The Secret World of Arrietty (Wired)

Arrietty is a 14-year-old borrower who lives with her parents in the floorboards of a garden home. Possibly the last of their kind, Arrietty and her family “borrow” things that won’t be missed, like sugar and tissues, from the homeowners. When the sickly son of the house’s owner comes to stay for the summer, an unlikely friendship begins between Arrietty and Shawn. 

Based on “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is voiced by a talented cast, which includes Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, who lend their humor to the film. Bridgit Mendler as Arrietty reminds us of how headstrong and stubborn we were at 14. Carol Burnett, who is the voice of Hara, is the perfect unintentional villain, whose discovery of Arrietty and Shawn’s friendship threatens Arrietty and her family. Burnett’s performance is perhaps the highlight of the movie—she plays the antagonist perfectly as a half-crazed, half-sinister housemaid that blatantly solidifies her as the bad guy, but with enough hilarity to take the edge off. 

More often than not, the audience was filled with laughter and titillating giggles, sometimes even when it wasn’t intended to be funny. In those cases it was because of awkward dialogue exchanges between Arrietty and Shawn, which sometimes came out a little creepy. However, those circumstances were likely due to translation from Japanese to English, since the film was originally dubbed in Japanese when it came out in 2010. 

 “The Secret World of Arrietty” was very much in sync with the style and ideas of Studio Ghibli, which was created by Japanese animator and director Hayao Miyazaki. Just as Disney and Pixar have a very distinct and recognizable style, so does Ghibli. The film stayed true to anime-like animations, typical of the animation and film studio. Although this was one of the least fantastical films produced by Ghibli, it still has the immediate mood of a Ghibli film. The consistency in style is only disjointed by how much more intricate and detailed each frame is compared to the films that predicated it. 

Although Arrietty is geared more toward a family audience, people of any age would enjoy it. Its stunning animation and universal humor help to make the film as touching and engaging as it is. The friendship between Arrietty and Shawn is another one of Miyazaki’s signature subject centered plots. Most of his films concern a friendship between two unlikely protagonists and how that relationship is tested and strengthened through difficult times. Arrietty and Shawn’s friendship exemplifies just that.

An unexpected bonus of the film was the soundtrack. Going into a Studio Ghibli film is more about the animation and the plot, but the soundtrack’s role to “The Secret World of Arrietty” was something that subtly but significantly contributed to the tone of the film. 

It was clear that everyone in the theater was captivated by the tale of Arrietty, and to no surprise as well. Not only were people fans of the movie, but most were fans of Studio Ghibli in general. Miyazaki has a loyal fan base, whose dedication to the beloved director and animator is unfathomable. But that’s not without reason. Long has Miyazaki been producing and animating a variety of films that all have his unique touch—a fantastical and wildly imaginative world that whisks you away along with it, only to bring you back safely and fill your heart with warmth. His devotion to his craft—hand-drawing each frame—is also admirable and it really shows in “The Secret World of Arrietty.” Not only is the film a visionary masterpiece, but also a refreshing take on an old tale. 

Reach reporter Livia Soong here.