Small characters, big wins

“The Secret World of Arrietty” transforms our mundane reality into a fairy tale with a slight shift in scale.

Fourteen-year-old Arrietty (voiced by Bridgit Mendler) and her parents are no taller than four inches and live under the floorboards of a normal-sized family’s home.
The beauty of this animated film is in its simplicity. It is a simple story with simple dialogue against an absolutely gorgeous backdrop.

As is to be expected from Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”), every frame is a work of art. The animation is clean, fresh and ideal for telling this story. This is no cookie-cutter cartoon feature.

The score and sound effects complete the aesthetics of the film. The sounds are louder or softer, depending on the perspective being shown. Miniature Arrietty hears things differently than her full-sized friend Shawn (voiced by David Henrie).

Even through a smaller lens, themes such as family, friendship and adventure resonate well with both children and adults. 

And, after all, who hasn’t wanted to think there’s a little something (or somethings) more out there?