What a truly beautiful film, and whilst the passing of time may change my mind, it is quite possibly the best Studio Ghibli feature since Porco Rosso.

Studio Ghibli are arguably the greatest world builders in all of cinema and despite the real world setting of Arrietty the film still creates a genuinely magical environment for the characters to reside in. I've never liked The Borrowers be it book, TV or film but the scale, attention to detail and sheer…

For those who have read any of my previous Ghibli reviews it probably comes to no surprise that I think The Secret World of Arrietty is a stunning work of art and one that is currently severely underappreciated. The thing with their movies that has always enchanted me is how different each and every one of them is. There are of course recurring themes such as the lack of anything purely evil and villainous or the heroine that has to…

Hayao Miyazaki is something of a wonder. His worlds have captured and stimulated the minds of young children and adults alike. From Spirited Away to Ponyo, his worlds are magical, lush and beautiful pieces of animation that are filled with secrets and mystery. Though he didn’t direct The Secret World of Arrietty, his spirit and soul can be found all over the film, from the environment to the characters.That’s not taking anything away from first-time director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who has…

Oh god. My heart can't take it. Snowman and The Snowdog. Return of the King. Up. Now this. Is there any reason why the Christmas television line-up is doing everything it can to empty my tissue box?

Arrietty is an absolute treat. The visuals and animation are so organic, so fluid and weighty that you could bite every frame and still ask for more. Coupled with that, the sound is crisp and satisfying, making it obvious that director Hiromasa Yonebayashi…

Film #22 of Cinebro's "Plan Your Meals Around Film Lengths" Challenge

There are lots of reasons to cherish Studio Ghibli. They have created (and will continue to create) some of the most beautiful films of all time. They tell rich, complex stories using a cinematic language that any child can understand. They have assembled the greatest team of collaborators since Walt Disney first monopolized the animation industry. But what I love most about them is their ability to make me…

Studio Ghibli's The Secret World of Arrietty animates Mary Norton's children's story The Borrowers, a tale centred on a family of ‘little people’ secretly living in the floorboards of a house, who 'borrow' essentials from the ‘big people’ upstairs. In the film, Arrietty, a 14 year old borrower, is naturally curious and eager to explore a world which she has only heard about from her parents. Through her travels, she encounters a young boy named Sho who has recently moved…

I don't know where to start! I recall a scene from the movie where Arrietty is climbing up the plants. She stops for a moment to catch a breath when suddenly a gust of wind energizes the whole atmosphere. There is a moment of calmness when Arrietty gets up realizing that she is no longer in her "secret" haven; she's now in the forbidden world of human beings. Animated films don't usually have calm little moments like these. These are…

The Secret World of Arrietty is directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, an animator at Studio Ghibli who worked on Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo under Hayao Miyazaki, it is based on The Borrowers by Mary Norton.
Miyazaki planned the film and wrote the screenplay but Hiromasa directed it and shows a lot of potential, there's definitely hope for the future productions of Studio Ghibli.

A boy named Sho tells the audience of the summer he visited his aunt and…