The Secret World of Arrietty

( 7 )

Overview

A family of miniature people find their existence threatened due to a forbidden friendship in this Studio Ghibli adaptation of author Mary Norton's beloved children's book The Borrowers. Headstrong and full of energy, 14-year-old Arrietty voice of Bridgit Mendler is just like any other adolescent girl -- except for the fact that she's only a few inches tall. Arrietty and her family are Borrowers: a race of tiny people who live among the regular-size humans undetected, and only emerge to scrounge miniscule amounts...
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More About This Product

Overview

A family of miniature people find their existence threatened due to a forbidden friendship in this Studio Ghibli adaptation of author Mary Norton's beloved children's book The Borrowers. Headstrong and full of energy, 14-year-old Arrietty voice of Bridgit Mendler is just like any other adolescent girl -- except for the fact that she's only a few inches tall. Arrietty and her family are Borrowers: a race of tiny people who live among the regular-size humans undetected, and only emerge to scrounge miniscule amounts of essential living supplies from well-stocked cupboards and cabinets. Contact with the Borrowers' normal-size counterparts is strictly forbidden, but when Arrietty attempts to help her father stock up on necessities and meets 12-year-old Shawn voice of David Henrie, the pair develop an unlikely bond. Shawn has come to live with his great aunt, and should she find out about the Borrowers, it would be disastrous for Arrietty and her family. But perhaps by working together, Shawn and Arrietty can figure out a way for the Borrowers and humans to live together in harmony.
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Special Features

"Summertime" Bridgit Mendler music video; The making of "Summertime"; The making of "Summertime"
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Jason Buchanan
A woeful cloud of melancholy hangs over Studio Ghibli's adaptation of Mary Norton's classic children's book The Borrowers, yet thanks to the combined mastery of director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and co-screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki, something truly magical happens when the film's luminous messages of bravery and perseverance penetrate that foreboding thunderhead. Filtered through that unique prism of talent, what appears onscreen is a thing of unique and treasured beauty -- the rare children's feature that doesn't shy away from themes of death or uncertainty, instead gently embracing them in a manner that makes them seem not quite as frightening as they may have when we first took our seats and the lights began to dim. On the surface, The Secret World of Arrietty is a breathtakingly gorgeous portrait come to vivid life, but a closer look reveals that the mature themes addressed in the movie are painted with just as fine a brush, making it not only a wonderful addition to the Studio Ghibli canon, but also a picture that's certain to grow in parallel with its wide-eyed audience on repeated viewings. Headstrong and full of energy, 14-year-old Arrietty voice of Bridgit Mendler is just like any other adolescent girl, except for the fact that she's only a few inches tall. Arrietty and her parents voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler are Borrowers -- a race of tiny people who live among regular-size humans undetected, and only emerge to scrounge miniscule amounts of essential living supplies from well-stocked cupboards and cabinets. Contact with their human hosts is strictly forbidden, but when Arrietty attempts to help her father gather a few necessities, she makes the mistake of being seen by 12-year-old Shawn voice of David Henrie. Shawn's heart is failing, and in preparation for his upcoming surgery he has come to live with his great-aunt in the country. He's heard stories about the Borrowers from his parents ever since he was a little boy; now that he knows those stories are true, he wants nothing more than to befriend them. Unfortunately for Arrietty and her family, who may be the last of their kind, his baleful housekeeper Hara voice of Carol Burnett is determined to prove the existence of the Borrowers by any means necessary -- even if it means destroying their tiny home. Perhaps by working together, Shawn and Arrietty can figure out a way to safeguard the secret of the Borrowers and protect them from the prying eyes of humans. Opening as Shawn sits in the passenger seat of a car while the city fades into the rearview mirror, The Secret World of Arrietty echoes Spirited Away as a young child travels toward a new home and an indeterminate future. As Shawn settles into his new room, just beneath the floorboards Arrietty also prepares to begin a new chapter in life -- in her case, one that involves learning the secrets of Borrowing from her experienced, always-prepared father. By allowing us to accompany the young girl on her first adventure into the outside world -- and showing us familiar settings from an exciting new perspective -- Miyazaki immediately instills us with a sense of wonder and endears us to the main character. Meanwhile, director Yonebayashi executes the impressive set piece with a stylistic flair that renders a typical suburban home a mountainous palace of untold wonders. For a feature directorial debut, The Secret World of Arrietty is a remarkably accomplished piece of work. Yet considering that Yonebayashi previously served as an artist on such Studio Ghibli films as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, it's no surprise that, at least visually, this movie stands tall among the works of master Miyazaki himself. The way that the rays of sunlight break through the clouds and sparkle off the flowers in the garden would make the film worth watching for the art alone, but the fact that these stunning visuals are backed by a thoughtful, thematically complex screenplay simply serves to ensure that our intellect is stimulated along with our eyes. Perhaps with a few exceptions Ponyo comes to mind, Miyazaki's films have never been known for their simplicity. The Secret World of Arrietty carries on this tradition. Under the pen of any other writer, a 12-year-old boy lamenting the "hand of fate" could easily come off as cloying or insincere. Instead, given the delicacy of the screenplay and the impressive vocal performance by Henrie, simplicity and depth become as natural friends as Shawn and Arrietty. Likewise, as we learn about Arrietty's family's past, and discover that they may in fact be the last Borrowers alive, we become just as emotionally invested in her struggle to survive as we do in Shawn's. As mature as some of the themes in The Secret World of Arrietty may be, however, they never become morose enough to detract from the sense of wonder we get from experiencing Arrietty's world from her perspective, or watching Shawn as he comes face-to-face with something he's only heard about in stories and sacrifices his own safety to preserve the legend. With The Secret World of Arrietty, Yonebayashi proves himself to be not just a worthy successor to Miyazaki, but an accomplished visionary in his own right -- effortlessly bringing the themes of the picture to the forefront through strong imagery and fluid storytelling. Should he continue to grow as a filmmaker and choose to remain with Studio Ghibli, movie lovers may come to learn that traditional animation can still be as exciting in the 21st century as it was when Snow White first graced the silver screen back in 1937.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 5/22/2012
  • UPC: 786936819885
  • Original Release: 2010

    • Rating:

  • Source: Walt Disney Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Time: 1:35:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 7,190

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Bridgit Mendler Voice Only
Amy Poehler Voice Only
Will Arnett Voice Only
Carol Burnett Voice Only
David Henrie Voice Only
Moisés Arias Voice Only
Technical Credits
Atsushi Okui Director, Cinematographer
Gary Rydstrom Director
Hiromasa Yonebayashi Director
Tim Bevan Executive Producer
Cecile Corbel Score Composer
Walt de Faria Executive Producer
Eric Fellner Executive Producer
Megumi Kagawa Animator
Koji Kasamatsu Sound/Sound Designer
Kathleen Kennedy Executive Producer
Frank Marshall Executive Producer
Hayao Miyazaki Screenwriter
Keiko Niwa Screenwriter
Toshio Suzuki Producer
Akihiko Yamashita Animator
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Secret World of Arrietty
1. Opening Credits/Little People [:02]
2. First Borrowing [2:37]
3. Beginner's Mistake [2:37]
4. A Kind Gesture [4:20]
5. A New Friend [2:57]
6. Dollhouse [1:06]
7. A Gift [4:03]
8. Not Staying [2:22]
9. Rescue [2:43]
10. Exterminators [4:55]
11. Finding a New Home [:29]
12. End Credits [2:39]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Secret World of Arrietty
   Play
   Bonus Features
      Bridgit Mendler "Summertime" Music Video
      The Making of "Summertime"
   Scene Selection
   Set Up
      Languages
         English 5.1 Dolby Digital
         Français 5.1 Dolby Digital
         Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital
      Subtitles
         None
         English
         English For the Hearing Impaired
         Français
      Register Your DVD
   Sneak Peeks
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 7 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(5)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

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1 Star

(1)

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Sort by: Showing all of 7 Customer Reviews

  • Posted May 31, 2012

    Great Studio Ghibli Movie

    One of my favorite of the Studio Ghibli films. Meant to be enjoyed by children and adults alike with a beautiful soundtrack.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 24, 2012

    I Also Recommend:

    Kiki's Delivery Service

    Studio Ghibi movies are amazing! I love this movie, and my fami

    Studio Ghibi movies are amazing! I love this movie, and my family watches it together all the time.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 23, 2012

    A great film -- excellently drawn, colorful, well-paced and beau

    A great film -- excellently drawn, colorful, well-paced and beautiful.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 28, 2012

    Worst Movie Ever! :(

    It is horrible

    1 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 14, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    ¿The Secret World Of Arrietty¿ is a campy and heartwarming movie

    “The Secret World Of Arrietty” is a campy and heartwarming movie about a boy named Shawn (voiced by David Henrie) who befriends a miniature girl named Arrietty (voiced by Bridget Mendler). He also plays a role in shaping her family life and being a benevolent friend. The bonuses include a music video called “Summertime’ by Bridget Mendler and the making of the video. I decided to check out the movie after my husband rented it from the leasing office of the Apartment we reside in. “The Secret World of Arietty” is good for those who like cheery movies that are suitable for all ages.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 19, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 3, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 7 Customer Reviews