The Secret World of Arrietty

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1:45

The Secret World of Arrietty

G

2012

1h 34m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

Anime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

150 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Arrietty, a tiny teenager, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban home, unbeknown to the homeowner and housekeeper. Like others of her kind, Arrietty remains hidden from her human hosts, but occasionally ventures forth from beneath the floorboards to borrow sugar cubes and other supplies. A secret friendship forms when 12-year-old Shawn meets Arrietty, but their relationship could spell danger for Arrietty's family.

Critics Consensus

Visually lush, refreshingly free of family-friendly clatter, and anchored with soulful depth, The Secret World of Arrietty lives up to Studio Ghibli's reputation.

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David Elliott

San Diego Reader

12/08/2014

It's very pretty (plus a song that is like a gumdrop melting in your ear). Girls may enjoy the sweet, rather wistful story more than most boys.

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Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

12/08/2014

What is so bewitching about the mostly static backgrounds in Arrietty is that they can be oxygenated at will by the smallest instance of judiciously placed movement, such as a single fluttering ladybird or a pair of jaunty butterflies in the foreground.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

12/08/2014

4/5

Arrietty is a fresh take on Mary Norton's classic The Borrowers, with animated artwork that will have adults enchanted and children gripped.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Jan 15

8/10

While Miyazaki’s fingerprints may be all over the film’s aesthetic, it very much finds its own identity, pace, and tone. This is truly superb animated filmmaking.

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Mary Kassel

Screen Rant

Jun 23

6/10

While The Secret World of Arrietty hits the mark in terms of style & feel, it doesn't have the emotional depth of the best Studio Ghibli films.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

02/22/2023

3.5/4

It’s the kind of film that makes you slow down and consider its vast details long after the running time, whereas most Hollywood animated features feel like they were made to keep up with sugar-sniffing and technology-obsessed children.

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Denilda

Apr 22

My favorite gihbli film

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Pam M

Jul 7

This version of "The Borrowers" was well done.

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Sally

Jun 25

Beautiful story! Great animation!

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frannie

Jun 25

This is an animated wonder from Studio Ghibli, loosely based on Mary Norton's book "The Borrowers.". Hiyao Miyazaki's screenplay and tender touch permeates this movie, directed well by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, his first film at Ghibli. The landscapes and settings are beautifully rendered in watercolor glory the movie celebrates the everyday joys (and trials) of life, as two very different young people meet, and deeply affect one another forever, one eventful summer in the countryside. It was nostalgic without being overly saccharine--a light touch, unlike most commercial animated films--bittersweet and lovely.

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Christopher D

Jun 25

Loved this movie. I love the smaller in scope adventure. Would highly recommend.

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Paige

Jun 25

It’s such a classic and just getting to rewatch it on the big screen Mase me nostalgic and happy. Also it was quite amazing to see the show come to life- almost felt like I was watching for the first time again!

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Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Director

Gary Rydstrom

Director

Bridgit Mendler

Arrietty

Amy Poehler

Homily

David Henrie

Shawn

Will Arnett

Pod

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The Secret World of Arrietty: 4K Remaster Trailer

1:45

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Synopsis

Arrietty, a tiny teenager, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban home, unbeknown to the homeowner and housekeeper. Like others of her kind, Arrietty remains hidden from her human hosts, but occasionally ventures forth from beneath the floorboards to borrow sugar cubes and other supplies. A secret friendship forms when 12-year-old Shawn meets Arrietty, but their relationship could spell danger for Arrietty's family.

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Karey Kirkpatrick
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Studio Ghibli
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 17, 2012, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 19, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2019
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)