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
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."
Director:
Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Cast:
Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Tomokazu Miura, Keiko Takeshita, Kirin Kiki
Animation
Family
Fantasy
Budget:
$23,000,000
Box Office:
$149,660,003
The Secret World of Arrietty - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
The Ghibli Cat Archetype
Shō's cat, Niya, starts off as a mean, predatory threat but eventually softens and guides Shō to Arrietty. This mirrors the behavior of iconic, fat, grumpy-but-helpful felines in other Ghibli films, such as Moon in Whisper of the Heart and Muta in The Cat Returns.
Ingenious Repurposing of Human Objects
While not a traditional pop-culture cameo, the animators hid brilliant visual details in the background of the Borrowers' home: postage stamps are framed as wall paintings, staples are used as ladders, sewing needles act as swords, and double-sided tape is used for climbing.