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The Secret World of Arrietty

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for The Secret World of Arrietty G 2012 1h 34m Kids & Family Fantasy Adventure Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 150 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Arrietty, a tiny teenager, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban home, unbeknown to the homeowner and housekeeper. Like others of her kind, Arrietty remains hidden from her human hosts, but occasionally ventures forth from beneath the floorboards to borrow sugar cubes and other supplies. A secret friendship forms when 12-year-old Shawn meets Arrietty, but their relationship could spell danger for Arrietty's family.
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The Secret World of Arrietty

The Secret World of Arrietty

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Critics Consensus

Visually lush, refreshingly free of family-friendly clatter, and anchored with soulful depth, The Secret World of Arrietty lives up to Studio Ghibli's reputation.

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Critics Reviews

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David Elliott San Diego Reader 12/08/2014
It's very pretty (plus a song that is like a gumdrop melting in your ear). Girls may enjoy the sweet, rather wistful story more than most boys. Go to Full Review Ryan Gilbey New Statesman 12/08/2014
What is so bewitching about the mostly static backgrounds in Arrietty is that they can be oxygenated at will by the smallest instance of judiciously placed movement, such as a single fluttering ladybird or a pair of jaunty butterflies in the foreground. Go to Full Review Kate Muir The Times (UK) 12/08/2014
4/5
Arrietty is a fresh take on Mary Norton's classic The Borrowers, with animated artwork that will have adults enchanted and children gripped. Go to Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine Jan 15
8/10
While Miyazaki’s fingerprints may be all over the film’s aesthetic, it very much finds its own identity, pace, and tone. This is truly superb animated filmmaking. Go to Full Review Mary Kassel Screen Rant 06/23/2025
6/10
While The Secret World of Arrietty hits the mark in terms of style & feel, it doesn't have the emotional depth of the best Studio Ghibli films. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 02/22/2023
3.5/4
It’s the kind of film that makes you slow down and consider its vast details long after the running time, whereas most Hollywood animated features feel like they were made to keep up with sugar-sniffing and technology-obsessed children. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Denilda Apr 22 My favorite gihbli film See more Pam M Jul 7 This version of "The Borrowers" was well done. See more Sally 06/25/2025 Beautiful story! Great animation! See more frannie 06/25/2025 This is an animated wonder from Studio Ghibli, loosely based on Mary Norton's book "The Borrowers.". Hiyao Miyazaki's screenplay and tender touch permeates this movie, directed well by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, his first film at Ghibli. The landscapes and settings are beautifully rendered in watercolor glory the movie celebrates the everyday joys (and trials) of life, as two very different young people meet, and deeply affect one another forever, one eventful summer in the countryside. It was nostalgic without being overly saccharine--a light touch, unlike most commercial animated films--bittersweet and lovely. See more Christopher D 06/25/2025 Loved this movie. I love the smaller in scope adventure. Would highly recommend. See more Paige 06/25/2025 It’s such a classic and just getting to rewatch it on the big screen Mase me nostalgic and happy. Also it was quite amazing to see the show come to life- almost felt like I was watching for the first time again! See more Read all reviews
The Secret World of Arrietty

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Cast & Crew

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Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Director

Gary Rydstrom

Director

Bridgit Mendler

Arrietty

Amy Poehler

Homily

David Henrie

Shawn

Will Arnett

Pod

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The Secret World of Arrietty

The Secret World of Arrietty: 4K Remaster Trailer The Secret World of Arrietty: 4K Remaster Trailer 1:45 View more videos
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The Secret World of Arrietty

Teaser Poster Art The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) (L-R) Homily, Pod and Arrietty in "The Secret World of Arrietty." A scene from "The Secret World of Arrietty." Arrietty and Shawn in "The Secret World of Arrietty." Pod in "The Secret World of Arrietty." Arrietty (right) in "The Secret World of Arrietty." Arrietty and Shawn in "The Secret World of Arrietty." Arrietty in "The Secret World of Arrietty." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Arrietty, a tiny teenager, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban home, unbeknown to the homeowner and housekeeper. Like others of her kind, Arrietty remains hidden from her human hosts, but occasionally ventures forth from beneath the floorboards to borrow sugar cubes and other supplies. A secret friendship forms when 12-year-old Shawn meets Arrietty, but their relationship could spell danger for Arrietty's family.
Director
Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom
Producer
Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter
Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Karey Kirkpatrick
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co
Studio Ghibli
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 17, 2012, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 19, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 16, 2019
Runtime
1h 34m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)