Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • February 29, 2012 New film takes a peek into a clandestine corner by Dennis Seuling “The Secret World of Arrietty,” based on the children’s novel “The Borrowers,” is an animated tale of little people who live quietly under the floorboards of houses, taking whatever small items they need for survival. They pride themselves on never being seen by the Beans (their name for human beings) who live just above them. Their greatest fear is discovery. Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler) is a 14-year-old Borrower girl who lives with her mother and father in the home of the great aunt of young Shawn (David Henrie). Shawn is frail and is under the care of housekeeper Hara (Carol Burnett) while his busy parents are at work. Shawn spends his time reading, lounging on the grass, and playing with his cat. One day, he catches a glimpse of what he thinks is a tiny girl climbing the leaves of a bush. Eventually, Shawn and Arrietty become friends and Shawn becomes a strong ally when Arrietty and her family are in danger of losing their home. The style of animation is Japanese anime, which differs markedly from American animation. It is more water-colored in appearance, less bright, with pastels predominating, and the main characters have huge, expressive, saucer-sized eyes. The pace is far less frenetic than in typical modern animated features. This slower pace may be difficult for younger kids to take, since there aren’t any songs, cute sidekicks, or broad slapstick. The strength of the movie is A frail young boy discovers a miniature girl in the garden in ‘The Secret World of Arrietty.’ its story, which is solid, fascinating and, thankfully, not a sequel. Care and detail appear in nearly every frame. Mottled sunlight patterns change as a car makes its way down a tree-lined road. During a summer rain shower, individual droplets are shown hitting a stream and creating circular wavelets. In Arrietty’s home, there are miniature kitchen utensils, tiny pictures on the walls, and assorted objects “borrowed” for use as everyday tools. In an early scene, Arrietty and her father, Pod (Will Arnett), set out on a nighttime expedition to obtain needed supplies, specifically sugar and a single tissue. This involves trekking through the innards of the house, climbing halfhammered nails, rappelling off kitchen counters, balancing on ledges, and negotiating slippery surfaces, all while making sure not to be detected by Beans or the rats that lurk nearby. This suspenseful scene illustrates the skills the Borrowers have developed to survive. The film is a product of the Japanese studio of Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle”), released through Disney. Every object is hand-drawn in 2D. It is visually striking, with outdoor scenes of gentle breezes wafting through high grasses and leaves, multi- colored flowers, and fluttering butterflies. The human faces are less successfully rendered, as most have a neutral expression most of the time despite the level of emotion conveyed. The major exception is Arrietty’s mother, Homily (Amy Poehler), who gets to react in panic when she is discovered by Hara. The movie is like a tone poem. It is rich in atmosphere, and the story doesn’t always progress along an upbeat path. This, too, might put off younger viewers who are used to anthropomorphic critters and wild chase sequences. Here, the camera lingers on a look, an expression, or a significant prop to add resonance to scenes. Viewers learn that Shawn is about to undergo a heart operation. Although little further information about him is provided through overt actions, it’s clear that he is lonely and concerned about the imminent medical procedure. The scenes in which Shawn tries to become friends with Arrietty are presented gradually and tentatively, so barriers between them have time to lessen. Rated G, “The Secret World of Arrietty” would best be enjoyed by youngsters from 8 to 11. Younger children will become impatient with the film’s leisurely pace and lack of substantial action.