The Borrower Arrietty

The Borrower Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietti?) is a 2010 Japanese anime film produced by Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, based on the fantasy novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton.[1][2]

The upcoming film is slated for a July 17, 2010 release in Japan and will mark the directorial debut of Studio Ghibli animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who will be the youngest person to direct a film for Ghibli. Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki will be supervising the production as a developing planner.[3] The voice actors for the main characters were announced on April 12, 2010.[4]

The music for the film was composed by Bretonne singer Cécile Corbel, who has released the main theme, titled Arriety's Song, in both Japanese and English. Cécile came to the attention of Ghibli filmmakers when she sent them a fan letter showing her appreciation of their films, and after hearing a CD of her music she sent to them, they thought she would be perfect for composing the music for their next movie.

Plot

The story takes place in 2010 in Koganei, western Tokyo and like the novel revolves around a group of 10 cm tall "tiny people" that live under the floorboards of a typical human household. A friendship is created between a human and the borrower Arrietty.

Characters

Arrietty (アリエッティ, Arietti?)
The 14-year-old "tiny people" protagonist. She lives with her parents under the floorboards of the old house where Shō's mother was raised. Voiced by: Mirai Shida

Shō (翔?)
The 12-year-old human boy who becomes Arrietty's friend. He meets Arrietty while recuperating from an illness at the old house in which his mother was raised. This movie's version of "The Boy". Voiced by: Ryūnosuke Kamiki

Pod (ポッド, Poddo?)
Arrietty's father.Voiced by: Tomokazu Miura

Homily (ホミリー, Homirī?)
Arrietty's mother. Voiced by: Shinobu Ōtake

Spiller (スピラー, Supirā?)
A tiny 12 year old boy. Voiced by: Fujiwara Tatsuya

Sadako (貞子?)
The younger sister of Shō's grandmother. This movie's version of Great Aunt Sophy. Voiced by: Keiko Takeshita

Haru (ハル?)
Sadako's maid. This movie's version of Rosa Pickhatchet. Voiced by: Kiki Kirin