Today, Studio Ghibli’s latest release, The Secret World of Arrietty, hits American shores. Disney is giving it a surprisingly wide release; as with Ponyo, I was delighted to see commercials for the movie during regular (and popular) programming on television. As such, it’s being reviewed as any typical U.S. studio created animated film might be.
Todd Hertz of Christianity Today is among the film’s reviewers and like the majority (92% at Rotten Tomatoes), enjoys the film:
The Secret World of Arrietty is a celebration of the vibrant life surging all around us—a declaration of the countless stories being told all at once.
Hertz admires the film’s lush artwork, but also raves about the story, particularly the relationships reflected within it.
One of my favorite publications, Christianity Today reviews aren’t as conservative in their viewpoints as some other outlets. Yet, the publication remains focused on issues important to American Christians, such as the importance of family:
But overall, it’s hard to find many family films so authentic, so earnest, so supportive of family, and so honest about life’s joys and hardships.
I’m very glad to see a positive review of an anime film from such an important online Christian medium – it’s just another sign that Christianity nowadays doesn’t necessarily fit that prickly stereotype that many have of the faith and its practitioners.
Read the entire article at Christianity Today.
Arrietty also got a strongly positive review from Steven Greydanus at National Catholic Register.
Thanks for the link, Don! I may try to gather reviews from Protestant and Catholic reviewers if I get the opportunity.
I’m glad it got a positive review! I’m afraid I really haven’t seen very many positive reviews of anime by Christians other than Christian anime fans. Plugged in, for example, gave a pretty negative review of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s good to see there are some Christian non-fans that are open minded.
On another note, I can’t wait to see this! 😀
I wish Plugged In would do more anime reviews – I did check their site, though, and they also gave Arrietty an excellent review. If nothing else, Miyazaki and Ghibli films generally do well among reviewers.
I’m glad to have heard this. I watched the film today. It’s exactly as good as the critics say^^
Ohhh, lucky! I’m afraid I’m not going to get a chance to see in the theaters. At least I have the memory of watching another Ghibli movie, Spirited Away, on the big screen.
While I am physically unable to see it in films (3 hours drive away and with no car because of the accident I was in), I do have a friend fluent in Japanese and with a copy she brought over in Japan. Translation done on the spot. Excited? YES.
Have fun! I don’t think I’ll get to catch it in the theater either, though I’m going to try to make an effort to get out to it.
It is a beautiful film, one that has gotten mixed reviews. I think the mixed reviews come from people wanting some deep underlying political message but this one was without one. I truly appreciated it and loved the scenery, the calm pace of the movie, the relationships (although they truly could have been expanded). There were definitely some aspects of the movie that weren’t explained enough but reading the book answers questions although the film diverged from the book a bit. The movie is short and sweet and perfect for children.
I can’t wait to watch it…there hasn’t been a Ghibli film I haven’t liked (Tales from Earthsea included), and this seems to be another classic.
A couple more reviews by Catholics of Arrietty:
Catholic News Service. This is likely to appear in Catholic newspapers across the country.
Feisty science-fiction writer John C. Wright.
Thanks, Don!