Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 5, 2015

When Marnie Was There plays with a superficially elegant sophistication, an emotionally gentle and filling story line, and a sprinkling of faith and fate in one's search for self-identity. All of these things come in a broadly accessible package, yielding a movie that holds the audience's hand as it explores a few challenging and darker themes but leaves the viewers satisfied for the journey and grateful to the characters for bringing them along. It's another in a growing line of beautifully rendered, effortlessly contemplative, gently inspiring, and broadly approachable films from Studio Ghibli (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, The Wind Rises). Even as When Marnie Was There releases at a point where the acclaimed studio's fate remains in question, it's a testament to the traditions, styles, and purposes that have made Ghibli one of the most renowned not only in the animation space but the broader cinema landscape as well.

Marine.

Anna (voiced by Sara Takatsuki) is a talented 12-year-old artist and social outcast. She hates herself, she worries about the money she's costing her surrogate mother (though she's discovered, much to her added dismay, the government is subsidizing her care), and she suffers from asthma. Outwardly, she hides her emotions and wears a "wooden face" as her mother describes it. The doctor prescribes for her an escape from the chocking confines of Sapporo for an extended country stay with her mother's relatives, the Oiwas (voiced by Toshie Negishi and Susumu Terajima). In the idyllic small town in which they live, Anna finds herself drawn to an old, abandoned mansion where she meets Marine (voiced by Kasumi Arimura), a young blonde-haired girl of her age and with whom Anna's life will be forever entwined.

When Marnie Was There boasts many technical and thematic strengths, not the least of which is the fluid, deep, and personable character study at its core. Anna is a character built on inner and outer emotional complexity who, by the time the film reveals its secrets in the third act, seems to grow only more complex. Yet despite the complicated nature of who she is -- inwardly and outwardly -- the film offers a gently accessible path for the audience to take as it slowly and effortlessly builds the character from the inside out and, gradually, in reversal from the outside in. Anna lives closed in on herself and feels the world collapsing towards her. One cannot help but feel that her move to the country -- to a place she can "breathe" -- is as much metaphorical as it is literal and as much a help to the character emotionally as it is physically. But her problems run much deeper and more complex to a point where mere fresh air and space cannot help. Her journey begins on the inside and it's by her stay in the idyllic countryside where she's able to find herself and make several discoveries about who she is, again in the most literal sense of the term but, more critical to the story, in a figurative way that will aid her in coming out of her shell and leaving behind the everyday emotional pains that have kept her down. The film shines with a character depiction that may not be wholly original but that does offer a satisfyingly intimate study of how even a basic understanding of who one is, not necessarily in the here-and-now but rather as a human being interconnected with the larger world around them, can radically transform one's perspective on life.

On the other hand is the film's elegant production. Though par for the course for Studio Ghibli, When Marnie Was There inspires with its breathtaking construction, both in terms of its beautifully simple stylings and the way the visuals so effortlessly complement the greater story. There's a minimalist quality to the film, certainly not quite so basic (or unique) as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya but capturing a spirit of focused evenness and attention to detail that accentuates narrative themes both in the moment and spanning the film's greater, arcing context. The innate simplicity first and foremost allows the audience to focus on the story rather than its support pieces. At the same time, there's a certain welcoming quality to the visuals, almost a warmth to them, not necessarily in the truest physical sense of the term when used in conjunction with video analysis but instead an inviting sensation that just feels natural, like home, which is also critical in the greater emotional underpinnings that run throughout the film and culminate with its third act revelations. The film also boasts wonderful voice acting -- even the English version is full of life, character depth, and purpose -- and a reserved but beautifully supportive score from Takatsugu Muramatsu, working his first Studio Ghibli film.

When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

When Marnie Was There arrives on Blu-ray with a stunning 1080p transfer. The animation is clean and precisely defined. Every line is straight and each detail commands the screen, whether nicely textures and layered backgrounds or the more complex character and environment moving parts in the foreground. Support textures like trees and buildings are perhaps the most impressive given the rather simple, yet intricately rendered, character animations. Colors are vibrant and varied. The palette is consistently accurate and impressively nuanced, whether outdoor greens, multicolored attire, or support accents in a train station or around town. Black levels are inherently deep and pure. Motion is effortless and absent any jitters. The image appears free of banding, aliasing, and other problems. This is another in a very long line of first-class Studio Ghibli titles on Blu-ray, both from Disney and, here, Universal.

When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

When Marnie Was There features a pair of lossless soundtracks, offering Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 tracks. Yes, both are without the usual LFE support channel, but neither track lacks the sonic weight and depth it would otherwise help to provide. Heavier effects, like crashing thunder and punishing waves, manage to pack a fair bit of natural heft in the track's most demanding moments, chapter fifteen serving as the single finest example of the track's range of abilities. Clarity is exceptional and the track plays with a wide open feel. There's a pleasant transparency to the track, essentially removing the speakers and allowing every sound detail to flow with a naturally lifelike posture through which the audience is effortlessly transported into the world's sonic environment. Ambient effects are many and gently immersive. Musical definition is full and precise with a wide stage that includes a lightly critical surround support. Dialogue is firmly centered and crystal clear with a nice bit of natural reverberation in chapter fifteen. Both the English and Japanese tracks are very well done and not noticeably unique or varied beyond language. Note that listeners cannot switch between the English and Japanese tracks on-the-fly. To change the audio, one must select the track from the menu, which forces a restart of the movie. However, listeners are free to switch to the French track at will regardless of whether Japanese or English is selected.

When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

When Marnie Was There contains several extras,including the entire film presented in storyboard format. A DVD copy of the film is included with purchase.

• The Making of When Marnie Was There (1080i, 42:38): A whirlwind behind the scenes piece that explores a wide range of elements within the creative processes, the picture's place in Studio Ghibli history, story details, and more. In Japanese with English subtitles.
• Yohei Taneda Creates the Art of When Marnie Was There (1080p, 17:14): A condensed retelling of the movie in parallel with a look at real-life drawings and models that stand in for the animation. In Japanese with English subtitles.
• Feature-Length Storyboards (1080p, all audio [but no subtitle] options available, 1:43:13): The entire film presented in storyboard form.
• Behind the Scenes with the Voice Cast (1080p, 12:39): The English voice cast discusses the film and the characters they voice.
• Foreign Trailers and TV Spots (1080p, 6:21): Seven unique previews. In Japanese with English subtitles.
• US Trailer (1080p, 1:39).

When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If When Marnie Was There is to be the final Studio Ghibli film, audiences couldn't ask for a better final farewell. The film is beautiful -- emotionally, visually, aurally -- and home to a satisfyingly deep yet approachable story of a person in search of answers, of who she is and what purpose she serves in life. It's a crowning achievement in dramatic storytelling and complex yet accessible character development blended with an inherently beautiful surface. Universal's Blu-ray release is equally impressive, boasting terrific video and audio alongside several worthwhile supplements. Highly recommended.