User reviews

Have you experienced a feeling like this? The kind of feeling that your sorrow and loneliness nailed you down and you fell into the deep darkness alone, then you stood up, and finds sparks and sparks of lights appeared, leading you to the end of the nightmare, and when came out, you found the sunshine was warmer than ever? This is the movie "when Marnie was there".

I like this movie. It's a story about two lonely girls, about family and the world, magical but real. As a OCD viewer, my left brain kept investigating who that girl is, and my right was eager to know what will happen next. The good thing is, however, both my brains were astonished and satisfied again and again, unlike how other Ghibli movies roll. This new film, which is the first one after the retirement of the two great founders, shows the skills and talent of the next generation Ghibli artists. Future is saved, or maybe better?

And as many Ghibli movies, "when Marnie was there" is full of beautiful paintings and musics, voices recreating the characters vividly, and an unforgettable theme song in the end. The story, like I said, is fabulous. I don't like spoiling movies, and the secret in this case is the core and foundation of everything. I'll leave it to you to discover. Enjoy!

From the director Hiromasa Yonebayashi of 'The Secret World of Arriety' fame. Based on the 1967 English novel of the same name and so the important characters borrowed the western names. This is what I call a fine adaptation, great transformation from the words to the motion picture. Actually, it suited for the narration from the standpoint of Japanese culture and lifestyle, especially for this anime version with the beautiful fictional coastal landscapes. Whenever I remember this film in the future, that Marsh house would be the first thing to pop out in my mind, an unforgettable landmark for sure.

The movie promos were damp. The posters were not that impressive, but okay and the trailer was very ordinary. Studio Ghibli was the reason to go for it, so I expected nothing spectacular from the movie. Even while I was watching, I thought it was just an enjoyable mystery flick, but you know sometime the value of the whole movie comes at the end twist. Once the end was near my stance changed, especially after the hidden truth revelation. Some movies need a re-watch to terminate any doubts regarding characters and scenes. As for this movie, if your focus is straight, then it's does not require.

Not a technical brilliance like the director's previous movie, but the story was strong and twisty. The characters were very interesting, suspense was the movie's influence for the audience to stick till the end. There is no loose end, certainly gives a few topics to discuss about, but the narration moves on a circular track and hits back like the boomerang. That does not mean it is a time travel or something. The narration bends and blends with the time. To realise what is real and what is not, you have to wait till the end. After seeing the film, I understood everyone's childhood memories could monopolize if we encounter same object, place, person and other things again in the later life. Yes, I had few minor experience in my life as well.

The opening dialogue itself a hint of what kind of movie it is going to be. There are two prominent girls, Anna and Marnie in the story, like the Anna and Elsa from 'Frozen'. The narration flips on a regular basis to tell the multiple layered story. As this film was a puzzle in portrayal, obviously viewers try to solve it, including me. I tried my best. I thought Anna's childhood toy was something to do with all the fuss, but I was terribly wrong. That was a perfect divert if you observe it closely. In another perspective, I kept 'The Others' and 'The Orphanage' in mind, but was not even close to where this story was heading. Whether you succeed or not, very fun to solve a mystery, you know. Finally, it gave me full satisfaction like that indirectly I saw 'The Uninvited' once again.

Feels like the Oscars was concluded yesterday, but I am already thinking about the next one. If I am not wrong this movie is definitely one of the contenders for the best animation race, along with 'The Good Dinosaur' probably. Absolutely, I would be disappointed if I don't see it in the final five. There is lots of time between now and then, so anything might happen, who knows. After all, this film has already won my little heart and millions of other's. I know no one can replace Mr. Miyazaki, but feels like Hiromasa Yonebayashi could come near if his future projects as much effective as his one. Best of luck to him and he's only a 41. But remember Isao Takahat is 80 and still in the race, yet to announce his retirement. And this film was very close to his 'Only Yesterday'.

I love you more than any girl I've ever known.

Studio Ghibli is like Disney Studio from the east. As we know, narrating a fairy tale having the tween girls in the lead is what they're famous for. The previous couple of movies were out of their trademark, so, happy they are back with this masterwork. At a same time I am very very very very sad, because it's their final movie after the 30 years of triumph. Since Hayao Miyazaki's retirement everything falling apart from the studio's management. They've given reasons and it is only a temporary, though hope the rise of 3D animation is not the one to halt the production, praying for the pause to be lifted soon.

This film is not just passing through from this giant anime production house, but it is a masterpiece. As usual, it is a girly movie and that does not stop grownups, especially men from a watch. I loved it, every time when I like a movie I express my desire for a sequel and so I did for this film. Though it was one time story with nothing left over for further development, possibly some new thing can be attached to it. Whatever happens this movie will remain as one of the best from the studio and can compete with any modern animations and live-shot masterworks. Highly recommended, not just for anime or animation fans, but for mystery and who love the layers in story narration.

9/10

This film has the honour of being the first anime film that I experienced on the big screen.

I THINK the moments when I was walking out the door after the movie defined what I felt about the film: I overheard a teenage girl saying: 'Don't know about you, but I never noticed violin music in films before this.' Then she proceeds to hum Anna's theme out loud...note by note.

OK, first of all, I don't know what films she has being watching before this, because pretty much every film I watched with a decent score had music I can remember. But even I must admit: The music is the hero in this film, its by far the loudest sound maker in the film, as the strings overwhelms you while the subdued virtual camera pans across typically well-produced Ghibli background art with a bit of light sound effects. I think this film has mastered musically silent scenes...by perfectly contrasting them with scenes where the music takes the reins. The feelings to dread, loneliness and the atmospheric feelings when Anna was exploring the marshes.

I find it intriguing that Marnie's theme was hinted at the beginning, even before the appearance of Marnie, taking its full form about half way into the film, but was never given a full fanfare moment: its a tender woodwind led melody that usually takes the form of a bittersweet waltz, its really quite beautiful to see our two main characters dance to it. Anna's theme; definitely the most memorable theme of the film; is written sorely for tear-jerking. The second phrase of this theme takes the form of a 7 note motif, with the first note jumping almost an octave apart to the second before sliding down with the following 5 notes: vintage nostalgic and beautiful writing. Anyone who can survive these 7 simple notes must have a brick for a heart.

And this basically sums up the music of this film: simple, beautiful and absolutely nostalgic: it is able to etch itself into your brain without the brute force of brass and percussion, relying mainly on tender piano and woodwind solos and a warm strings section. Even the credits song; interestingly sung and written in English; is practically created just to give you nostalgic feelings and tender melancholy.

If I have to describe this film in one word, it would be 'sweet.' That's it. Sweet. Every character; no matter the amount of screen time they get, are awfully likable, the Oiwa family is fun to watch while they had the spotlight, Sayaka, who briefly appears as an adventurous and curious girl, is pleasant to see on screen, Anna and Marnie share a lot of sweet and cute moments, each one leaving you with a big smile on your face. The exceptions to this are characters mainly shown shown in flashbacks: the maids and a brief character called Emily. What I like about Ghibli films like this; a general lack of concrete plot timeline (see Kiki, Totoro and Poppy Hill); is just how...character-driven these films are: there's no plot points that taints and 'conveniently' motivates the characters, instead the plot is moved along by character motivation itself; even if some characters may appear for just seconds...they still somehow serve a profound purpose: The most brutal scenes in the entire film is when the elder Hisako tells her story to Anna and Sayaka: we get to see how Hisako, Anna and Marnie are connected through time.

Granted, I would've like to see more of Marnie, Sayaka and Hisako; particularly Hisako; but what I got was satisfying.

Needless to say, the art and animation is flawless, Studio Ghibli just utterly celebrates hand drawn animation...its backgrounds feels like vivid recreations of Monet paintings brought to life, the Marsh House drawn on pencil by Anna and oil painted by Hisako looked stunning on screen.

So...is this a good film to farewell Ghibli in the foreseeable future? Yes. Is it a masterpiece? It succeeds in many ways but fails in some others. Like I said, the side characters have much more to bring to the table, Anna can be a bit whiny and annoying at first, but she grows like any main character should, Marnie feels too...perfect, and her backstory does not seem to fit her character at times...but she's still a likable presence on screen. Overall, a must watch if you want a easy segway to slowly get into Ghibli films. The soundtrack? Now, this is a possible masterpiece...I would rate score with 5* if its theme based rating only, but overall, its a 4.5*. I also recommend you to check out the included image album: particularly the Anna theme suite.

Following Miyazaki's retirement, the pressure was heavy on Director Yonebayashi as the next successor of Ghibli Studio. But in the Japanese multimedia, it was stated by the Former Director Miyazaki and Producer Suzuki that the future successor was finally decided after watching Yonebayashi's first solo directed movie "When Marnie Was There (2014)". Was this really the case? My answer - Yes.

This movie is unique in a sense that the story revolves around two female protagonists "Anna" and "Marnie"; although it does remind us a hint of the nostalgic movie "My Neighbour Totoro" which starred "Satsuki" and "May", their relationship is far more complex. As the story progresses, their relationship becomes more clear and vivid to the audience, and the confusion of the intertwining reality and the dreamlike world starts to unfold. The two girls go on a journey as they discover each others past and dwells upon their current problems, and gradually develops an unbreakable bond that unites them stronger.

Although the trailer did cause some confusing misunderstandings between the two girls in Japan, and at the same time my expectations lowered; after watching the movie it was no doubt a splendid and flawless piece of art both literally and figuratively.

It is worth noting that Yonebayashi truly challenged the impossible, as even Miyazaki had once thought of making this novel into a movie but had backed down due to its continuous complex changes that occur in the world of the two girls. Furthermore, Yonebayashi has created his "own" depiction of the sky in this movie, and is no longer the "blue sky" and "white clouds" that Miyazaki has portrayed in his series of work. So we can expect to see his own unique world of Ghibli gradually bloom in the next upcoming years.

To summarize the experience, it was astonishing how we, the audience ourselves can go on a journey together with the protagonists to overcome their obstacles. Paying attention to the changes in Anna's facial expressions is extremely crucial if you want to enjoy this movie. The succinct yet complex portrayal of these two girls really make you think of the depths of friendship.To conclude, I would like to end with Suzuki's logo that he had written for the advertising poster. The message of the logo is so sincere that to me there is no better way of epitomizing the message that the author and the director was trying to convey to the audience - 「あなたのことが大好き」- "I love you"; an unconditional love.

The last film to be produced under the Studio Ghibli banner before the acclaimed animation studio decided to take a break from filmmaking following the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki, When Marnie Was There is an elegantly crafted & gorgeously animated tale that intertwines dreams with reality as well as past with present, only to end up getting entangled in its own web.

Based on the novel of the same name, When Marnie Was There follows Anna; a 12-year old girl who takes a trip to a countryside town for health reasons and discovers an abandoned mansion where she finds an unlikely friend in Marnie; a blond girl. As their new relationship blossoms over the next few days & both get to know each other better, it is unraveled that Anna is more closely related to Marnie than expected.

Nicely directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, When Marnie Was There is his sophomore effort following his debut feature, The Secret World of Arrietty, which remains my favourite Studio Ghibli film to be not directed by Miyazaki. And although his latest is no doubt an ambitious work, its pay-off won't be rewarding enough emotionally unless the viewers try to connect the dots all by themselves by doing a little digging of their own.

The technical aspects are expertly carried out for each frame of it is sumptuously animated & vividly photographed from start to finish. Editing tries to juggle various elements of story at once & doesn't always succeed. However, there isn't any issue with the pacing for its 103 minutes of runtime never becomes tedious at any given moment. Also, the background score brims with tracks that infuse a soothing feel into the narrative.

The Japanese voice cast is only as fitting as the studio's previous works. However, it's the beautiful relationship between Anna & Marnie that leaves the biggest mark. The film can be viewed as a coming-of-age drama that follows the journey of Anna from a lonely & anxious girl at the beginning of the film to a more confident person later in the story. Marnie herself exhibits an aura of mystery around her that not only allures Anna but us viewers as well.

On an overall scale, When Marnie Was There isn't as magical as Studio Ghibli's finest films but its take on friendship & isolation nonetheless manages to cast a spell of its own in bits n pieces which makes its story captivating for a while. A love story, a coming-of-age tale & a deep journey into one's own past, When Marnie Was There may or may not benefit from multiple viewings but for now, it has to settle for an underwhelming experience in my book. Still, it's worth a shot!

When Marnie Was There is the latest and perhaps the last film from the legendary Japanese Studio Ghibli. The two giants of the studio, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata have both gone into retirement and the studio announced that they will not be making any more films for now. Takahata and Miyazaki are responsible for some of Ghibli's greatest films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies. When Marnie Was There is directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and is about the introvert girl Anna who is sent to the countryside to live with relatives. She becomes obsessed with a deserted mansion and the girl who lives there who may or may not be real.

Ghibli's films usually contains imagination and the focus is almost always on children but despite that, the films are not only meant for them and also often include deep meanings and thoughts. Ghibli has always been incredibly skillful in drawing and creating magnificent images and When Marnie Was There is no exception. The beautiful Japanese landscapes makes you want to travel there immediately and see the country for yourself. The film is told like a detective story and Anna finds and puts the clues together one by one. She is our guide throughout the film and what she experiences, we experience too.

When Marnie Was There has a story I believe many can relate to. Not being able to find your own place in this world and to feel like an outcast. Anna searches like many children do, for their place in society and at the same time she's trying to understand her life and situation. The film is also about strong friendship and love and why we are drawn specifically to some people. It's always hard for me to try and summarize Ghibli's films and explain why people should watch them. When Marnie Was There is a tale that absolutely works well as an entry to the magical world that is Studio Ghibli.

This Movie touches the human soul at many level. It depicts a child who has been abandoned, by her mother and then grandmother and later partly by her foster-mother, so she feels she can not depend on adults for security. It also shows the value of family and love and affection within the family. Unlike American movies where no one seems to have a family, where the only expression of love is trivial and sexual, here the emotions are deep and adult.

The movie elevates us to our higher beings, and that is why the experience is lasting, and enjoyable.

What I also liked about this movie is that the movie is pure and clean, and suitable for families again unlike American shows where there is always some agenda from some interest group. Here you are free to be yourself. below is in response to a perverted reviewer with mind in gutter who thought this move was misleading. Please do not associate yourself with this movie. This is obviously made for people with human soul, and not you.

One of the many pleasures you have when you watch a Studio Ghibli film is its colorful animation and When Marnie Was There is yet another perfect example of that. More impressively, the story the film tells is just as filled with colorful themes and plot points that you just wouldn't get from a Disney or Dreamworks animated film. When Marnie Was There doesn't pull any punches, but more importantly, the punches they throw at the audience mean something and will have an emotionally resonating impact for all viewers, not just kids.

The film tells the story of Anna, a young girl who spends the summer with her relatives close to open water, and finds a mysterious and seemingly abandoned mansion across the water. After drawing numerous sketches of the mansion, she finds her way across using a row boat. What follows after that is a legitimately mysterious plot that keeps the audience guessing at every turn. Is Anna seeing things? Is this all a dream? Which characters are hiding what? And so on. For most of the film, that technique works very well. But there are a few times when the secrets and potential reveals get a bit tiresome.

When Marnie Was There is a story about plenty of things like regret, loss, and neglection. But at the heart of the film is a story about friendship, and an unlikely one at that. Obviously, there's plenty of things about the plot that you can't reveal without spoiling anything, but Anna and Marnie's bond throughout is truly something special. It's a bond that is probably more satisfying when you watch it a second time and can appreciate it without having to keep your eyes pealed for the next secret to be let out.

The film is complemented by a beautiful score and a heart wrenching end credits song that is sure to get even the most stubborn of people to get teary eyed. But it's also a different kind of sadness than say a Pixar or Disney film can give you (exceptions of course). When Marnie Was There has a dream like quality to the entire story, but the devastating moments hit you like a ton of bricks. Even in its most unrealistic instances, you feel the same sorrow and happiness that the characters do.

+Score

+Story has just the right amount of dark moments

+Probably more depth than other animated flicks

+Bond between Marnie and Anna

-Mysteries perhaps get a bit tiresome

8.7/10

I've nearly watched all animations by Studio Ghibli (and many others other than from this studio) and I can with certainty say that this one is the best animated one! It's like a live-action film with great actors :) Every single emotion is magnificently drawn! When you watch this animation, you shouldn't expect a thriller or scenes of action.. the story is widely dramatic and heartbreaking. It has lots of suspenseful moments that make you want to watch it till the end and the ending is really worth the wait! The anime is about family problems and a young & ill girl's way of dealing with it. One could say that it is her coming of age story which is not easy for her, so she finds a "friend", a mysterious foreigner who helps to find herself and make her see the world with different eyes ;) People who think animations are just for children or for younger generation are completely wrong! If you have prejudices, go and watch one and see it for yourself! I can recommend Spirited Away & Grave of the Fireflies. And I really can't believe that Studio Ghibli will take a break from filmmaking now... or will maybe never come back to it again. It's a mess! After seeing so much untalented people doing so many films and earning much money (especially those cheesy Hollywood animations), although for not deserving it, I'm aware of the fact that real artists should be praised! BTW: I don't easily give a film 10/10 ;)

Presumably, if reports are to be believed as of this year (or last), When Marnie Was There is the final theatrical feature from Studio Ghibli (this on the heels of also presumed - for real this time - retirements for Miyazaki and Yakahata, who made their recent films as The Wind Rises and Princess Yaguya). This makes me sad, but mostly as this movie is itself so painfully sad all over. It's a tearjerker, without any equivocation, and that's not a bad thing as any movie if it's done right - maybe the greatest Japanese animated film ever made, Grave of the Fireflies, is a cry-every-other-minute film - but here, it's almost too much, and deals with pain and loss and alienation in such a way that it ultimately is disappointing that it ends up in a plot 'twist'. Or is it a reveal? This does, seemingly, take audiences to a more realistic place than some other Ghibli films - I was reminded of Whisper of the Heart, also a movie about an artistically talented girl who gets a connection to a special person, only for her own existential path to be more complicated - and that's certainly welcome. It follows this girl Anna who has asthma and is actually a foster child, and is sent by her Auntie to get some fresh air for the summer with relatives on a coastal island (I think it's an island). There, one evening, she meets Marnie, a blond-haired girl who lives in the mansion that Anna finds so beautiful. They become very close friends, but something doesn't quite seem right in some ways.

Of course as friends they make it a 'secret' not to tell anyone. Who might Anna tell anyway? No friends really (she shoves some away due to her social awkwardness), and not her guardians (one voiced in the English dub by John C. Reilly, also welcome). But Marnie? It seems less clear - except that, if one can see pretty quickly, she's not exactly who she says she is. Is she an 'imaginary friend' as Anna comes to the conclusion once discovering new people moving in to the mansion? Or what about a ghost? In a manner of speaking, yes. But the details of why Marnie is no longer 'there' become the emotional cornerstone of the entire film, and certainly not an easy one to take.

When Marnie Was There is unabashedly sentimental stuff. I wondered at times if I might just be, as a grown man, just not the right audience for this material. But then I've gravitated to most of the Ghibli library, even when there are characters outside of my frame of reference. And it shouldn't matter, the themes are universal, up to a point, of a little girl who is alone and feels alone and is with someone else who also feels alone and they have each other. That part I can get. What is a little distant this time around is... frankly, a certain low-key energy for at least the first half of the film. I hasten to say the word 'boring' because it isn't, and there is a difference with low-key, where things are just... moving along, a little slowly, leisurely, without any deference to anything or any major stakes.

The second half picks up, to be sure, as the mystery of who Marnie is or where she was from, and the significance of the silo and what might have happened there. But by the end, as a sort of exposition dump happens and a major reveal happens about the past of Marnie, and Anna herself, it's slightly unsatisfying. Perhaps I should've expected this - I called that she was a ghostly figure fairly early on, and there's no real trace of fantasy stuff outside of it. On the plus side, as a given with Ghibli, the animation is breathtaking and sweet and sumptuous, and in all of the ways that are subtle and exacting of the place and time. This is warm summer with water and beaches and big mansions and the like, and it has the weight of this place much as Whisper of the Heart carried the simplicity of city life to a T.

So what was I expecting that the movie didn't give me? I don't know. I can't not recommend When Marnie Was There for admirers of the studio, and I'm sure aficionados will seek it out anyway. I may be responding on a first watch to its elegiac tone (albeit at the core it's a movie about finding someone to love in a platonic sense, I think) and I wonder if there was any intention on the part of the filmmakers to finish off their studio's output (at least for now) on a story that deals with separation and loss (or lack) of identity and trust in adult figures. You can get the napkins and handkerchiefs ready, but it just wasn't totally great for me, at least up to the (admittedly) high standards of Ghibli, or even this director, who's previous film The Secret World of Arriety I liked very much.

Being the last movie before Studio Ghiblis hiatus, I had big expectations for 'When Marnie was there'. Since the studio has produced nearly exclusively great films so far, 'Marnie' had to compete with giants like 'My Neighbor Totoro', 'Spirited Away' and my personal favorite, 'Princess Mononoke'. Leaving the theater, I was quite disappointed.

'When Marnie was there' follows the 12-year old, depressed girl Anna. She doesn't have any friends and her foster parents are overwhelmed with her, so they sent her to the countryside to visit some relatives. There she meets and befriends the mysterious girl Marnie.

Since 'Marnie' is stylistically similar to 'The Wind Rises', the animators couldn't let their imagination go wild and create amazing fantasy worlds like in 'Spirited Away'. But this isn't really a problem, since 'Marnie' is more grounded and focuses more on the characters and plot and not the world they live in. Despite that, the animators are still able to pull off some great visuals that not only look great, but also serve the plot and characters.

Ironically, this is the major problem with this film. While the plot itself is great and has some interesting themes, the friendship between the two girls is extremely superficial and barely explored. They meet and from one second to the other are best friends for life. To make it even worse, the dialogue is cringe-worthy at times, especially when cliché'd phrases like 'I will love you forever' and ' Always remember me' are used. This wouldn't be a problem, but since the mutual relationship is one major theme and not really developed, this dialogue seems heavy-handed and out of place.

The next wasted opportunity was the ending. The buildup and especially the subtle hints throughout the film were well done, but it was completely ruined after they explained for the 5th time what the ending was about, in case somebody didn't pay attention for the last 10 minutes.

Another minor complained would be the constant falling and tripping of the main character. Miyazaki always used some quirks like these to make his characters more real, but director Hiromasa Yonebayashi went way overboard with this and made Anna look clumsy and barely capable off walking.

What makes this movie disappointing is not that it is a bad movie, but that it had potential to be great, and wasted it.

I went into this movie not expecting it to quite live up to the Ghibli standard as most of the films not directed by Hayao or Isao, tend to be among their weaker ones. Yet in terms of story and subtle character writing I would easily rank this among the upper level of Ghibli's films.

The story starts off very simple yet it progresses into something very deep and as its mystery is gradually revealed it touches on concepts that are rarely captured in story telling of any medium. It is more than what it appears to be on the surface and it is far deeper than a typical plot about friendship and growing up. While those things are elements of the story, at its heart I would say that it is about the bonds that transcend generations. It is about how time can complicate relationships and simple decisions stretched out overtime can have unintended consequences. It's about discovering that the people we give so little thought to are sometimes far closer to us than we realize and are often experiencing similar hardships. It would have been easy for the story to end on an ambiguous note as so many stories like this do but thankfully the plot is fully explained and provides answers that make the story even more meaningful.

Along with its deep and unique story the characters are also subtly crafted and express emotions that are true to life. It deals with very complex feelings such as self loathing and social insecurity in a way the is very natural and rarely captured. Many of the characters are people who have trouble expressing themselves honestly and just as in real life, that behaviour is far more subtle than words can express. Anna is kind at heart but she can also be unintentionally cruel. She is polite and yet dismissive. Other characters who appear strong on the surface are in fact vulnerable but won't show it in private. The movie does a great job of showing characters from slightly different perspectives to show that they are more than simply the face they show the world. The film very believably portrays the idea that people very rarely express what they truly feel, in a way that others understand and that is often what leads to relationships breaking down.

As with most Ghibli films, the art direction here is also fantastic. The sets are beautiful and feel like real places. The tone and landscape are immersive and realistic. Its not only beautifully designed it is designed in a way that feels believable and serves a purpose.

While this isn't one of Ghibli's most awe inspiring movies, it is one of their most realistic and most profound. It takes a simple relate-able story and takes it someplace rarely explored. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has an appreciation for real subtle characters, unique coming of age stories and stories about complex relationships. I think it is a great movie for families as it is really deals with understanding the people close to us better. It has a great message for people of all ages and it is accessible enough that it can be appreciated on many different levels.

Ghibli has been on my heart for as long as I can remember. I've collected all the DD's available in Finland. The news that they will stop making movies made my heart crack. It might be because of this reason that I loved the story of Marnie so much. Marnie was the first Ghibli movie to ever make me cry, without really knowing or understanding why. Sure, they are all emotional and heartwarming, but Marnie had that special something. From the beginning to the ending, the movie is breathtaking and beautiful to the fullest. The animation, the soundtrack, the voice acting (I watched it in Japanese), everything. I'm sure I would've loved Marnie even without feeling so much for Ghibli, even if it was my first Ghibli movie. I highly recommend everyone to give this a try, especially if you love anime, Ghibli and beauty. Marnie will forever be my favorite of Ghibli, and the legend and legacy Ghibli left behind will live long in everyone's hearts.

I was certainly excited to see this movie, considering it was a Studio Ghibli movie. I'm happy to say that it wasn't a disappointment, despite not being directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

The plot of the movie is actually really engaging. I found myself wondering 'why' or 'how' a lot, and I still think about it. By the end of the movie it has wrapped it all up relatively well, and your left feeling satisfied for the most part.

The characters are the clear driving force of the movie, and they are actually quite good. Sure, they're relationship is a little rushed. One moment they're almost strangers, next they're best friends. Maybe I wasn't seeing the progression of time as well as I was supposed to, but they were a little rushed. It's explained at the end though, so it makes up for it.

One of the best parts of the movie was the ending. It was very well- done, and wraps up the movie quite well. Not only that, but it gives some food for thought. Some things aren't completely explained, but if you just think about them they make more sense. I don't want to spoil anything, so you'll just have to see it to know what I'm talking about.

Another thing that really jumped out at me right off the bat were the colors. There are lot's of them, all bright and beautiful. The scenery is also wonderful to look at. Visually, this movie is almost flawless. Unfortunately I found that there was a little too much green. Despite there being a reason for it, I found that it got to be a little hard on the eyes at times.

My biggest complaint about the movie is that Anna trips all the time for almost no reason. It wasn't a big deal, but it just got annoying sometimes.

The movie could be quite emotional sometimes too, and it's always great when a movie can actually make you feel something.

Overall When Marnie Was There is fantastic. The plot is interesting, the characters are good, the art design is amazing, and the ending was fantastic. With a few little issues here and there, this movie is one of Studio Ghibli's best for sure. In the end I would certainly recommend When Marnie Was There to just about anyone.

Marnie is filled with wonderful visuals, great music, but what really wins me over is Anna the protagonist. It's probably not really the best movie ever, but I love how we start the movie by seeing Anna's strengths and weaknesses. She is a great tween artist who struggles with terrible depression. I consider myself an artist and though I am happy now, I wasn't always, especially in my early teens. I have never connected with a character like I did her. After watching this movie I struggled to get to bed and was actually depressed the next day. This movie forced the questions on me; Who am I? What should I be doing with my life? Although it may be hard to recommend to people with very different problems, it really spoke to me, and is one of my absolute favorites.

It's a shame that Studio Ghibli is going to stop making movies. While they never exactly said that they're done for good, it seems that with the legendary Hayao Miyazaki retiring, the studio knows that it needs to figure out what it going to do without their master at the head. I can understand their fear that they may not be able to go on without Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli has brought some of the greatest animated movies to the rest of the world, and not to mention has given Americans two things that we don't do for our own movies.

First of all, the most obvious; the animation. Ghibli was keen on keeping their movies with a hand drawn look despite the advancing technology of computers and how every studio in America makes their animated movies in realistic CGI. There's still a beauty within it's high detail of paint and ink. The other difference is the tone. While most animated movies from America tend to go with louder that it's audiences want, Ghibli makes their movies quieter. The stories still feel large, but often their movies will focus on the smaller stories of life like moving or making friends. When Marnie Was There is a testament to friendship.

The quiet twelve-year-old Anna (played by Haliee Steinfeld) is that girl we've all known to be so shy, that she shuts everyone out and has no friends. She even shuts out her foster parent Yoriko (played by Genna Davis) when it's found out that she gets money from the government to look after Anna.

Anna suffers an asthma attack at school, so her parent sends her to relatives living in a rural seaside town to give her better air to breathe. It seems like a nice summer break, but Anna would rather not be a burden to anyone.

She arrives with open arms from Kiyomasa (played by John C. Reilly) and Setsu, but still seems a bit closed off. They try to set Anna on a outing with a neighbor kid, but that proves to be a failure. When strolling through the town, she grows an attachment to an abandoned marsh mansion. She rows there one night to find a girl her age named Marnie, who lives there with her nanny. The once abandoned house is now a majestic home by the sea. As Anna meets up with Marnie more often, she starts to feel a closer connection then with anyone she's ever known.

Studio Ghibli could have gone out with an epic, grand adventure to close off their stories, but When Marie Was There both something subtle, yet big. What I mean from that is that the story puts more time with the friendship of Anna and Marnie then the mystery that surrounds the movie. The scenes between the two are beautiful. Part of me wishes that the story could have been more focused on that then the more supernatural element in place. It's not that the mystery is bad, but it is really hard to follow.

It took me time to figure out if Anna was really seeing Marnie or if Anna is the ghost of Marnie's world or what. I think Studio Ghibli was trying to make the most complex story to go around the friendship, but it comes off like an art-house wannabe.

The good news is that like its other movies, When Marnie Was There has great characters and a nice atmosphere. Anna may be an introvert, but we understand her personality enough to like and wish she could connect with people. The town she stays in is so quaint that it reminds me of my favorite vacation grounds, Laguna Beach.

I'll give this seven abandoned mansions out of ten. It's not the best Ghibli movie, but a nice one to end on. I hope that Ghibli manages to return to continue bringing it's beautiful looking stories to America. We're not going to do it, so Japan might as well stick around with this. If you're a Ghibli fan, see it. If not, see some other Ghibli movies first before catching this one.

There is no denying that When Marnie was there is a gorgeous film, with a beautiful soundtrack and every frame a painting. But that's about all it's good for. Take away the lovely animation and the brilliant composition, then all that's left is a dull and mediocre story.

My main problem is the main character, Anna. As someone with asthma myself, I must say she is not only unrelatable, but also unlikable. Poor, poor Anna. You're born into a gorgeous middle- class family, have two loving guardians, have people who want to befriend you despite your empty and soulless personality. It must be terrible living in such a beautiful, hundred-acre house with a garden and surrounded by mountains, lakes and forests. Unbearable, I say. What's that, you immediately dislike a girl you didn't know other than the fact that she looks 'ugly and fat'? You insulted her as well, after an attempt to be your friend? Gosh, I can't imagine how miserable I would be if I were her. Then you meet a pretty rich blond girl and you instantly become friends? That's cool.

First of all, can we really say Anna is a role model for girls? Doesn't she just inspire you with her boringness? She is constantly depressed and humourless, not to mention emotionless most of the time. This girl lives a sheltered, well-provided life and she's bitching about it because her foster parents are getting child benefits. She's never faced a single true hardship about life, not even her sickness. It doesn't serve to empower her will to live by the end, only as an excuse for her to come to beautiful countryside hide-out that's the setting of the movie.

I feel like all the movie's good for is for viewers to admire the breathtaking animation. Take that away and this is just another hollow movie with no real drive, tension or plot. Overpraised is what I would say.

I heard this movie was poorly received. I dunno about that, it's rating7.7/10 right now but, having just seen it again I think it is one of the best the studio has done. It's not flashy or loud like Spirited Away or Howl's, great as they are but an orange is not a bad apple. The fantasy is of a more subtle nature and the characterisation is great, driving the story, which is what should always happen.

The revelation at the end had me in tears.

The visuals and the music were delightful as well.