The Secret World of Arrietty

Synopsis

During his summer stay at his aunt's house, the fragile young boy Shou makes a remarkable discovery: while chasing the family cat through the bushes, he spots a tiny girl, no larger than his finger! She introduces herself as Arrietty and explains that her kind, known as "Borrowers," survive by taking small items from humans. Arrietty reveals that she lives in the house's basement with her parents, Pod and Homily. Shou is thrilled to have such extraordinary neighbors, but he doesn't fully grasp the difficulties they face. In addition to keeping their existence hidden, they must make dangerous trips around the house and garden to gather what they need. Despite her parents' caution, Arrietty forms a connection with Shou, setting off a chain of events that may deeply impact both of their lives. This enchanting and heartwarming story explores the budding friendship between two distinct worlds, bridging the gap between humans and Borrowers.

Background

Karigurashi no Arrietty is an adaptation of the 1952 novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton. It also marks the cinematic debut of Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The film score was composed by French recording artist and musician Cécile Corbel, the first time a non-Japanese composer has worked with Studio Ghibli. Receiving highly positive reviews praising the animation and music, the film won the Animation of the Year award at the 34th Japan Academy Prize award ceremony and became the highest grossing Japanese film at the Japanese box office in 2010, grossing over $145 million worldwide.