Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler and Carol Burnett promoting The Secret World of Arrietty

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theaters this Friday, February 17^th

Cast Members: Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler and Carol Burnett in Los Angeles to promote the film.

Review of The Secret World of Arrietty

I was able to watch The Secret World of Arrietty at The Walt Disney Studios a few Fridays ago and I loved it! First of all, I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan and I always look forward to their next movie! 

The Secret World of Arrietty is the 17th film from Studio Ghibli that has brought us such films as "My Neighbor Totoro,"  "Kiki's Delivery Service," "Spirited Away," and "Ponyo." It is based on the popular children's novel "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton. If you are familiar with the television show "The Littles" then you get the idea.

Take a look at the film's trailer.


As you can see from the trailer above, the story centers around a young girl named Arrietty who lives with her parents, underneath a home located out in the country. Arrietty and her parents are little people who survive by "borrowing" the things they need from human beings. On a "borrowing" outing, Arrietty meets a human boy named Shawn who has come to the house to rest. The two become friends even though they know that they are not suppose to be. This friendships threatens the balance between the little people and humans.

The clip below is called "Proud."


An underlying theme in pretty much all Studio Ghibli films is about underdogs and an undercurrent of environmentalism. Arrietty and her family represent nature and the little things that most people never notice. Her family has learned to survive on only what they need. But the film is also about forgiveness. I don't want to give away too much of the story so I will leave it as that. 

The next clip is called "What are borrowers?"


One of my favorite scenes is the clip above. The animation is just stunning. The details just feel lifelike.The score by Cecile Corbel is hauntingly beautiful. There is the addition of a song by Bridgit Mendler, who voices Arrietty in the U.S. version.

Here is the music video from Bridgit Mendler.


A beautifully drawn film, with a wonderful story, that will be sure to charm you and convince you anyone can be brave.

The Secret World of Arrietty hits US theaters February 17

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SecretWorldofArrietty

From Studio Ghibli and Walt Disney Studios: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY -- Official Trailer, One-Sheet and 3 Images!

Hey there Sasaki Time fans! Here is the first look at the latest film from Studio Ghibli! I love films from this Studio as much as I love films from Disney! I cannot wait to see this one!

Watch the trailer:



Check out three images from the film! Simply stunning!

Here is the press release of The Secret World of Arrietty!

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY

DISNEY

Disney.com/Arrietty

Genre:                                      Animation/Adventure
Rating:                                      TBD

Release Date:                           February 17, 2012

Voice Cast:                               Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias

Director:                                   Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Producer:                                  Toshio Suzuki

Screenplay by :                         Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa

Based on “The Borrowers” by:    Mary Norton

Director – English Language

Version:                                    Gary Rydstrom

Executive Producers –

English Language Version:        Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall

English Language Screenplay by:      Karey Kirkpatrick

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012.

Notes:

• Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and admired filmmakers working in animation today and is a major figure in the Japanese cinematic landscape. His films have inspired moviegoers and colleagues around the world, from Pixar's John Lasseter to fantasist Guillermo del Toro to Chinese director Tsui Hark, and consistently top the box office in his native Japan.
• Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a top animator at Studio Ghibli, was responsible for the animation in a signature scene in “Ponyo,” in which Ponyo runs atop ocean waves.
• English language voice talent director Gary Rydstrom is a seven-time Academy Award^Ò winning sound designer/mixer (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”). He joined Pixar Animation Studios as an animation film director in 2003.  His directorial debut for the studio was the Academy Award^®-nominated short film “Lifted,” and he directed the short film “Hawaiian Vacation,” which was released with “Cars 2” in June 2011.
• Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned 11 Oscar® nominations.
• English language screenplay writer Karey Kilpatrick’s credits include “Spiderwick Chronicles” and “Over the Hedge,” which he also directed (with Tim Johnson).