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Human boy Shawn (right, voice of David Henrie) is astonished when he visits the garden and discovers Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler) a tiny person who lives hidden with her family under the floorboards of the house where he's staying, in Disney's release of the Studio Ghibli animated feature, The Secret World of Arrietty// Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
“Arrietty” is based on “The Borrowers,” a novel by Mary Norton. This movie tells the story of the very little people living amongst human beings. This phenomenon offers an explanation for the small things that often go missing in human households.
The pin that Arrietty occasionally brandishes as a sword? Borrowed. The postage stamp “paintings” that hang in her family’s hallway? Also borrowed.
As Arrietty’s father explains to her, borrowers take what they need to survive. While the life of a borrower seems quaint and simple, it is also dangerous. An unfriendly cat, a vicious crow and an unhinged human being all pose as threats to a small borrower.
The film begins with Arrietty’s much-anticipated first borrowing, a sort of initiation into the adult world where she will learn how to fend for herself. This initiation tests the rest of Arrietty’s family as she inadvertently brings danger to their home.
Everything changes for the adventurous Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler) when Shawn (David Henrie), a sickly teenage boy, moves into the house. The two young individuals, so different yet so alike in that they are both closed off from the world, inevitably make an everlasting impression on each others’ lives.
Because it is based on such a well-known story, this film has one of production company Studio Ghibli’s least surprising plots. Once that is acknowledged, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is easy to enjoy for what it is: a beautiful, heartwarming tale full of small adventures.
The cast does a magnificent job of breathing life into the film’s characters. Amy Poehler is particularly memorable as Arrietty’s comically frantic and loving mother, Homily. Voicing Arrietty’s father Pod, a man of few words, is Will Arnett, who is also Poehler’s real-life husband.
Homily takes care of the household and Pod goes out and forages for necessary items like tissue paper and sugar. While doing so, he must avoid cockroaches, rats and the like. He also must not be seen by human beings. In this sense he is very much like an Indiana Jones character. Arnett’s calm and collected Pod is the perfect foil to Poehler’s ever-worrying Homily.
Just like Poehler and Arnett have experience playing a couple, not only in real life but also on “Arrested Development”, Mendler and Henrie have also acted as romantic interests in Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Even though the voices for the film were recording individually, the cast works well together and could not have been better.
“Arrietty’s” soundtrack, written by French singer Cécile Corbel, is delightful to listen to. The music feels like a mixture between Japanese and Celtic music. The acoustic, rustic melodies add an organic feel to the film.
With the intricate attention to detail that is especially shown in the natural surroundings and the borrowers’ miniature belongings, Yonebayashi’s experience as an animator shows.
Having been an animator for Studio Ghibli fan favorites that include “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” it’s no surprise that Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s debut film is full of stunning animation.
Yonebayashi’s storytelling style slightly differs from that of Hayao Miyazaki, who is most known for creating the Ghibli brand. These differences lie in two themes that often appear in Miyazaki films: supernatural forces and/or strong social and political commentary.
“Arrietty” does not have the magic that “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” have. It also does not contain the political undertones of “Howl’s Moving Castle.”
Since “The Secret World of Arrietty” is Yonebayashi’s first film, it is hard to say what his directing style will prove to be. Will he continue to do adaptions of children’s novels? Only time will tell.
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