The Secret World of Arrietty Review

It's Studio Ghibli's first film without Miyazaki in the director's chair. Does it match up?
Full review by Isaac Handelman

In an era where cinema aims at sweeping grandeur, breathtaking set-pieces and mind-bending narratives, it isn’t surprising that Studio Ghibli sticks firmly to the less-trodden path with their latest picture, The Secret World of Arrietty. Whilst lacking the excitement thrills, or silly humor of the typical family film offering, this by no means denotes Arrietty to lower standings. In fact, it’s bound to be one of the strongest animated offerings of the year. 

Taking center stage is thirteen year old Arrietty, a “borrower”, who lives with her mother and father in a makeshift house under the home of a human family. The trio makes a living by taking small necessities from the humans, sticking to a strict compact of only taking what’s absolutely needed. When a sickly boy named Shaun moves in with the humans, he promptly spots Arrietty, and the two eventually strike up an unlikely forbidden friendship.

What’s initially alarming about Arrietty is that it takes place entirely within the limits of the house and its yard. The film’s scope is extremely small, at least at first glance. In practice, however, the tiny nature of Arrietty and her family allow the property to host the entire adventure without feeling cramped. Forests, cliffs and caverns take shape, formed by everyday objects, counters, windowsills, and more. Studio Ghibli very strictly follows Arrietty’s character for most of the movie, and her struggles as a tiny person, her utterly unique viewpoint, is realized spectacularly. An engrossing sense of discovery permeates much of this adventure.

This is thanks in no small part to the expert animators housed within Studio Ghibli’s seasoned team. These are the same people who brought us the beloved My Neighbor Totoro, and the unforgettable Spirited Away. Their artistic vision reaches new heights with The Secret World of Arrietty. There are moments when the movie feels like a beautiful watercolor painting come to life. When it doesn’t, the world is realized in the utmost detail, from the trickling of water to the downright impressive detail etched in to every object, action, and movement in the film.

The sound design is top notch as well, with a masterful score coupling with perfectly paired assorted tunes from various artists to create an auditory mural that meshes perfectly with the visuals. The realistic sound effects coupled with the film’s beautiful, traditional animation style creates an often sublime experience.

The film’s narrative possesses some interesting elements that are implemented subtly. In particular, Shaun’s heart condition adds an intriguing layer to the story. Interestingly enough, though, while most films would play this subplot for all it’s worth, Arrietty keeps it subtle, almost existing as more of a backdrop than a secondary story. This works very well, increasing the story’s depth without getting in the way of the primary plot line.

If there’s one disappointment, it’s that this central conflict isn’t actually that interesting. Arrietty’s friendship with Shaun is charming and tangible, but the overarching threat of Mrs. Hara, the maid, attempting to discover and eventually capture the borrowers is stretched a bit thin and never really goes anywhere interesting. What seems to be the central narrative can be almost forgotten and discarded for the much more interesting and far more affecting personal struggles of Arrietty and Shaun. 

The Secret World of Arrietty serves to remind us what traditional, hand-drawn animation is capable of. In a scene dominated by CGI, the artistic beauty that Studio Ghibli is still capable of creating is, well, a beautiful thing. While its central conflict falters, it doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a truly engrossing film, visually and emotionally, and its relative simplicity is astounding given how effective the experience is as a whole.

Final Score:

8.0/10

“Great”