The Secret World of Arrietty (2/17/12)

[MJW]

Studio Ghibli's 2010 film The Borrower Arrietty (also known as Arrietty) will be released theatrically in North America by Disney on February 17, 2012 as The Secret World of Arrietty.



I'm really looking forward to seeing this film. I'm a relatively new Studio Ghibli fan and this will be the first film I see in the theater from the studio. I am also hoping that Disney releases a few more Blu-ray titles in North America to coincide with this theatrical release. We're really overdue for a few Blu-rays - all we have so far is Ponyo and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind!

[toddly6666]

I'm glad it's coming to the USA, but I'm just going to pick up the UK blu-ray that is coming out soon. The rest of the world releases Miyazaki/Ghibli films in theater/video at least 2 years earlier than in the USA...

[MJW]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

I'm glad it's coming to the USA, but I'm just going to pick up the UK blu-ray that is coming out soon. The rest of the world releases Miyazaki/Ghibli films in theater/video at least 2 years earlier than in the USA...

Yeah, Disney keeps us waiting too long for both theatrical and home video releases.

Although it doesn't really matter and you may already know this, the UK release of Arrietty has a different English dub than what we'll get in the US. Optimum Releasing did their own dub of the film instead of waiting for Disney this time around. It's probably not really a determining factor in a purchase though, as some people aren't dub/Disney fans anyway.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by MJW

Studio Ghibli's 2010 film The Borrower Arrietty (also known as Arrietty) will be released theatrically in North America by Disney on February 17, 2012 as The Secret World of Arrietty.

Oo, like the title.
Guessing it's going wide for the February kids' school-vacation (which Disney is now rediscovering after "Gnomeo"), and it's not being limited-release "dumped" for being a non-Miyazaki film like "Tales From Earthsea"?

(Which isn't too bad, really, but as non-Miyazaki films go, Arietty is a lot more fun.)

[MegFitz]

Wow, nice find! I like this poster, especially since it's not the same one that everyone else kept using. And this one could actually spark more interest in people to make them want to see it.

I hope this means a trailer will be released. I really would like to see it sometime soon.

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

I'm glad it's coming to the USA, but I'm just going to pick up the UK blu-ray that is coming out soon. The rest of the world releases Miyazaki/Ghibli films in theater/video at least 2 years earlier than in the USA...

Street date?

[Dubstar]

I thought this a mediocre Ghibli film - not a lot happens - it's a rather quiet film in tone and story structure.

a B- in my book.

[MJW]

Originally Posted by Taipan

Street date?

1/9/12: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Arrietty-Blu-ray/27030/

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by MJW

1/9/12: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Arrietty-Blu-ray/27030/

Thanks!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I thought this a mediocre Ghibli film - not a lot happens - it's a rather quiet film in tone and story structure.

a B- in my book.

Yes, but of the two non-Miyazaki "audition" films, it more fun to sit through than Earthsea--
This was directed by one of the main designers for Ponyo, and has the same Ponyo-like meandering feel for young audiences, if the same lack of compelling A-B narrative.

(And even if it rushes through Mary Norton's book with no time for anything but a quick synopsis, there hasn't really BEEN a good movie version of the Borrowers so far:
The 70's version with Eddie Albert is out of print, the 80's version with Ian Holm was way too dark for kids, and that 90's movie with John Goodman was a trans-Atlantic insult. )

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Yes, but of the two non-Miyazaki "audition" films, it more fun to sit through than Earthsea--
This was directed by one of the main designers for Ponyo, and has the same Ponyo-like meandering feel for young audiences, if the same lack of compelling A-B narrative.

(And even if it rushes through Mary Norton's book with no time for anything but a quick synopsis, there hasn't really BEEN a good movie version of the Borrowers so far:
The 70's version with Eddie Albert is out of print, the 80's version with Ian Holm was way too dark for kids, and that 90's movie with John Goodman was a trans-Atlantic insult. )

oh most definantly, 'Earthsea' was painful. I can see why Disney execs didn't even give it a theatrical release.

[MJW]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

oh most definantly, 'Earthsea' was painful. I can see why Disney execs didn't even give it a theatrical release.

Hopefully that doesn't mean we won't see it on Blu-ray in the US one day.

I haven't seen it yet, but I'd eventually like to own all the Studio Ghibli films on Blu-ray.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

oh most definantly, 'Earthsea' was painful. I can see why Disney execs didn't even give it a theatrical release.

I know "painful", friend--I saw Princess Mononoke in a theater.

So when I found Earthsea on Instant Netflix, I'd gone in hearing all the Miyazaki-Jr. bashing and expecting ponderous Mononoke-level pain, and just found sort of a harmless generic Nausicaa Lite without the bugs.
Yes, the talk of death near the end gets a bit dreary, but it's nowhere NEAR the neverending "Beware of the blob" last half-hour of PM, or the "Okay, now I just freakin' give up! " last third of Howl's Moving Castle.

As for why no theatrical release, it did get one, but only a limited-city run as contractual obligation for the DVD. Why go to the trouble?

[MegFitz]

They finally released a trailer!

The Secret World of Arrietty Official Trailer - YouTube

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/d...rldofarrietty/

[MJW]

Thanks for sharing! I've been looking forward to hearing what Disney's dub would sound like.

[EricJ]

Accdg. to IMDb, that's Amy Poehler as Arietty's mother, Disney Channel's David Henrie as the boy and Bridgit Mendler as Arietty, Will Arnett as Arietty's dad, and Carol Burnett as the nasty housekeeper.

[flyinmunky99]

Love Ghibli films but wasnt too impressed with this one. I loved the animation but maybe it was the story that i found bit average and it didnt have the charm of other previous films.

Sure it will look beautiful on bluray though.

[jvince]

Arietty is a great film. It's up there with Totoro for me. I highly recommend you guys check it out.

[MJW]

Originally Posted by jvince

Arietty is a great film. It's up there with Totoro for me. I highly recommend you guys check it out.

I don't know what I'm more excited about, seeing this in the theater or the eventual Blu-ray release. Ghibli Blu-ray releases in the US are so rare that I can hardly believe I'm guaranteed another title in my collection within the year.

[MJW]

Only three weeks to go until the North American premiere!

I really hope this film does well and gives Disney more motivation to continue releasing the films theatrically and on home video here. There should be no reason why we are so behind with Blu-ray releases compared to the rest of the world. There are many people who either chose not to import or can't afford to that would gladly purchase these titles stateside. I'm dedicated to buying every title the day it comes out if just given the chance!

At any rate, at least we can expect to get The Secret World on Arrietty on Blu-ray this year. I just hope Disney doesn't sit on it for months after it leaves theaters...