The Secret World of Arrietty

Arrietty is a worthy addition to the Studio Ghibli canon, with animation that matches some of the best of the studio's past efforts. It's the first film directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, and it's based on the novel The Borrowers by English author Mary Norton. The script was written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. Arrietty is a perfectly admirable first effort by Yonebayashi though it in no way matches Miyazaki's best films. It reminds one of Spirited Away (2001). This is because the story is somewhat similar but also because the hand-drawn animation is used in the same wondrous way to show scenes of everyday life of the characters. The buildup in the story takes a while, however, by then the viewer is immersed in the anime's world. It seems to go by fast though the running time is 94 minutes. The score by French singer Cecile Corbel is a definite benefit, with a sound that's distinctly European. Arrietty is a simple but charming film that, in my opinion, is mostly for children. Adults won't get much out of it, but if you're in the mood to see a good animated film then I recommend seeing Arrietty.