Based on Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers, Arrietty is the story of Sho (Ryunosuke Kamiki) a 12 year old boy who moves to his mothers old house in order to rest before a heart operation. In this house he finds a big surprise waiting for him - a family of Little people living in the boards of the house, who sneak around at night looking for objects that 'human beans' will not miss. On one such venture, the daughter of the family Arrietty (Mirai Shida) is seen by Sho - will the two strangers be able to understand each other across their distance in both species and size?
Miyazaki did it again, another fantastic film from Studio Ghibli. The artistry and animation lives up to the Ghibli standard and creates a new, spectacular world for audiences everywhere to enjoy. From flowering gardens to bug infested floorboards, the world of Sho's house is both aesthetically and dynamically unforgettable. The whimsical characters are brought to life by their voice actors and this same animation, ranging from loveable little people, unpleasant adults and 'giant' creatures of the garden world. Owing to the language barrier, it is difficult to say how well the subtitles have been translated but it is far better to watch a Studio Ghibli film in its original Japanese, than let it be spoiled by uncertain english voices, even if one of them happens to be Mark Strong (Voicing Arrietty's father Pod in the english version).
That being said, there is one thing that might let this film down. The narrative itself, though captured brilliantly, does not vary widely from the original story and so there is a certain sense of predictability. But fortunately Miyazaki has added a few good twists to the plot and has created, not so much a sequel to The Borrowers but his own take on the story.
So if you are looking for a grand, heartwarming film, it doesn't take a magnifying glass to find Arrietty.
