The Secret World of Arrietty

There is so much to admire in The Secret World of Arrietty that it may require a second viewing from me just to see if I didn't miss anything. This is a simple, yet wondrous, animated film, adapted from Mary Norton's beloved children's novel, The Borrowers. I'm sure almost everyone is familiar with the story of the tiny race of people, only five inches tall, who live in the walls and floorboards of us regular people, and "borrow" from us only what they need to survive. While the story may be familiar, the movie is filled with so much meticulous attention to detail in its presentation, it truly succeeds at creating another world within our own.

The film is a production of Studio Ghibli, the most famous and acclaimed animation production company in Japan. The studio's founder, Hayao Miyazaki, has adapted Norton's novel into a leisurely-paced, yet involving, story of friendship that, much to my delight, had absolutely no problem captivating the children at my screening. It's hard to know where to start in praising the people involved with the production, as everybody has done an exceptional job. The original direction by Hiromasa Yonebayashi is gentle and sweet, but never cloying or calculated. He takes full advantage of the film's laid back tone, giving his characters plenty of opportunity to grow and become attached to us. The look of the film is also truly astonishing. The Ghibli artists give us something to admire in just about every scene, right down to the tiniest detail. Even the Celtic-inspired music score by Cecile Corbel had me hunting down the original Japanese import CD on line as soon as I got home. I'm also happy to report that the Disney Studios (who are handling the film's US theatrical release) have done a fine job, both in adapting the screenplay by Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa, and in dubbing the dialogue into English.

We are introduced to the world of the "borrowers" by Arrietty (voice by Bridgit Mendler), a plucky and free-spirited teenage girl who, despite only being a couple inches tall, seems to have no problem venturing into the world of the big people, where she has to constantly deal with threats like cats, crows, and bugs that are larger than her. Her parents, Pod (Will Arnett) and Homly (Amy Poehler), are always worried that their daughter, or they themselves, might be discovered by the big people, and will be forced to move. The family of tiny borrowers currently live under the floorboards of a home in the country, where a sickly boy named Shawn (David Henrie) has come to rest in preparation for an upcoming life-saving heart surgery. Shawn is the first human to discover the presence of the borrowers, and through many encounters with the tiny Arrietty, tries to befriend the girl. Unfortunately, his efforts catch the attention of sneaky housekeeper, Hara (a very funny Carol Burnett), who has always believed in the existence of tiny people living somewhere within the house, and now wants to perform some "pest control" so that she can prove her theories once and for all.

The Secret World of Arrietty benefits greatly from the traditional Studio Ghibli style, emphasizing completely hand drawn animation (no CG is used here) with a particular eye for detail. Great care has been given in the design of the hidden world of Arrietty and her family, which exists within the walls of the home itself. Nails serve as bridges and walkways, flowers are hung meticulously within Arrietty's room to act as decoration, and when Pod the father ventures into the big people's home on a nightly borrowing run, he straps pieces of tape to his gloves and boots so that he can climb up tall chairs or desks to reach out of the way necessities. There is an attention to detail here you don't usually see in animated films, from the way the water reacts when it is disturbed, right down to the way the wind blows individual blades of grass in a field. The best way to see a Studio Ghibli movie is on the big screen, and that is no more evident than here.

Also keeping in the Ghibli style, the movie is fairly laid back and low key in tone. Yes, there are threats to the characters - Shawn is grappling with the fact he may not survive his upcoming operation, or that it may not help him in the end. And Arrietty is afraid that her friendship with the boy may put her family in danger. And yet, through it all, there is a warmth and gentleness to the film that is unique. This is a truly heartwarming film, and it's sure to resonate with adults, as much as it will with the children it is intended for. With so many animated films today trying to wow us with CG wizardry, this movie stands out with its stunning attention to simple details, and just by telling a very basic and genuine story of friendship. This is a movie that is not only beautiful to look at, but at its center is a story beautifully told.

And then there's the English adaptation. Under the supervision of Disney animation studio head, John Lasseter, and directed by seven-time Oscar winner, Gary Rydstrom, very little has been left to chance. As in past efforts to bring the works of Studio Ghibli to an American audience, the dub remains faithful to the original dialogue, with Karey Kirkpatrick (The Spiderwick Chronicles) doing the honors this time around. Also, great care seems to have been taken in choosing the voice actors. While there are some famous names to be found in the American cast, they're never distracting. We're focused on the story and the characters, not the famous voice behind them. It's a bit surprising to see comic actors like Will Arnett and Amy Poehler playing somewhat low key roles here (though Poehler does get a couple laughs as Arrietty's frequently worrisome mother), but neither seem miscast or out of place.

The Secret World of Arrietty is a total delight, and a film that's almost certain to captivate any child that watches it. Its innocence and charm draw us in, but there's an elegance to the way the story is told, and the bond that grows between the two main characters. I see so many movies where I don't care about what's going on up on the screen, that I find myself thankful when a movie truly captures my attention. This is a movie that certainly demands attention, and is the first great animated film of 2012.

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