May 23rd, 2015 
Brian Leak 
Film: When Marnie Was There
Starring: Sara Takatsuki, Kasumi Arimura
Directed By: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Based on Joan G. Robinson’s 1981 novel of the same name, When Marnie Was There is a beautifully affecting – and at times tragically depressive – animated feature from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty) and the iconic studio behind the works of legendary animator/director Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away) and other beloved features such as Grave Of The Fireflies, Only Yesterday and most recently, The Tale Of Princess Kaguya.
At an hour and forty minutes, Yonebayashi manages to elicit emotional response from the viewer with ease as we witness our lead, Anna, a seemingly stressed introvert, cope with not just asthma – ostensibly the ailment that sets the plot in motion – but relatable issues for nearly any teen/pre-teen. Insecurities, self-hatred and possibly mild depression plague Anna as she struggles with feeling different, existing outside the “invisible magic circle” while everyone else carries on within.
Anna’s background and upbringing are initially vague but are revealed in pieces throughout the film’s runtime. She lives in Sapporo with her foster mother who she refers to as “Auntie,” but after an asthma attack that drives her already worrisome guardian to do what she thinks is best, Anna is sent to temporarily stay with her Aunt and Uncle in Kushiro, a more idealistic setting where the air is clean and helpful to Anna’s condition. It’s here Anna meets her wonderfully loving (and amusing) familial hosts and several other characters in their small, everyone-knows-everyone town.
To delve too much further into the particulars of the plot would be to spoil much of what makes it so effective, but clearly, as the title would suggest, Anna is not the only important figure in this tale. Anna becomes captivated by a beautiful mansion on the water in town, one most others she speaks to are familiar with (or fond of) as well. After making her way out to the mansion, to appease her curiosity, Anna soon meets Marnie, a girl roughly her same age who she quickly feels deeply connected to. From this moment, a critical friendship is forged and we follow Anna as she attempts to make sense of the mysteries surrounding her newfound relationship and the emotional challenges that come with it.
Apart from the story itself, common with nearly every Studio Ghibli release, When Marnie Was There is visually gorgeous. Masashi Ando (who’s done character design and animation in most of Ghibli’s most popular works) and the expansive animation team are masters of their craft, with care and skill clearly integrated into every aspect of the film’s presentation. The color design, the dreamy atmosphere and lush landscapes, the attention to detail – it’s all stunning, with frame after frame offering plenty of rich textures, characters and picturesque scenery to absorb.
To accentuate the visuals is an enchantingly understated score from Takatsugu Muramatsu. It’s wholly soothing and often hypnotic, at times gently piano-led, while at others orchestral, yet still charming, reminiscent of Disney’s best musical works. The instrumentation is flawless through and through and although the score never overpowers what’s seen onscreen, its presence is always noted and welcomed. As the credits begin to roll, the film is closed out with Priscilla Ahn’s “Fine On The Outside,” a song from 2005 that one would think was written and recorded specifically for the movie as its poignant and personal lyrical content represents the film’s themes perfectly.
When Marnie Was There isn’t quite as devastating as the aforementioned Grave Of The Fireflies, and it doesn’t offer any whimsical fantasy or magical characters as per the bulk of Miyazaki’s famed catalog, but it is a wonderfully touching and grounded story about friendship, family, self-discovery and adjusting to the realities of growing up and the potentially shocking revealings of one’s unknown past. Yonebayashi executes the adaptation gracefully, providing laughs and twice as many tears along the way, and even though it stumbles for a spell with a slightly confusing progression in the story, it finds its footing for a wholly effective conclusion that’ll leave viewers with the need for a deep breath and a desire to visit (or revisit) more of Studio Ghibli’s finest, especially as this is potentially the studio’s final film.
GRADE: A-
Editor’s note: I viewed the original, subtitled, Japanese audio version of When Marnie Was There (which I’ll always prefer as an option), but will most definitely seek out the English dub once it becomes available. It features an excellent voice cast — as per usual with Ghibli films — consisting of Hailee Steinfeld, John C. Reilly, Vanessa Williams, Geena Davis, Kathy Bates, Ellen Burstyn and more.
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