The Secret World of Arrietty - Limited Edition Steelbook [Blu ray + DVD] [Blu-ray]

I have no idea why but the majority of lists you see ranking Ghibli movies usually have this one pretty far down. Probably because Miyazaki was having some troubles here and there and appointed a new director. Well, you can't tell the difference here. This is a very satisfying film, and one that exerts itself with emotion, beauty, and empathy. To rate something as tepid as Ponyo above this film is nearly hilarious.Arrietty is really a superior retelling of The Borrowers, and the English language track is unmatched for me. The little people sound strange and too exotic in Japanese, and their designs don't really leave room for the accent either. This is one of an increasing amount of Ghibli films where I find the English voice cast is simply better than their counterparts across seas. At any rate GKids does a great job with the transfer always maxing bitrate and giving us a few good extras. You can obviously choose a Japanese track with proper subtitles as well. I love their slipcovers too as it rounds out the package perfectly..The animation is breathtaking in places. I think for a first time director this is certainly something special. I never once was under the impression there was an amateur at the helm. Quite the contrary. I was always interested in the characters and felt they were done extremely well, though, that is sound wise entirely down to the amazing English cast.I loved the little nooks and crannies, miniature kitchens, the paths and places dispersed to under the house, the sense of scale and immersion.... Everything fits perfectly in this very elegant film. This for me a top ten Ghibli no questions asked. The ending is nearly perfect as well, and there is always a balanced feeling of joy and sadness throughout.I highly recommend this one to all fans of animation. Great job on the score as well. The whole package is top tier material.

The product arrived in perfect condtion. The Secret World of Arrietty is an extremely charming film. It follows Arrietty and her family of borrowers as they are discoverd by a sick boy who lives in the house they stay in. Borrowers are little people who live within a home who "borrow" items for their survival. This is actually related to the Mary Norton novel and the 1997 film of the same name. The way that the world is portrayed too large for this small family with unique ways they get around, makes this an animation marvel. With Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Moises Arias, and Carol Burnett lending their voices in accompanied by a wonderful score makes this another masterpiece from Studio Ghibli. This come with both the Blu-Ray and the DVD copies of the film and booklet containing stills from the film and creator thoughts and commments. This is a perfect family movie and a must watch for any Ghibli fan. The mailing process was great and the fim is an enjoyable watch.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this Ghibli movie!!! Even if you don't know Ghibli, if you are a fan of the original "Borrowers" book series, you will appreciate the beautiful, beautiful scenery and it will bring back happy memories of the books. The story line does not exactly follow the book, but is an acceptable smearing of pieces of about 3 of them. And the it's a well done story, even if you have never read the books. You will not have any trouble following the plot, and it is appropriate for children (we have 9 kiddos and our 7, 9, and 11 year olds all loved it (2 girls and a boy). It's great for all ages, for lovers of the book, for people who love anime or Ghibli, and people who just want to see a great animated film. Two thumbs up!!!!

As you might know Studio Ghibli is like the Japanese Disney, and probably my favourite studio in the world, but they've created another masterpiece that's blown my mind. I was so excited to see that Studio Ghibli was doing their rendition of "The Borrowers" that I could barely even stay in my seat while watching the trailer.From the fantastic art, to the brillant musical composition, or the creative story, this movie is a must have for anyone. Not just the Studio Ghibli fanatics (like myself) but it's a movie that everyone can enjoy (plus it's irresistable to not watch something that involves tiny little people). The only downfall, is that in this 94 minute movie was too short. The dvd was in top condition and the extras were decent though I wish they might've had a behind-the-microphone extra, but I digress. Overall, You just have to buy this movie, because trust me I didn't even watch this movie before I bought it because I knew it was automatically amazing. This goes for any of Hayao Miyazaki's or Studio Ghibli movies, just buy them, you really won't regret it.