Sweet Trailer…'The Secret World of Arrietty'

Calling all you Ghibli fans!! After nearly 2 years of waiting we’re going to finally get a US theatrical release of The Arrietty (originally The Borrowers) aka Kari-gurashi no Arietty. Inspired by Mary Norton’s children’s fantasy novels this was released by The Toho Company in Japan last summer and Walt Disney is bringing this, like the UK release before now, to our theaters next year. Hand picked by Miyazaki himself, this feature is directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi who is another in the series of Studio Ghibli artists/animators making his directorial debut. Have a look at the beauty, wonder and spectacle in what looks to be another gem from the world famous Studio Ghibli…

I’ve said countless times that I’m a HUGE Ghibli fan (does Miyazaki Madness ring any bells?) and also a purist so that means I just loathe the dubs. That said, there are exceptions as Cary Elwes was a fantastic choice to voice The Baron in Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns as well as Michael Keaton playing Porco Rosso. Still I’m going to wait for the Blu Ray release which includes the Japanese audio (or if I decide I can’t wait, just pony up and blind buy this region free Japanese version). Anyway, I know that people prefer Miyazaki (as well as Takahata) to be at the helm but they won’t be around forever and it’s the creative youngblood that’s going to keep the Ghibli legacy going. That said fans should be to hear that Hayao Miyazaki, still very much involved, wrote the screenplay. Fun fact, Yonebayashi (at 36) was the youngest person entire feature for Ghibli and I can’t wait to see how he does with this.

The cast on this US dub features the likes of Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, and Moises Arias and Walt Disney Studios will be bringing The Secret World of Arrietty to theaters early next year on February 17, 2012. What say you Ghibli fans? Are you excited to see this in the US on the big screen??