The Secret World of Arrietty Blu-ray Review

Disney has once again demonstrated its mastery in high-definition transfers with the Blu-ray release of "The Secret World of Arrietty." The 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is nothing short of flawless. Colors are rendered with astonishing vibrancy, capturing arresting reds, brilliant blues, and stunning greens, while deep blacks add remarkable contrast. The visual clarity is impeccable, with each frame presenting crisp, clean lines devoid of any aliasing or ringing. The animation remains smooth and fluid throughout, ensuring that every nuance from the animators is presented with precision. This technical excellence is further confirmed by the absence of any compression issues, banding, artifacting, or aberrant noise.

The visual fidelity of the film is also noteworthy for its perfect marriage between sharp, defined foreground animation and slightly abstract watercolor backgrounds. This intricate balance creates a textured depth to the image that maintains viewer engagement from start to finish. Every blade of grass, brushstroke, and character expression is as clear as the animators intended. Pristine image quality is maintained, devoid of any distracting artifacts or imperfections. Moreover, the encode is immaculate, emphasizing that no technical detail has been overlooked. In essence, the Blu-ray transfer elevates the already enchanting animation to a new level of visual splendor.

Overall, "The Secret World of Arrietty" on Blu-ray stands as a testament to Disney's exceptional capability in translating animated works into high-definition formats. The video quality provides an immaculately clean presentation that captures all technical and artistic elements perfectly. This release exemplifies the high standards expected from Studio Ghibli's collaborations, making it a definitive presentation for both animation enthusiasts and collectors alike.

The audio presentation of "The Secret World of Arrietty" Blu-Ray offers a meticulous and immersive sound experience through its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks, in both English and Japanese. Both tracks are virtually identical in technical quality, rendering every nuance with exceptional clarity and creating an engaging auditory environment. Dialogue is impeccably clear throughout, with voices seamlessly integrated within the soundscape rather than floating above it. The rear channels contribute significantly, enveloping the listener with subtleties like the ceaseless drone of insects, chirping birds, and other naturalistic sounds that maintain a vivid sense of realism. Cécile Corbel's score weaves in and out with delicate finesse, rising and retreating effortlessly.

From a technical perspective, this mix is as impressive as the Blu-Ray's stellar video transfer. It demonstrates judicious use of LFE, particularly notable during sequences experienced from Arrietty's diminutive point of view. This enhances the experience through deep, resonant bass that mimics the imposing presence of human footsteps. Rear speakers are actively engaged, ensuring the soundfield remains dynamic and captivating with effects like creaking wood floors and ambient environmental sounds. While it's not the most bombastic audio experience, the sonic landscape crafted here is intricately detailed and rewarding, offering a well-rounded and thoroughly enjoyable auditory treat for fans.

The Blu-ray of "The Secret World of Arrietty" includes a modest but appreciated selection of extras. The Original Japanese Storyboards present the entire film via its original Studio Ghibli storyboards, although it lacks a Picture-in-Picture experience. Music enthusiasts will find enjoyment in the two included Music Videos, featuring "Arrietty's Song" by Cecile Corbel and "Summertime" by Bridgit Mendler, with the latter also having a brief behind-the-scenes segment in The Making of Summertime. Though the disc's special feature runtime is majorly supplemented by Trailers & TV Spots, it is still a welcome addition for the fans of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Original Japanese Storyboards: The full film presented with its original Studio Ghibli storyboards.
• Music Videos: Cecile Corbel's "Arrietty's Song" and Bridgit Mendler's "Summertime."
• The Making of Summertime: A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the music video.
• Trailers & TV Spots: Various promotional trailers and TV spots for the film.

The Secret World of Arrietty, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and penned by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, is a visually arresting animation from Studio Ghibli that draws magic and mystery out of the ordinary with remarkable grace. Based on Mary Norton's "The Borrowers," Arrietty delves into the lives of tiny people residing covertly beneath human floorboards. Rich in animation and deceptively simple, the film excels in turning everyday household objects into monumental adventures. It eschews the bombast often synonymous with modern animated films, offering instead a refreshingly quaint narrative suffused with Miyazaki's characteristic charm and emotive storytelling.

Set against a backdrop of vividly rendered watercolor imagery, the film follows its titular character, Arrietty, a courageous young Borrower, and her cautious father as they embark on nail-biting "borrowing" missions. These ventures transform mundane spaces—a kitchen countertop or a basement floor—into thrilling landscapes fraught with danger, such as cat-filled jungles or towering monolithic structures. As Arrietty forges a tentative friendship with the human boy Sho (Shawn in the U.S. version), their shared moments juxtapose her miniature world of peril against Sho’s quiet struggle with his own health.

Miyazaki and Yonebayashi succeed in capturing a sense of wonder through their meticulous hand-drawn animation that melds both grand and minute scales into a seamless and awe-inspiring whole. The film’s deliberate pacing offers viewers an experience akin to observing a babbling brook; it’s a meditative journey rich with emotional currents. Despite not aiming for frenetic excitement or overt humor, Arrietty's narrative warmth, breathtaking visual artistry, and expressive character designs clinch its status as another classic Ghibli gem. The immersive depth and subtle storytelling align perfectly with the studio's ethos, ensuring that The Secret World of Arrietty remains profoundly enchanting yet gracefully understated.

The Secret World of Arrietty is a shining example of Studio Ghibli's ability to convey simplicity with profound elegance. Anchored by Hayao Miyazaki's storytelling, along with Keiko Niwa and Hiromasa Yonebayashi's direction, the film presents a straightforward yet captivating narrative. Visually, the animation is delicate but extraordinarily effective, featuring detailed, lush backdrops and fluid character motion that ensure an immersive viewing experience. The Blu-ray release is technically superb, offering pristine video quality that faithfully reproduces Arrietty's enchanting world.

The audio presentation is equally remarkable, with DTS-HD Master Audio tracks delivering an enveloping and dynamic soundstage that heightens the film’s emotional depth. Every whisper and natural soundscape is rendered with crystal clarity, ensuring that viewers are fully absorbed in Arrietty's microcosmic universe. While the special features are limited—a common trait for Ghibli releases—the core content more than compensates for this shortcoming, maintaining the high standards expected from both Disney and Studio Ghibli.

Small and slight as it is, The Secret World of Arrietty delivers big. It doesn't overreach, it doesn't cut a wide swath, it just tells a simple story as simply as Miyazaki, Niwa and Yonebayashi can afford. The animation, though simple in its own right, is worth the price of admission alone, and helps elevate the film to greatness. Disney's Blu-ray release doesn't disappoint either, thanks to a perfect video presentation and an immersive pair of DTS-HD Master Audio tracks. The lack of extras is a letdown, but Studio Ghibli releases are traditionally slim, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise. Ultimately, animation aficionados and Ghibli fans would do well to add The Secret World of Arrietty to their collection.