The Secret World of Arrietty: Beloved Classic – The Borrowers – Gets Animated!

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On February 17, 2012, Walt Disney Studios will present The Secret World of Arrietty – Studio Ghibli’s adaptation of Mary Norton’s classic novel, The Borrowers. Co-written by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi [a key animator on Miyazaki’s brilliant Ponyo], the English voice cast of The Secret World of Arrietty features Bridgit Mendler [Wizards of Waverly Place], Amy Poehler [Parks & Recreation], Carol Burnett [The Carol Burnett show, Horton Hears a Who], Will Arnett [Up all Night, Arrested Development], David Henrie [How I Met Your Mother], Moises Arias [Astro Boy].

Follow the jump for the trailer, official synopsis and three stills.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY

DISNEY

Disney.com/Arrietty

Genre:                                      Animation/Adventure

Rating:                                      TBD

Release Date:                           February 17, 2012

Voice Cast:                               Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias

Director:                                   Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Producer:                                  Toshio Suzuki

Screenplay by :                         Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa

Based on “The Borrowers” by:    Mary Norton

Director – English Language

Version:                                    Gary Rydstrom

Executive Producers –

English Language Version:        Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall

English Language Screenplay by: Karey Kirkpatrick

"THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY"   Human boy Shawn (right, voice of David Henrie) is astonished when he visits the garden and discovers Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler) a tiny person who lives hidden with her family under the floorboards of the house where he's staying, in Disney's release of the Studio Ghibli animated feature, "The Secret World of Arrietty." (Opening in theaters Feb. 17, 2012)  © 2010 GNDHDDTW. All Rights Reserved.

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theatres Feb. 17, 2012.

"THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY"   Strong-willed Arrietty (left, voice of Bridgit Mendler) shows her mother, Homily (voice of Amy Poehler), an amazing object that she has "borrowed" while on her first covert mission with her father, in Disney's release of the Studio Ghibli animated feature, "The Secret World of Arrietty." (Opening in theaters Feb. 17, 2012)  © 2010 GNDHDDTW. All Rights Reserved.

Notes:

  • Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and admired filmmakers working in animation today and is a major figure in the Japanese cinematic landscape. His films have inspired moviegoers and colleagues around the world, from Pixar’s John Lasseter to fantasist Guillermo del Toro to Chinese director Tsui Hark, and consistently top the box office in his native Japan.
  • Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a top animator at Studio Ghibli, was responsible for the animation in a signature scene in “Ponyo,” in which Ponyo runs atop ocean waves.
  • English language voice talent director Gary Rydstrom is a seven-time Academy AwardÒ winning sound designer/mixer (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”). He joined Pixar Animation Studios as an animation film director in 2003.  His directorial debut for the studio was the Academy Award®-nominated short film “Lifted,” and he directed the short film “Hawaiian Vacation,” which was released with “Cars 2” in June 2011.
  • Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned 11 Oscar® nominations.
  • English language screenplay writer Karey Kilpatrick’s credits include “Spiderwick Chronicles” and “Over the Hedge,” which he also directed (with Tim Johnson).

"THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY"   Tiny but tenacious Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler) comes face to whiskers with the menacing household cat, but won't allow herself to be intimidated by this fussy feline, in Disney's release of the Studio Ghibli animated feature, "The Secret World of Arrietty." (Opening in theaters Feb. 17, 2012)  © 2010 GNDHDDTW. All Rights Reserved.

Stills from The Secret World of Arrietty courtesy of Walt Disney Studios/Studio Ghibli