When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "When Marnie Was There" is a pinnacle of animation fidelity. The 1080p transfer provides an exquisitely clean and defined image, capturing every painstaking detail of Studio Ghibli's masterful artwork. With a color palette that is vibrant and nuanced—ranging from outdoor greens to multicolored attire—the film's visual splendor is fully realized. Each scene, whether depicting intricately rendered characters or beautifully layered backgrounds, showcases meticulous texturing, especially in support elements like trees and buildings. Black levels are deep and pure, devoid of artificial noise or banding, ensuring a pristine viewing experience. Motion across the board is seamless, devoid of jitters or aliasing, maintaining fluidity even during the most dynamic sequences.

Unwavering color fills, exact lines, and a remarkable illusion of depth are all features that elevate this Blu-ray transfer into a league of its own. Every landscape and vista is boldly rendered with stunning detail, reinforcing how integral Universal's flawless 1080p transfer is to appreciating the film's artistry. This disc achieves what few can by holding paramount every visual element—from defined lines to robust black levels—all while maintaining motion consistency without any imperfections such as double-vision or motion blur. This Blu-ray is not just a technical triumph but also a definitive representation of the film's artistic beauty, making it ideal demo material for enthusiasts seeking to showcase the limits of high-definition home entertainment.

The audio presentation of "When Marnie Was There" on Blu-ray exhibits a pair of impressive lossless soundtracks, available in both Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 tracks. While it is intriguing that neither track includes the usual LFE support channel, the sonic experience remains remarkably robust. Scenes with significant auditory demands, such as crashing thunder and turbulent waves, demonstrate a notable degree of natural depth and heft despite the absence of the sub-woofer channel. Particularly, chapter fifteen highlights the track's extensive range. The clarity is exceptional, and there is a remarkable transparency allowing sound details to seamlessly flow and immerse the audience in the atmospheric environment.

The ambient effects are plentiful and engagingly immersive, with musical definition presented across a broad stage, albeit with a slightly less critical surround support. Dialogue is centrally focused and crystal clear, enhanced by natural reverberation in specific scenes such as in chapter fifteen. It's important to note that the English and Japanese tracks are highly proficient, though not distinct beyond language variations. Users should be aware that switching between these tracks requires a menu adjustment, resulting in a movie restart. Interestingly, listeners can switch to the French track freely, regardless of whether English or Japanese is selected.

Although the 5.0 mix might initially seem peculiar, it effectively compensates for the missing sub-woofer support by distributing low-end heft through other channels during moments typically reliant on the sub. Surround effects beautifully capture the essence of the countryside; distant bird calls, howling winds during storms, and the gentle splashing of oars in water are all meticulously rendered. Dialogue maintains an impressive clarity, ensuring even subtle voice inflections are perceptible. In summary, despite the unusual lack of a .1 channel, the audio mix delivers a deeply satisfying auditory experience.

The extras on the "When Marnie Was There" Blu-ray provide a comprehensive and insightful look into the making of this Studio Ghibli film. The highlight is "The Making of When Marnie Was There," an extensive behind-the-scenes featurette exploring the movie's place in Ghibli's history, storytelling intricacies, and the creative processes involved. Yohei Taneda's segment offers a unique juxtaposition of the film's narrative with actual artistic representations. The storyboard version of the entire film is a must-see for animation enthusiasts. Additionally, the English voice cast shares valuable insights into their characters. Fans will also appreciate the inclusion of various trailers and TV spots.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of When Marnie Was There: An in-depth behind-the-scenes featurette exploring the film's creation and Studio Ghibli history.
• Yohei Taneda Creates the Art of When Marnie Was There: A condensed retelling with real-life drawings and models.
• Feature-Length Storyboards: The entire film in storyboard form.
• Behind the Scenes with the Voice Cast: English voice actors discuss their roles.
• Foreign Trailers and TV Spots: Seven unique Japanese previews.
• US Trailer: The American trailer.

"When Marnie Was There," directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and produced by Studio Ghibli, artfully explores themes of grief, sorrow, and self-identity with an emotionally gentle, yet deeply impactful storyline. The film centers on Anna, a talented but troubled 12-year-old girl struggling with self-hatred, anxiety, and asthma. Sent to the countryside to recuperate, Anna discovers an old mansion and meets Marnie, a mysterious blonde girl of her age. Their genuine friendship allows Anna to embark on a journey of self-discovery. This film’s narrative, noted for its accessibility despite tackling complex emotional issues, mirrors Studio Ghibli’s hallmark of blending contemplative storytelling with broad appeal.

The technical elements of "When Marnie Was There" are nothing short of masterful. Studio Ghibli excels once again with animation that is minimalistic yet richly detailed, allowing viewers to focus sharply on the story. The animation quality remains unsurpassed, producing frames that are beautiful enough to be artworks in themselves. This visual elegance enhances the film's enchanting atmosphere. Complementing this is a beautifully supportive score by Takatsugu Muramatsu, which enriches the narrative without overshadowing it. Combined with extraordinary voice acting across both Japanese and English versions, the film’s auditory elements seamlessly intertwine with its visual artistry to create a deeply immersive experience.

As the plot reveals its layers in the third act, Anna’s character complexity deepens, reflecting her profound internal and external struggles. Her sojourn in the countryside, surrounded by its metaphorically and literally fresh air, serves as a sanctuary aiding her emotional recovery. The movie is not just an introspective study into Anna's psyche but also a genre-bending mystery that leaves viewers pondering long after the credits roll. "When Marnie Was There" stands as a testament to Studio Ghibli's prowess in creating intimate, thought-provoking art that resonates on a deeply personal level while maintaining universal accessibility.

Studio Ghibli's "When Marnie Was There" is a captivating film that excels on multiple fronts. The animation quality is nothing short of spectacular, with intricate details and vibrant colors that draw viewers into its enchanting world. The story delves deep into themes of self-discovery and introspection, making it both emotionally compelling and intellectually stimulating. Furthermore, the narrative maintains a delicate balance, blending complex character development with an engaging storyline that remains accessible to all audiences. Universal's Blu-ray release complements the film's beauty with an impeccable transfer, showcasing every nuance of its stunning visuals.

The audio quality is equally impressive. The soundtrack enriches the viewing experience, perfectly complementing the film's emotional depth and visual splendor. Dialogues are crisp and clear, ensuring that every word carries weight and resonates with the audience. The mix handles subtleties in sound design with precision, creating an immersive auditory landscape that enhances the overall impact of the story. Additionally, the Blu-ray includes a robust set of extras; these supplementary features offer valuable insights into the production process and add significant value to the edition.

If "When Marnie Was There" is to be the final Studio Ghibli film, audiences couldn't ask for a better final farewell. The film is beautiful—emotionally, visually, aurally—and home to a satisfyingly deep yet approachable story of a person in search of answers about who she is and her purpose in life. It's a crowning achievement in dramatic storytelling and complex yet accessible character development blended with an inherently beautiful surface. Universal's Blu-ray release is equally impressive, boasting terrific video and audio alongside several worthwhile supplements. Highly recommended.