Arrietty the Borrower (2010)

Arrietty the Borrower (2010)

7/10

Starring the voices of

Mirai Shida

Ryunosuke Kamiki

Shinobu Otake

Keiko Takeshita

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Arrietty is a heartfelt emotional ride of a movie, with every setting carefully crafted to pull at your heartstrings and immerse you in a plot that leaves you invested in the well-being of all the characters. This Studio Ghibli adaptation of Mary Norton’s 1950s–1980s book series The Borrowers is a standout. My first introduction to The Borrowers was through the 1997 British-American live-action comedy adaptation, which wasn’t nearly as fantastic as this. Under the skilled hand of Hayao Miyazaki, who wrote the screenplay, this fantasy animation is a must-see. While it leans less on comedy, it’s well-suited for adult viewers. Another standout feature of this movie is the musical score, which adds tremendous weight to the drama.

The story introduces us to a world of tiny people called Borrowers. The focus is on a family of three: a father, a mother, and their daughter, Arrietty. About to turn fourteen, Arrietty is ready for her first borrowing adventure.

Borrowers live by “borrowing” items from humans—things like food and small objects they can carry. Since they’re about the size of a human thumb, the things they take are of little significance to humans.

The family’s peaceful life takes a turn when a young, sick boy named Shō comes to stay in the house. Shō is observant, and despite Arrietty and her father’s best efforts to avoid detection, he sees them. Arrietty’s curiosity soon gets the better of her. Ignoring her parents’ warnings to stay away from humans, she approaches Shō. Her visit to him nearly results in disaster, but instead, they become friends. Through their interactions, we learn more about Shō and his struggles, as well as about Arrietty and her family.

The plot revolves around this unusual friendship and the family’s survival, as they fear they may be the last of their kind.

This is one of those Studio Ghibli animations where Hayao Miyazaki was involved in production (writing the screenplay) but didn’t direct. Instead, the movie was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, marking his debut as a director—and what a fantastic job he did. The musical score, composed by French musician Cécile Corbel, is another highlight. Corbel’s work marked the first time a non-Japanese composer collaborated with Studio Ghibli, and her contributions beautifully complement the film’s atmosphere.

The movie was both a critical and commercial success, and it’s easy to see why. If you have nor yet seen this animation, please do, it is fun.