of Arrietty

Such a lovely, tender-hearted film, with themes of coexistence and the need to live in harmony. It's a touching relationship between the young girl, a teeny person, and the boy resting at his mother's childhood home while waiting for an operation on his heart. In more than one instance we see two very different responses to coming across some other type of creature; one simply letting it be, and the other, lashing out at it, and there is such a nice message there. Contrast the girl playing with the rolled-up pill bug and then letting in go along its way with the horror of the scene with the jar and its airholes. The cat has a nice character arc in this regard. :D On top of it, Studio Ghibli gives us fantastic attention to detail in every respect, the visuals of course, but also the sound design and the mannerisms of the characters. Magical, and a good one for both kids and adults.

Arrietty is a worthy addition to the Studio Ghibli canon, with animation that matches some of the best of the studio's past efforts. It's the first film directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, and it's based on the novel The Borrowers by English author Mary Norton. The script was written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. Arrietty is a perfectly admirable first effort by Yonebayashi though it in no way matches Miyazaki's best films. It reminds one of Spirited Away (2001). This is because the story is somewhat similar but also because the hand-drawn animation is used in the same wondrous way to show scenes of everyday life of the characters. The buildup in the story takes a while, however, by then the viewer is immersed in the anime's world. It seems to go by fast though the running time is 94 minutes. The score by French singer Cecile Corbel is a definite benefit, with a sound that's distinctly European. Arrietty is a simple but charming film that, in my opinion, is mostly for children. Adults won't get much out of it, but if you're in the mood to see a good animated film then I recommend seeing Arrietty.

In a world engulfed by Kevin James comedies and ghastly and unnecessary reboots, the public is honoured with the animated Arrietty: a heavenly and gentle tale inspired by Mary Norton's novel 'The Borrowers'.

Arrietty Clock is a 14 year-old girl who lives with her family underneath a home inhabited by humans. The Clock family borrows items it needs to survive from the people living 'above' and love their beautiful, delicate home. However, when a young boy arrives (Shô) to stay with the human family, Arrietty is accidentally discovered by him. Due to fears of borrowers being seen and captured by human beings, the family fear for her safety. Shô finds himself fascinated by Arrietty and a bond builds between the pair, breaking the boundaries between human and borrower.

Arrietty is an intimate and emotional anime resembling the style of Spirited Away.

Arrietty is an intimate and emotional anime resembling the style of Spirited Away.

The film has currently been released in two languages: Japanese and English. The UK version has voice casting from Saoirse Ronan and Mark Strong, whilst the US version stars Will Arnett and Amy Poehler.

What Arreitty has is heart – it cares for its viewers and expresses this with irrevocable beauty. All viewers, young and old, will be unable to help being swept up in this animated treasure and taken aside by just how visually, narratively and emotionally stunning it is. Arrietty is the cinematic equivalent of whatever one believes to be the definition of 'beautiful'.

Hiromasa Yonebayashi's animation, aided by manga artist, film director and animator Hayao Miyazaki, swallows the screen in a sea of plush foliage, raindrops and climbing vine.

Every individual item is intrinsically detailed from a microscopic teapot to a leaf swaying in the wind. The artistic nature of Arrietty is a marvel of dedication and effort. This film is certainly the best animated film of 2011.

Furthermore, the film features rounded and wonderful characters, all of whom have an important role to play. Arrietty is a great role model for children, particularly young girls. She cares and wants to support her family, she's strong, hard-working, determined and she isn't prejudiced. She understands Shô and learns to enjoy his company. Regardless of the reality, the film's heroine provides plenty of positive energy and a great moral compass.

Arrietty is a love-letter to childhood enchantment, to that feeling of awe and magic and the belief in another.

Verdict: ●●●●● Sumptuous and marvellous storytelling aided by eye-watering beauty, Arrietty is simply sublime.

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In Tokyo, the boy Sho has a heart condition and is neglected by his parents. He moves to the house of his Aunt Sadako and her housemaid Haru to wait for a heart surgery, but he is depressed with the absence of his mother.

Meanwhile the fourteen-year-old Arrietty lives on the underground of Sadako's house with her father Pad and her hysterical mother Homily. They are Borrowers, tiny people that collect simple things they need in the house. Sho sees Arrietty on the garden and during the night, she participates for the first time of a harvest with her father. Arrietty accidentally drops a sugar cube in Sho's bedroom, but on the next morning Sho leaves the cube near a window in the basement.

Arrietty's parents decide to move to another place since they have been discovered by an inhabitant of the house. But there is the menace of Haru that wants to capture the tiny people.

"Kari-gurashi no Arietti" is a beautiful and melancholic tale of friendship between different ones. Arrietty is a lovely and sweet character and it is impossible not falling in love with her. The conclusion is open despite the message of hope, since the fates of Sho and Arrierry and her family are inconclusive. We hope that the boy recovers from his heart surgery and Arriety and her parents find a new home. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Mundo dos Pequeninos" ("the World of the Little Ones")

I went into this film with very limited expectations. I'm not especially a fan of animated movies, and have only seen a small handful of anime productions. So it came as a very unexpected surprise to discover that I absolutely loved this movie. It just seemed to get everything pretty much right. The visual artistry was quite beautiful, with a great deal of invention in the scenes where the little Borrowers navigate through the wide expanses of the house they live underneath. The music was quite stunningly appropriate, with the lilting Celtic sound just perfect in tone for this melancholic story, with some lovely vocal work too. And these images and sounds were combined together into a simple narrative that had an enormous amount of heart to it. I felt a warm buzz long after leaving the theatre.

The Borrower Arrietty is a beautiful film. I cannot really find fault with it. So from this reviewer who has very limited knowledge of anime I give it a near perfect nine.