Disney Gives "Arrietty" Anime Film Its Biggest Ghibli Release

1,200-screen run planned for February 17th, 2012

February 07, 2012 12:53pm PST (2/7/12)

Disney distributed the Oscar winning Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away on 750 screens. Ponyo topped that with 900. For the new Hiromasa Yonebayashi-directed The Secret World of Arrietty, Disney will be upping the count again.

Up by a third, Arrietty will be shown on 1,200 screens starting February 17th, 2012.

Pixar honcho and Ghibli advocate John Lasseter said, “I just want to do everything I can to help make sure people can go see them because they’re just magnificent films that are very different than any other animated films these days."

via Big Cartoon

Tags

studio ghibli, hayao miyazaki, arrietty

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37 Comments

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2/7/12 by Hokatsu

Why didn't have the name The Borrowers? I saw this movie yesterday. One of my new favorite Ghibli films.

2/7/12 by Aeriya

Um because it's based off the book called "The Borrowers" it would be kind of a copyright infringement I'm sure if they used the same name as the book. Right?

2/7/12 by MiosStory

The family is all based off the characters in the book. If it's copyright infringement than Ghibli would have already been sued. Like Arriety is actually the name of the girl in the book. Same goes with almost all the other characters. I say almost because this does take place in Japan, so the Japanese families name is different. They have the necessary rights to make the film and I can't be 100% certain, but the name makes sense. Studio Ghibli is well known for making movies about strong, female characters. Naming this movie after the main character makes sense.

2/7/12 by Hokatsu

No it wouldn't be. Studio Ghibli bought the rights to make an animated movie based off the book.

2/7/12 by soldoutactivist

There's already a book called The Borrowers in the US. A different book, mind you. That's why they changed the title.

2/7/12 by Hokatsu

The movie is an animated adaptation of the book "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton. The characters, and even the story is mostly directly out of the book. Even the Japanese title translates to The Borrowers Arrietty.

I just wondering why it wasn't title as:
The Borrowers: The Secret World of Arrietty
As there are people who love the books about The Borrowers but may not be into anime, draw a bigger crowd.

2/7/12 by _IceAndCream_

Maybe to make it distinct from The Borrowers live-action film?

2/7/12 by landail

I hope they have this play near me, but I doubt it'll happen. I'll wait for the BR release I guess

2/7/12 by catseyestiger

I will watch it on dvd when it releases at some point i hope.

2/7/12 by sheamus

I hope they play this near me, have never seen a Miyazaki movie at the theater.

2/7/12 by JQuinn

Not Miyazaki, same studio though.

2/7/12 by Narukami75

People at Pixar know nothing about anime

2/7/12 by Humorous_Conclusion

Yeah, that's why there's a Tortoro toy in Toy Story 3.

There's actually quite a bit of mutual respect between Pixar and Ghibli. You can even buy Pixar DVDs in the Studio Ghibli museum.

2/7/12 by Greylurker

actually Pixar has been the biggest reason that Ghibli stuff has been getting such a good push in North America. It's because of Pixar's pull that Disney has been releasing even the older Ghibli stuff like the Cat Returns and Whispers of the heart. If it was left up to Disney money people all we would get is direct to video of the newest films.

2/7/12 by _IceAndCream_

I remember watching the John Lasseter intro to Ponyo. He has a special agenda to get more (Ghibli) animes popularized, since they were so inspirational for him and his work.

2/7/12 by FairysHuff

I love Ghibli, Laputa castle in the sky is one of my favourites. BUT I hate DIsney and wish they would go out of business. Sickens me that the two are working together.
It's like Hitler working with Buddha >_<

2/7/12 by youjik33

Um, anime as we know it wouldn't exist if not for Disney's influence. Why do they have to be enemies? I love animation in general.

2/8/12 by Greylurker

Disney's rep as the Evil Empire is mostly from Eisner's time as ruler. They have been getting better since he got booted back to running the theme parks and Pixar's people got put on the board.

2/7/12 by Humorous_Conclusion

Surprised that it's taken so long to release it in the US. It's already been and gone from UK cinemas and is already out on DVD and Blu-Ray.

It makes a nice change to be ahead of the game.

2/7/12 by Fenriz153

yea watched this many months ago in japanese with subs, not everyone likes foreign movies with subs i mean thats why some are called otaku and anime nerds right.. needs to be refined to language and hyped a bit so its not an otaku or anime, but a disney/pixar masterpiece the rest of the world should get eventually.

2/7/12 by Mitsuki115

Awesome :) Although I did like spirited away more than arrietty :\

2/7/12 by smileeymaeko

Will watch and pray for Blu-ray release.

2/7/12 by admiral1983

disney trying to get people to watch ghibili movies? thats kind of like sony trying to get people buying wii games. well i still want to see the movie but i think its out on dvd soon

2/7/12 by deadermeat

You do realize that as the US distributor, Disney makes money out of getting people to watch Ghibili movies? So no, nothing like that.

2/7/12 by Karin-Maaka

I hate how they mispronounce Arriety's name in the english dubs. It makes my ears bleed. I already watched this movie with jp subs back in the summer of 11'

2/7/12 by Hokatsu

The book was in English, the Japanese version is the mispronunciation.

2/7/12 by otaku21

I saw ponyo on the big screen and loved it. can't wait to go see this soon. Thank God for John and all he does for animation lovers!

2/7/12 by seichuu

I watched it already :v
I think the japanese (original!) version is better :|
But I guess this is needed for more fans.

2/7/12 by JediPrime

They better bring this to NJ - I will be seeing this day 1.

Thank you Disney for bringing Miyazaki to us!

2/7/12 by youjik33

This one's not Miyazaki.

(Really irks me how so many people think Ghibli=Miyazaki. He's not the only director there... or even the best, IMO.)

2/9/12 by Hokatsu

Yes, it was not Miyazaki directing, one of his protégé Hiromasa Yonebayashi. But still Miyazaki wrote the screenplay adaptation and still had a heavy influence on the animation.

2/7/12 by hakei

I didn't realize this was already released in other countries!

I'm definitely not seeing this version (English dubbing).... The voice acting (or lack of, I should say) in the trailer is pretty bad IMHO. I'll just find a subbed version.