The Secret World of Arrietty
A whimsical, melancholic fantasy where the smallest details of life hold monumental weight. Through the quiet rustle of leaves and the perilous theft of a sugar cube, it weaves a tender tale of survival, unlikely friendship, and finding the courage to exist.
The Secret World of Arrietty
The Secret World of Arrietty

借りぐらしのアリエッティ

"Do not be seen by humans. That's been the law of children of the underfloor."

16 July 2010 France 94 min ⭐ 7.7 (3,090)
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Cast: Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Tomokazu Miura, Keiko Takeshita, Kirin Kiki
Animation Family Fantasy
Survival and Extinction The Boundaries Between Worlds Coming of Age and Responsibility Empathy vs. Destructive Curiosity
Budget: $23,000,000
Box Office: $149,660,003

The Secret World of Arrietty - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Arrietty

Mirai Shida (Japanese) / Bridgit Mendler (US Dub) / Saoirse Ronan (UK Dub)

Archetype: The Coming-of-Age Hero
Key Trait: Courageous and resourceful

Motivation

To prove herself as a capable Borrower, protect her family's secret, and understand the vast world above the floorboards.

Character Arc

Arrietty begins as an eager, slightly naive teenager excited for her first borrowing. After accidentally exposing her family, she takes responsibility for her mistake, maturing into a fierce, capable protector who rescues her mother and secures her family's future.

Shō (Shawn)

Ryunosuke Kamiki (Japanese) / David Henrie (US Dub) / Tom Holland (UK Dub)

Archetype: The Melancholic Ally
Key Trait: Gentle and fatalistic

Motivation

To forge a meaningful connection with the magical beings his family always talked about before he undergoes a life-threatening surgery.

Character Arc

Introduced as a lonely, sickly boy resigned to dying from his heart condition, Shō's encounter with the brave, tiny Borrowers awakens a desire to protect them, which ultimately reignites his own will to live.

Haru (Hara)

Kirin Kiki (Japanese) / Carol Burnett (US Dub) / Olivia Colman (UK Dub)

Archetype: The Ignorant Antagonist
Key Trait: Suspicious and intrusive

Motivation

To prove she isn't crazy to her employers and to exterminate or capture the Borrowers as if they were common household pests.

Character Arc

Haru remains a static character, serving as the catalyst for the climax. Her long-standing suspicion of little thieves turns into triumphant malice when she finally discovers them.

Pod

Tomokazu Miura (Japanese) / Will Arnett (US Dub) / Mark Strong (UK Dub)

Archetype: The Stoic Mentor / Patriarch
Key Trait: Protective and disciplined

Motivation

To ensure the survival, safety, and absolute secrecy of his family.

Character Arc

Pod is a rigid, rule-abiding father who views humans strictly as a threat. Over the film, he learns to trust Arrietty's growing independence and respects the unexpected help they receive from Shō.

Cast

Mirai Shida as Arrietty (voice)
Ryunosuke Kamiki as Shou (voice)
Tomokazu Miura as Pod (voice)
Keiko Takeshita as Sadako Maki (voice)
Kirin Kiki as Haru (voice)
Shinobu Otake as Homily (voice)
Tatsuya Fujiwara as Spiller (voice)
Shin'ichi Hatori as Postman (voice)