Growing more antisocial and removed from her peers, Anna is sent off to the country to live with an aunt and uncle and to get some fresh air. We hear her say, “I hate myself!” several times over the course of the story, suggesting a deep depression and even possible suicidal intentions.Īnna feels like a burden to her foster mother, and even though the woman is nothing but loving and nurturing to the girl, Anna is devastated to learn that her foster parents receive a stipend for taking care of her. We’re introduced to Anna ( Hailee Steinfeld in the English-language dub Sara Takatsuki in the original Japanese - distributor GKids is distributing both versions in the U.S.), a young girl who’s a talented artist but clearly troubled, and more so than the usual protagonist of a film aimed at kids. If you’re a Ghibli booster who’s looking to initiate newcomers, however, this film might not be the place to start. In any event, “Marnie” creates such a rich world – from its seaside village to a gothic abandoned mansion to a scary old abandoned grain silo – that anime fans will overlook its flaws.
Both “Marnie” and “Howl’s” are based on British novels - although, to be fair, so was “Arrietty” - which might suggest that the filmmakers at the legendary Japanese studio tell better stories out of their own heads than when they’re adapting the works of others.Īlso Read: GKIDS Acquires North American Rights for Anime 'When Marnie Was There' It also, unfortunately, ranks among Ghibli’s lesser screenplays, comparable most notably to Hayao Miyazaki‘s “Howl’s Moving Castle,” a gorgeous film that nonetheless falls apart narratively. “When Marnie Was There,” the second animated feature from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi ( “The Secret World of Arrietty”) feels very much of a piece with other films from Studio Ghibli, from its lush portrayal of the natural world (“My Neighbor Totoro,” “Pom Poko”) to its complex female protagonist (“Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke”).