The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Movie Review

From Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away).

The Secret World of Arrietty is an enchanting family-film from the legendary animation company, Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away). Produced by Toshio Suzuki (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service), The Secret World of Arrietty adapts the beloved novel by Mary Norton. A must-see.

Little people known as “borrowers” live alongside human beings in a beautiful and old-fashioned residence surrounded by the radiance of the outdoors. The borrowers take small items from these humans to live their lives (like cubes of sugar and other essential life necessities). When Arrietty becomes discovered by the human being Shawn, a boy her own age, the Clock family is taken on a unexpected journey of wonder, magic, and discovery.

A wondrous anime with layers of outstanding merits, The Secret World of Arrietty is a beautiful fable with striking cinematography by Atsushi Okui (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) and magical art direction by Yoji Takeshige (Spirited Away, The Wind Rises) and Noboru Yoshida (Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle). The art is visually wondrous and pulls viewers in to the storytelling with ease. Beautiful layouts as sophisticated as paintings: every frame like a piece of art.

An outstanding steelbook for an enchanting Studio Ghibli production.

The music by Cecile Corbel (Land of the Bears) is one of the most memorable and enchanting scores for any Ghibli production. Corbel provides the production with a distinct flavor that is unlike most animated scores (with a sublime and ethereal quality that is unique to Arrietty). Mesmerizing.

The screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro) and Keiko Niwa (From Up on Poppy Hill, When Marnie Was There) adapts the novel in a unique and compelling way. In anime form, The Secret World of Arrietty is full of unexpected delights. The characters are charming. The storytelling is emotionally resonant. The wonderful messages of the film – about the importance of kindness – carry throughout.

Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (When Marnie Was There, Mary and the Witch's Flower) made an outstanding gem with The Secret World of Arrietty. Yonebayashi shows his influence from Hayao Miyazaki while crafting his own distinctive vision as a filmmaker. The sophisticated production showcases the visual wonders of the director in spades. Studio Ghibli fans won't want to miss it.

For another take on the feature-film, please refer to the original review by Blu-ray.com writer Kenneth Brown.

The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Secret World of Arrietty is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The release has a high bit-rate of 30 mbps.

For more information on the presentation, please refer to the Gkids edition review by my colleague Stephen Larson.

The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The lossless, high- resolution audio tracks are presented in 24 bit depth.

For more information on the presentation, please refer to the Gkids edition review by my colleague Stephen Larson.

The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The special edition release includes collectible steelbook packaging. The beautiful design features a colorful green background and an iconic image from the feature-film on the front. The steelbook is simple but elegant looking. The release is another exceptional addition to the Studio Ghibli steelbook collection line and a must-own for die-hard enthusiasts.

The release also includes a booklet featuring writings on The Secret World of Arrietty. For more information on the on- disc supplements, please refer to the Gkids edition review by my colleague Stephen Larson.

The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Secret World of Arrietty is a beautiful and enchanting family-film from Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro). With a screenplay co-penned by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, the fable is a must-see for Ghibli enthusiasts. The special edition re-release has collectible steelbook packaging. The release is impressive in hand and will make a great addition to any Ghibli collection. The Blu- ray release features an exceptional presentation of the main feature. The release includes a selection of exclusive supplemental features. Highly recommended.