SYNOPSIS:
Sho went to his mother’s old house in a rural area one summer in preparation for his heart surgery. There, he encounters little people in their own little world.
Year: 2010
Genre: Fantasy • Adventure
Animation Studio: Studio Ghibli
Runtime: 1hr, 34 mins
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As a little fun project for myself, I’ve decided to see every Studio Ghibli movie in 2024. It’s one of my New Year’s resolutions for this year. The Secret World of Arrietty is my first Studio Ghibli movie of the year. I love the idea of the little people, who also called themselves “borrowers” since they “borrow” disposable goods from the human world—things like sugar cubes, tissue paper, and other discarded items like pins—that people would not notice are missing. The whole story takes place in this charming rural home, but for the small people, this house is a vast and dangerous place and getting to the house to “borrow” items is an exciting and dangerous journey. However, they have this rule that their existence should remain unknown to humans; otherwise, they have to relocate. Apparently, there used to be more of them, but their numbers are dwindling down and they are on the brink of extinction. The only people remaining in that specific house are Arrietty, her mother, and her father. Unknowingly to them, the occupants of that residence are actually aware of their existence despite never having seen one. Sho’s mother, aunt, and grandfather all have a remote fascination with the little people. Even Haru, who is the story’s antagonist, isn’t a bad person. Despite her quite harsh methods—such as calling extermination people to lure the little people out—she only really wants to see the little people. Arrietty is a brave, daring young girl who loves her family and would stop at nothing to keep them safe, even if it meant putting her life in danger to speak with a human despite her parents disapproval. Sho is a shy young man with little hope of survival due to his impending heart operation. However, Arrietty’s presence gives him newfound strength to live and survive. I wish Sho and Arrietty have more interactions. I want to see more of them together. But I still think it’s great that they manage to form a bond in the short period of time. Like life itself, it’s fleeting, but both of them see the beauty in what they have and are grateful for it. They became a part of each other’s lives from that brief encounter. The story is leisurely and calm, and there is a little thrill. It’s like sipping tea on one sunny afternoon. There’s not much happening, but you can take your time appreciating the visuals and the music. It’s Studio Ghibli, after all, and the animation and visuals are always amazing. I love how they transformed the house into a whole world. They added so much character to it, from the tiny details on the exterior to the nails in the cracks and spaces between the walls to the junk beneath the floorboards and the lovely dollhouse with all of its fine details. It feels so much alive. I also like Arrietty’s song, and I think the Celtic music they used is great. All in all, it’s a great and relaxing watch. ☆ RATING: 8/10 ☆ |