EIFF preview – The Borrower Arriety

We adore anime, no use hiding it. And we’re pretty much smitten by everything that comes out of Studio Ghibli. But no matter what some folks tell you, it’s just not the same watch English dubs, so it was with some misgivings and the fact that this is the only anime at this years Festival that we found ourselves at The Borrower Arrietty – and we’ve very glad we did.

What we have here is the Japanese version with subtitles, which had us grinning with relief.

The film opens with a beautiful theme tune and wonderfully observational animation, a trademark of Studio Ghibli, as sickly young Sho arrives at his aunts house to convalesce. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpses Arrietty foraging as she’s trying to avoid becoming Niya’s the cats’ lunch.

14 year old Arrietty lives in bowels of this big mansion with her parents – a house inside a house. They call themselves borrowers. Intricately drawn, you could almost be forgiven for preferring Arrietty’s comfy family home – the attention to detail is lovely.

Arriety is coming of age, and it’s time for her to follow her father Pod into the Bean (as in, human) house first time borrowing. Venturing into maze of corridors and various passage ways with her father. They must borrow from humans to survive. Despite being as discreet as possible she can’t avoid not to be seen by Sho. Even his gentleness isn’t enough for Arrietty and her father immediately abandon their supply run. Humans can’t be trusted, but it’s too late, and this won’t be the last time Sho and Arrietty meet.

Sho wants to be helpful and friendly to Arrietty things seems to be not going right for her. Older generation household already have tales of little people being seen in the house long time ago. And recent events seems to only fuel suspicions of house hold maid Haru.

This adaptation of The Borrower Arrietty has everything and more you expect from a studio Ghibli anime. The screenplay written by Miyazaki himself and debut directing by Yonebayashi.

Arrietty follows a traditional Ghibli pattern with a strong female lead and an emphasis on how beautiful the natural world is – from night time cicadas and the wind blowing through giant flowers, the viewer is transported into hot Japanese summer. From the beginning this anime immerse you into a beautiful, dangerous world - suicidal crow to grumbling and bad-tempered cat Niya, all these animals have bundles of character.

A story tinged with wonder, sadness and the joy of youth, this is must-see anime even for non Studio Ghibli fans.

You can catch The Borrower Arrietty 18th and 20th June as part of EIFF.