Ghibli creates animated magic in ‘Secret World of Arrietty’

In Japan, Studio Ghibli plays a role akin to Disney's place in American culture. Its wonderfully inventive films are celebrated as classics, with 2002's "Spirited Away" out-grossing "Titanic" to become the most successful movie in Japanese history.

As Ghibli's cofounder Hayao Miyazaki nears retirement age, however, the question looms of who will carry on the studio's legacy. In light of this, Ghibli's new film "The Secret World of Arrietty" can be seen as a test run for first-time director Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Fortunately, it's a test he passes with flying colors.

The film follows Arrietty, a 14-year-old - and 4-inch-tall - girl from a family of borrowers who live underneath the floorboards of humans' homes, taking only necessities that won't be missed. As Arrietty begins to embark on her own borrowing expeditions, she is spotted by a sickly boy awaiting heart surgery, and her family must decide whether to trust the big people or move on to a new home.

It's a simple story, but Yonebayashi has stretched this tale to its absolute limits, cramming more beauty and wonder into the film's 94 minutes than you'd think possible, considering that the entire film takes place within a single house. The art is downright gorgeous, and the attention to detail is breathtaking - in one scene, Arrietty stands behind a leaf of ivy, and you can see each of the tiny veins that run through the plant's translucent surface. The film transitions seamlessly between the humans' and the borrowers' view of a room, the latter of which casts a kitchen as an epic canyon that the borrowers must traverse in pursuit of a sugar cube. All the while, Cecile Corbel's lovely score gives the film a feel distinct from previous Studio Ghibli movies, yet no less magical.

All of these elements lead to a fantastic viewing experience, but what sets Ghibli movies apart is their heart, and "Arrietty" definitely has it. You'll find yourself immersed in an enchanting world for the length of the movie, genuinely concerned over not only Arrietty's plight, but also that of the ailing human she encounters.

Looking forward, it seems the future of Studio Ghibli is in good hands, because "Arrietty" isn't simply a magnificent work of animation, it's one of the best films - animated or otherwise - you'll see all year.