The Secret World of Arrietty Review & Parent Guide

In our The Secret World of Arrietty review, we will explore the film from a Christian perspective. In our opinion, this is an anime that’s safe for kids.

This Secret World of Arrietty review contains spoilers.

Synopsis of The Secret World of Arrietty

The Secret World of Arrietty follows Arrietty, a girl so tiny that she can use a sewing pin as a sword. She is a “borrower,” a group of tiny creatures who take items from humans that won’t be missed—things like a sugar cube, a sewing pin lost under a cabinet, or a tissue. The borrowers try to stay hidden, believing that humans are dangerous. One day, Arrietty is noticed by Sho, a human boy. But, are humans as dangerous as the borrowers believe they are?

---

The Secret World of Arrietty Review

The Secret World of Arrietty (the Japanese title is Arrietty the Borrower) is a wholesome family film created by Studio Ghibli. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio known for its unique animation style and (often) whimsical storylines. Many of their films are marketed towards families (with a few exceptions).

As a child, I only watched one Studio Ghibli film, Ponyo, and I wasn’t the biggest fan. As an adult and anime reviewer, however, I’ve been trying to watch some of the well-known Studio Ghibli films, and today, I want to highlight The Secret World of Arrietty, which is one of my favorite Studio Ghibli films.

When parents or caretakers ask for anime suggestions for kids, Studio Ghibli films nearly always come up. However, from a Christian discernment perspective, the idea that Studio Ghibli is always safe is simply not true. Some films are marketed towards older viewers, and many of the family-friendly Studio Ghibli films have fantastical elements, weird creatures, folklore, or even magic.

The Secret World of Arrietty is (mostly) an exception to these concerns. Based on Mary Norton’s book The Borrowers, Arrietty follows a tiny girl and a human boy named Sho (called Shawn in the North American version; however, I will be referring to him as “Sho” in this review).

Arrietty English Dub

There are multiple English dubs for the film. The North American dub, which is the one I watched, stars Bridgit Mendler and David Henrie as Arrietty and Sho, respectively. The other English version is from the UK and stars Saoirse Ronan and Tom Holland.

I was having trouble with hearing the audio, so I based most of my notes on the closed captions, which can differ from the spoken dialogue.

---

Arrietty’s Disobedience

Arrietty and her father try to sneak around the humans’ house, and attempt to “borrow” a sugar cube. After Arrietty and her father encounter a human (Sho specifically), her father encourages her not to tell her mother (likely because it might cause her to panic).

Later, Sho leaves the lost sugar cube with a note for Arrietty, which is a sweet gesture. However, it frightens her parents—her mother believes that it’s a trap, and her father tells her to leave it alone.

However, Arrietty doesn’t, and goes to talk to Sho herself—a classic example of headstrong children rejecting their parents’ wisdom. This concerns her parents, and they decide to move. If Arrietty didn’t disobey, they may have been able to stay in their home.

Though Sho isn’t a threat, his knowledge of her existence, and his interactions with the borrowers, clue his housekeeper, Haru (Hara in the North American version) to the borrower’s presence, which ultimately endangers them.

---

Haru: The Confusing Antagonist of The Secret Life of Arrietty

Haru, the antagonist, is poorly written, and her motivations make no sense to me. She doesn’t seem to face many consequences for her actions other than looking like a madwoman. Because Sho gets rid of the evidence of the borrowers’ existence, Haru looks like she’s imagining things (when she isn’t). That’s about the only consequence she faces.

Did Sho handle everything perfectly? Not necessarily.

What is Haru’s goal in The Secret World of Arrietty? To capture the borrowers. Why? Because she “is determined to find the truth behind [the] ‘little people,'” and to do so, she calls exterminators.

Her character feels very flat to me.

---

Arrietty’s Growth and Character

Arrietty, though imperfect, has positive character traits.

For example, Arrietty seeks forgiveness for her mistakes. She shows remorse for causing her family to leave their home, and her father responds with, “It’s in the past.” This moment of repentance and forgiveness might be brief, but it’s necessary.

Arrietty is also loyal. When her mother goes missing, she rushes to her home, and then enlists Sho’s help to save her mom. She loves her family and is loyal to them, leaving Sho in order to be with her family.

---

Sho’s Health: A Representation of Heart Conditions in Anime

I don’t often see children’s films dealing with children’s heart conditions, and I’m honestly really happy that The Secret World of Arrietty represents childhood heart conditions. I think children with heart conditions will appreciate seeing a character going through a similar experience.

Sho has a heart condition and needs surgery. Because of this, he is often stuck in bed and struggles with physical activity. At first, he had a pretty bleak outlook—he’s not sure his surgery will help him, and even expects to die. However, in the end, he has a better outlook on life and his surgery, giving Arrietty the credit for giving him “the courage to live.”

TV Tropes describes him well:

…born with a congenital heart condition that leaves him unable to play like other kids, and has to live with his great aunt and her housekeeper while preparing for an operation that might save his life.

Sho is one of the few young characters I’ve seen (if my memory serves me) with congenital heart conditions that affect their daily lives.

I personally have two congenital heart conditions—Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) and heart block. I have had a pacemaker since I was three months old, and I’ll be having my fifth surgery, Lord willing, in a couple of years. Although my heart conditions/pacemaker don’t dominate my life, I still have to take precautions, and there are fun activities I can’t experience. Sho understands that.

---

Any Concerns for Christian Viewers? Is The Secret World of Arrietty Family-Friendly?

Christian parents often worry about whether a film contains mystical ideas or magic.

The Secret World of Arrietty stays fairly grounded in reality. Obviously, tiny borrowers do not actually exist, so that may seem a bit like folklore, but that’s one of the biggest concerns parents may have. There isn’t any magic and, in my opinion, there aren’t any spiritual ideas other than comments about luck and a few mentions of fate. The film also mentions that Arrietty is a part of Sho now (basically, she’s in his heart and even after they part, he will always have a piece of her with him).

Each family needs to make their own decisions about whether a film is safe for their kids, but personally, if I was choosing an anime to show children, The Secret World of Arrietty would likely be one of my first choices.

Some scenes might be frightening to super young viewers, so again, parental discretion is advised, but the film is rated G in the United States, and the content certainly reflects that rating.

Christian parents will want to note Arrietty’s disobedience (discussed above), a few lies—for example, Sho says he hasn’t seen the borrowers when he has—and the concept of “borrowing” small items, which is technically stealing. The listed concerns, plus what’s outlined in the parent guide below, are what stood out to me.

---

FAQs for The Secret World of Arrietty

---

Conclusion: Can Christians Watch The Secret World of Arrietty?

In our The Secret World of Arrietty review, we explored the film from a Christian perspective. Overall, Arrietty is a wholesome family film that Christian families may enjoy watching, with discernment.

It’s very cute, and in my personal opinion, is a great anime for children.

---

The Secret World of Arrietty Christian Parent Guide

Nudity and Sexuality in The Secret World of Arrietty

• None.
• Arrietty’s underclothes are visible at least once, but no nudity.

Frightening and Intense Scenes in The Secret World of Arrietty

• A crow causes issues in a few scenes. He tries to get Niya the cat but is unsuccessful. He also tries to get Arrietty but Sho saves her. The crow gets caught in a window screen.
• A raccoon/dog-like creature has red eyes.
• Niya the cat tries to catch Arrietty.
• Some rats are a little scary.
• When Arrietty visits the kitchen for the first time, the music and ambience is a bit intense.
• Arrietty’s mom gets captured by Haru.
• Arrietty’s mom is easily frightened.
• A few characters are shown sick in bed.

Violence and Gore in The Secret World of Arrietty

• None. Arrietty uses a pin to poke a bug away.

Substance Abuse in The Secret World of Arrietty

• Adults drink wine at meals.
• Plugged In also references alcohol in a pantry and a mention of “sherry.”

Language in The Secret World of Arrietty

• “Oh my gosh” in subtitles.
• “What in heaven’s name” in subtitles.
• “I swear.” 

Spiritual Content in The Secret World of Arrietty

• Arrietty gives Sho her hair clip for luck and says he “protected her after all.”
• Sho says Arrietty is “a part of him now.”
• Mention of fate.

Photo taken from GKids Press Kit, https://gkids.com/press/ Under fair use for review, criticism, and commentary. © 2010 Mary Norton/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTW