When Marnie Was There is the latest film from Studio Ghibli. The film opens this weekend, if you happen to live in Japan. Regardless of where its opening, any new film in the Studio Ghibli library is reason enough to celebrate and this new film comes from the director of The Secret World of Arrietty, Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The film is an adaptation of Joan G. Robinson’s classic English children’s novel of the same name.
The Secret World of Arrietty was easily one of the most accessible Studio Ghibli films in some time. While it wasn’t as acclaimed as Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises, it was a big win for the studio commercially in America and proved that America was still a viable market for the studio. If Yonebayashi can bring another winner out, there’s little fear that Studio Ghibli will be successful even after the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki.
Also of note is the theme song used in the trailer. It is entitled “Fine on the Outside” by Priscilla Ahn and it is the first Studio Ghibli theme sang entirely in English. The theme for Whispers of the Heart was an Japanese cover of the English song “Country Road” by John Denver and contained the name of the song sung in English.
The synopsis of the novel come from Amazon:
A major motion picture adaptation by Studio Ghibli, creators of SPIRITED AWAY and ARRIETTY. Anna hasn’t a friend in the world – until she meets Marnie among the sand dunes. But Marnie isn’t all she seems…Sent away from her foster home one long, hot summer to a sleepy Norfolk village by the sea, Anna dreams her days away among the sandhills and marshes. She never expected to meet a friend like Marnie, someone who doesn’t judge Anna for being ordinary and not-even-trying. But no sooner has Anna learned the loveliness of friendship than Marnie vanishes…
When Marnie Was There opens in Japan this weekend. A US release date has not yet been announced.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
