ehalcomb: The Secret World of Arrietty (The Borrowers) || Anime Movie Review

Out of all the Studio Ghibli productions I've seen The Secret World of Arrietty surprised me the most. The animated film has wonderful visuals and characters, a fantastic soundtrack (that I will buy shortly after writing this), and an unexpectedly melancholy theme. Though I've never read the book that the film is based on, The Borrowers, it feels like Studio Ghibli paid very close attention to detail with its scenes and visuals. It's hard to explain and I can only say that the Borrowers feel small but not weightless. When Arrietty is climbing a curtain or sneaking around the ledge of a vent, it gives the sense that we're with her; at least in the way the environments are portrayed. Speaking of which, these environments are beautiful and colorful. Not in the Spirited Away or Ponyo sense, but, again, they feel large and lush. The characters are also all well developed and each one is very likable besides maybe Arrietty's father, Pod, who is just a little bit stale. The story is predictable but the set-up is so clean and the ending so perfect that I don't have a problem with it. That seems to be a complaint with a lot of Studio Ghibli's movies but the characters in those films are just so likable that it doesn't seem to bother me so much. The soundtrack is something to behold. The main composer Cécile Corbel, does a great job portraying adventure and curiosity but in a sort of tribal tone that I can appreciate. Arrietty's Song alone is enough to watch the film and have a good time. The only real problem that I had with the film was the English performance of Sho, Arrietty's human friend. I can understand that his character is one that has in a sense given up on life, but near the end of the film his voice inflections seem very far and few between. Even he does show some emotion it seems just a little bit forced. The melancholy theme of the picture seems like it wouldn't fit but because of Sho and Arrietty's character arc it makes the takeaway feel so satisfying.

The Secret World of Arrietty is a great time all around.