Omoide no Marnie

I would like to start off by saying that I am a huge ghibli fan. It has always been my all time favourite and I have been impressed over and over again by their work.

However, I'm afraid I can't really say the same about this one. I understand that this movie was based off a novel, and I'm sure that the storyline was much clearer there. In the film however, I had no idea what was going on and even the ending explanation left me confused and unsatisfied.

I sat through the whole film hoping it would get better but unfortunately it was a ... disappointing movie. I couldn't really feel much sympathy for Anna, and her obsession with Marnie seemed strange to me.

Although the art was magnificent, the storyline was confusing and lacking. This has been the only ghibli film that I have not been able to enjoy. I hope viewers won't judge ghibli studio's skills based on this movie as they have other really famous masterpieces.

"In this world, there is an invisible magic circle. There's an inside and an outside. These people are on the inside. And i'm outside."


Im writing this review after just seeing the movie tonight. As soon as this movie started i was connected to it, actually even before that. I had heard the ending song from someone sharing it on one of those forum games and ever since then i'd been dying to see this movie! it hit something personal in me and when that happens that's when i give something a 10, i just want a story that will make me feel. And sadly its ... become harder and harder for me to find those now that i'm more aware of myself, but anyway to the point- my review!:

When marnie was there has become one of my favorite ghibli movies, i will always have a special place for spirited away (first one i saw as a child with my sister) and whisper of the heart (another personal favorite) and i'm glad there was one more i could love this much. Not because it had the best soundtrack or script or anything like that really, (though i felt the music was very beautiful and fit the setting well, more on that in a minute) Anna was a character that when i was her age and even now i really connected with and understood, and i gotta say its one of those things i wouldve loved to watch when i was younger just to see another person like me, but im glad to see it now i feel this is a movie would mean a lot to other kids like that or kids more directly relating to the situations in the movie, and i've always loved ghibli for making stories that can move anyone without being overly complicated, and dont treat a childrens demographic as simplistic and dumbed down.

Now about that music comment lol funny story.... i actually watched the movie Twice tonight not specifically because i loved it so much but instead,,,, i apparently had been watching a faulty audio dub, where everything was great quality except the majority of the dialogue was muted or only seem to be clear in specific moments (when anna was thinking etc) i thought this was a directing choice (i know i was stupid now) so i spent the whole time immersed in the soundtrack and background effects and watching the characters expressions and honestly the whole thing fit surprisingly nice, i even cried at the end because even after realizing my embarrassing mistake the watch second time around had the same effect, i somehow was able to understand the story really well so it wasnt too drastic a difference haha!! I liked that i had an excuse to see it again because i love to go over a story once i know its outcome to see all the foreshadowing and such. i still feel dumb though, but it gave me a new appreciation for the sound department and the animators, it was so lulling and expressive enough that even without all the dialogue i had a good understanding of everything, so really hats off to the whole staff of this movie because i loved every bit of it! But im never gonna get over myself for sitting through a whole movie unaware that it wasnt intentional

Its not super crazy animation, but it fit the movie greatly. the whole atmosphere was great, in a couple scenes i was genuinely tense! great job at setting the tone with the sound and effects. Some people might be bored with it since its more a mellow story and not so fantastical and charming compared to other ghibli hits, but for what it is i think it couldn't be better, and watching anna come to terms with things made me happy to see. Its not an exciting plot full of twists and turns, but its a personal one so if you like those kinds of things i recommend to give it a shot!

It’s sort of weird to think that when all is said and done, When Marnie Was There will likely be the last film that Studio Ghibli ever makes. For decades, this animation house has been home to the absolute pinnacle of what Japanese animation is capable of, churning out timeless classic after timeless classic from the greatest anime directors on the face of the planet, with more polish, precision, effort and imagination in every single frame than most anime are able to achieve over thirteen full episodes. They’ve broken records, they’ve broken boundaries, they’ve come the closest of any anime property to achieving true mainstream ... success in the Western cultural consciousness, and they’ve elevated our perceptions of what this medium is capable of too many times to count. And now, their work is at its end. How can anyone possibly hope to fill that void? How can anyone ever measure up to such an impossible legacy, now that Isao Takahata has passed on and Hayao Miyazaki has officially lain his pencil down for good? It’s the end of an era that can never be recaptured, and When Marnie Was There is the final punctuation mark on the last sentence of this storied company’s epilogue. Would you want to take on that responsibility? Because I would rather stab my eyes out with red hot pokers than take on the insurmountable challenge of dictating Studio Ghibli’s goodbye.

When Marnie Was There, for what it’s worth, feels very much designed to be a low-key farewell. After the epic, career defining opuses that were The Wind Rises and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, this movie sees fit to close things out on a contented exhale rather than yet another blistering culmination. The story follows Anna, a depressed, asthmatic girl who feels disconnected from the flow of human connection, wrapped in a million layers of introvertion and self-loathing. To help with her condition, her mother sends her out to live with her aunt and uncle in the boonies over the summer, hoping that fresh air and a change of pace will do her well. At first, the warm countryside does little to alleviate Anna’s glum mood. But then, she discovers a beautiful, abandoned mansion in the marsh, weathered from age yet still achingly entrancing. And as if in a dream, someone comes to her out of that mansion: Marnie, a foreign girl from a rich family who calls the mansion her home. Anna finds herself drawn to Marnie’s presence, and the two form a close, very intimate friendship that flits between the line of fantasy and reality. Before long, their friendship begins to develop in powerful ways, as the inner pains the girls are both enduring begin to bubble to the surface, forcing them to confront what holds them back from happiness.

You can probably predict the majority of how this movie plays out from that plot description, and that’s alright. When Marnie Was There doesn’t have its sights set on being revolutionary or mind-boggling like many of Ghibli’s previous works. What it wants to achieve, more than anything, is a sense of comfort and closure. It’s a low-key. understated mood piece, dappled in warm sunlight and the fumbling, uncertain emotions of its central pair, with Anna’s slow climb out of her inner despair forming the film’s backbone. And in its best moments, it carries a kind of quiet grace that rushes through you like a flood of summer memories. There’s a real sense of beauty and wonder to its grounded, naturalistic depiction of the Japanese countryside, trading in high fantasy for warm familiarity. Contrasted with Anna’s quiet melancholy, it makes for a portrait of a world awash in love and compassion, slowly working its way into this one girl’s cold, silent heart. And once her friendship with Marnie starts taking off, the bond they share carries the plot on its achingly tender shoulders with aplomb. The time they spend together is as meaningful to us as it is to them, and watching how their friendship changes and evolves over time never slips below engaging, even if you can see the big plot reveals coming a mile away, as I did.

It’s a real shame, then, that When Marnie Was There ends up on the weaker end of Ghibli’s long and storied oeuvre. It’s far from bad, to be clear, but when stacked up against the sheer talent and imagination that propelled this studio to glory, it feels decidedly like a runner-up. Ghibli’s tackled this kind of warm naturalism before with the likes of Whisper of the Heart and Kiki’s Delivery Service, and When Marnie Was There just doesn’t have that same level of polish and precision. The backgrounds are pretty and intricate, but simplistic. The cinematography and overall aesthetic feels frustratingly basic at times, competent and well put together but lacking in imagination and personal flair. Most distressingly, the character animation isn’t as detailed and specific as it usually is. My experience with Studio Ghibli characters, even as far back as Naussicaa, was of subtly shifting facial expressions, soft and intricate movement, a full spectrum of motion and emotion that brought every single incidental background character to life in stunning fashion. But the characters in Where Marnie Was There often times feel like they’re just standing in place, not so much inhabiting the space as fully realized people as being placed there by the hand of the author to hit their marks and say their lines before exiting stage left. They can still emote like hell in the movie’s more emotional moments, especially as things start taking heavy turns in the third act, but they don’t have the level of consistency I’ve come to expect from Ghibli.

Perhaps that’s all unfair nitpicking, but I can’t help it. Watching through the entirety of Studio Ghibli’s oeuvre chronologically has truly made me appreciate how much raw talent and effort was poured into making these movies not just great, but genuinely riveting. I never got the sense that any corners were being cut, even in the films I didn’t care for as much, and that sense of completeness is the reason this studio has become so rightfully revered across the globe. They always put in the effort to go the extra mile, to make their movies feel not just like movies, but genuine artistic statements that were worth your respect and admiration. When Marnie Was There is, by contrast, a movie. Not a bad movie, certainly an engaging one, but a less product than what this studio has proven itself capable of. It’s a good movie that I was always wishing was better, that I always wanted to see just a little more effort from. It doesn’t help that the plot itself seems like it might be going in a far braver, much more radical direction than I initially predicted, before cutting that avenue of thought short and settling back into far more conventional territory. That feeling is indicative of my thoughts on the movie as a whole; as much as I enjoyed it, I never could shake the feeling it was missing opportunities to be even better.

Still, whatever frustrations I might have about this film just being okay as opposed to great shouldn’t could as too much of a mark against it. When Marnie Was There is kind of slight, kind of basic, and kind of underwhelming, but it’s also warm, and kind, and emotionally potent, and soaked in a comforting sheen that’s impossible to hate. Perhaps this is a lesser film among titans, but considering what Studio Ghibli’s already been able to achieve, there’s nothing wrong with the tale of Anna and Marnie being the simple, straightforward story to bid it farewell with. Plus, it did manage to make me cry by the end, so I guess it was doing something right.

I've always wanted to see this movie and I'm really glad that I finally got to watch this today. Another masterpiece from the amazing Studio Ghibli.

I found the story very heartwarming. It was very nice. It didn't have that heaviness, if you know what I mean. The pacing of the story was just right, at least for me. Although, there were some parts where it was kind of confusing. Well, I understand since it would be explained later in the story. I loved how the story unfolded little by little and the foreshadowing done. The plot twist was delivered well and didn't felt so sudden. ... The story's conclusion was excellent.

The only problem I had while watching the movie was Anna (one of the protagonists) and how her relationship with Marnie (the other protagonist) started. I really had a hard time sympathizing with her during the beginning of the movie. She was feeling bad for herself and stuff. She was basically being difficult. I didn't really like her initial characterization. I didn't get her. I don't understand how someone who rejects people who were actually being kind to her suddenly develops a somehow deep bond to someone she just met? I don't know... I felt like it was rushed? Seriously tho, Anna and Marnie telling each other 'I love you the most' made me go 'Uhhhhh... Okay?'. It just came out of nowhere... something like that. Another thing was the frequent Anna waking up somewhere else scenes. I felt like they could've done a better job on that. It didn't really make sense to me how she ends up waking up in random places. But whatever, the entire film was still magnificent despite those things I pointed out. I'm glad I eventually liked Anna.

Moving on, the art on this film is utterly beautiful. It made me feel good. It made me wanna go on a vacation. I don't know, I just felt nice. Made me feel so relaxed. The art style was seemed so simple but I know it's not. Yeah, it was that good. There sounds used were on point. It made the film more beautiful. Made me enjoy the film more.

Overall, it was amazing. Studio Ghibli really did well on this one <3

Another Studio Ghibli Movie: Omoide no Marnie or When Marnie was there.

Enjoyment:
An absolute delight to watch. I'm so glad I took the time to sit down and enjoy the story. With very interesting characters and figuring out the connections is very fun while watching the film.

Story:
The story is just beautiful on so many levels that its hard to put in words. Without spoiling anything the only thing that I can say is that it's one story to sit down and go through. While trying to figure out the connection between the two main protagonist.

Art:
The art style is very Studio Ghibli-esk, it's very old ... fashioned classic movie art-style that seems to work with most of their movies. (well the ones I've seen.) The art-style it self gives a very relaxing and comfort feel to it, if you enjoy kind of an older style of animation and art in general.

Music:
The music definitely played a part in this movie. Like most movies with heavier scenes, the music just seems to add on to the emotion and goes right along with the movie. Having seen the movie a couple days ago, it is unfortunately not very remember-able.

Character:
The protagonist is very unique, in a way that over the course of the movie. The protagonist sheds its skin and shows true character development. Revealing more personality and emotion in general. Other characters here and there reveal more about them selves, but the protagonist is the one who mainly shows development through the movie. Side characters are side characters they have some role but not too much.

When Marnie was there follows a young girl Anna living in Sapporo a orphan girl who was adopted by a sweet family. Due to her asthma attacks and her
being different she didn't have much luck making friends with her classmates she didn't even want to. After a bad asthma attack the doctor suggests she
move somewhere more relaxing so she moves in with her aunt and uncle for the summer in the countryside. Separated from her mother she would often
spend her time walking around the area and sketching things. She finds a seemingly abandoned house across the water which can only be walked to during ... low tide, it is actually there she meets Marnie and her life changes. Even though Marnie is her own age and the first kid her age she has ever gotten a long with there was something very weird and mysterious about her and to make things more weird Marnie wanted there friendship to be a secret. Anna has weird memory throughout this due to meeting Marnie sometimes she can remember her or her normal life what does this have to do with Anna and Marnie meeting and who really is Marnie that's the true question so check it out to find out! Honestly an incredible movie couldn't believe it was just sucked in from the first minute I started watching. Just a masterpiece like a lot of Studio Ghibli films.

Omolde no Marnie (When Marnie was There) is a beautiful story! The art was bright and fun. After hearing the sound track i immediately downloaded it, i listen to it all the time. Characters were unique and overall this movie was very good. I do say though, that for most of the movie, it was hard to follow, you come up with conclusion of whats happening but then the next scene changes your theory. near the end everything started to make sense and that is my only flaw for this movie. You might have other ideas but this is what i am saying. This doesn't ... mean its not that good. I watched it with my Family and we loved it. i heard about this movie when someone told me it was an Animated feature film nominee, i had to check it out. This is a very brief review over how i felt about this show. Overall i think it is amazing in many ways,
its great for family and all i have to say is, watch it!

That love, moral, care, and happiness is the beautiful of Studio Ghibli, and the masterpiece of Hayao Miyazaki. Omoide no Marine a.k.a When Marine was there is successful acclaimed animated movie was the last of Hayao Miyazaki movie before he retired as a film director and a key animator. Man this is one of my favorite Studio Ghibli movies, and also my favorite films of all time. I cried in man tears drawling down my check of emotion. I really want to talk about this film without No spoilers so here I go.

Plot-10/10 (The most fascinate story I've seen In any Ghibli film) The ... Story is a female protagonist name Anna, a young girl living in east town called: Sapporo, she a fantastic sketchbook artist, and then after having trouble with her classmates. Due to asthma attacks, so the scene when a doctor suggests that Anna move somewhere more relaxing. On the countryside with her herself drawn to a seemingly abandoned house across the water, which can only be walked to during low tide. It is there that she meets Marnie. Well tell tail about to find what about Anna trouble with her memories

Introduction: 10/10
Exposition: 10/10
Conflict: 10/10
Pacing: 10/10
Conclusion: 10/10

Art-10/10 (OMG! I love everything about this animation from the start. It is Glories) Atmospheres of the background concept art is stunning, beautiful, and incredible when their hair movement of the character's walk cycle)

Animation: 10/10
Setting: 10/10

Sound-10/10 (Phenomenal music, great voice acting performance, outstanding sound) The music is really relaxing, and very impressive. Sound of Nature.

Music: 10/10
Voices: 10/10

Characters-10/10 (I hate to say this but, Marine and Anna are the best characters of the entire studio ghibli film) Marine is so lovable, cheerful, and a sympathy's female protagonist. Anna she kind of relatable (my opinion) She a amazing sketchbook artist, but she suffer from asthma attack a concision from autism of stress, it like a disease for emotions (a condition). They both amazing characters with a loving relationship conflict personality (No Yuri/lesbian).

Major Characters: 10/10
Minor Characters: 10/10
Development: 10/10

Enjoyment-10/10 (I really Love this! It Fantastic!) I really want the DVD/Blu-ray combo of this film. With behind the scene and great special features, but that not the point. My point is I really do care a lot about this movie prize of fame. Thank you Miyazaki and studio ghibli.

Overall-10/10 (It for your, your family & friends, and your everyone!) This is Studio Ghibli last movie, which was shockingly surprise because without there movie making masterpiece of hand drawn animation, oh well we all learn & love for there work of nature, love, and our relaxing comfort zone. This film is Marvelous, it a family film for all ages. Moral about this film; always, let you know, your not alone, your not a joke/freak, you have family's that raise, feed, and hope for you to grew up as an strong independent human being. A true friends that you got always be on your side to stand up for you or them, with no judgement, all ways be individuality. Must watch films folks.

Another overrated project from Studio Ghibli. Their movies have not
been up the standards of movies such as My Neighbors the Yamadas or The
Cat Returns since 2012 with The Secret World of Arrietty. While The Cat
Returns wasn't that great, The Secret World of Arrietty was so
sentimental, it's painful. With the exception of Wind Rises, the movies
were overrated with simplistic Tale of Princess Kaguya (at the beginning,
of course). I was pretty skeptical about this one. While it started off
with a great beginning, it got boring and annoying when Sayaka showed
up. She is a forgettable character who was kind of mean, yet so nice,
she's clichéd.
...
Anna bothered me for some reason, it was because of her boyish clothes
but it was also something else, I don't know. Maybe she's just a
stereotypical pre-teen. Marnie was the standout character of all the
characters, she was perky, friendly, and mysterious.

Anna befriends Sayaka which drops the ball because a lot of movies have
characters befriending the clichéd nice girl. The art and animation
were still amazing as usual, but I am very disappointed in Studio
Ghibli for ending up like Pixar. The movie of course got cloying as it
went on whether it's between Anna or Sayaka or Anna and Marnie. It also
ended in a sentimental way. Maybe if they brought Hayou Miyazaki back
to directing, he would save the studio and bring it back its glory.

Also, I thought Sayaka's voice acting was a pretty bad job. The themes
just didn't click with me, it was boring and sometimes not empathetic.
Studio Ghibli tried too hard by throwing in creepy parts and an
emotional ending to be like their other movies. The creepy parts did
not blend well and ruined the pacing of the film.

As a fan of Studio Ghibli, I will be sad to see them go, but given all their recent infrastructure issues, it’s probably for the best that they bow out gracefully now before they risk ruining their reputation with a giant string of mediocrity the likes of which caused Gonzo and more recently Manglobe to hang it in for good. I mean my opinion of The Wind Rises has improved a bit since the last time I saw it and Princess Kaguya was alright, but I think we’re past the point when we can expect another Spirited Away or Grave of the Fireflies from our ... two big boys, and you can bet that Miyazaki’s son ain’t going to be delivering on that. So let’s take a look at what seems to be their final film by that other upcoming director of theirs. The one that made The Secret World of Arrietty – a film that was big on visuals and atmosphere but light on actual plot, so of course I’d enjoy it as an animation fan whilst being disappointed it couldn’t measure up to Ghibli’s usual standards. Still, he deserved a second chance and I’m glad he got one, because When Marnie Was There is actually quite good.

So the plot of Marnie goes back to Ghibli’s stable of stories centered on little girls going through angst caused by growing pains and having to deal with said angst through magical realism, and said plot this time is focused on Anna Sasaki, a pre-teen who periodically suffers from asthma attacks and feels distant from her foster parents because she thinks they’re only taking care of her because they were paid to do so. After one of her attacks causes her to physically collapse, she is sent to live with her parents’ relatives for the summer in order to experience even more angst due to being in an unfamiliar environment, as well as receive a solution to her problems through use of a little whimsy that toes the line between being both stomach-churningly saccharine and surprisingly mature. Said whimsy this time around takes the form of a young blonde girl named Marnie, a mysterious mansion dweller who may or may not be real as her mansion transforms from rundown to prosperous depending on what mood the movie wants Anna to feel next. As you’d expect from a Ghibli film, the two befriend each other and have all sorts of cute scenes whilst Anna tries to overcome her anxiety issues and figure who the hell Marnie actually is.

Being the Ghibli-tard/animation lover that I am, I was pretty much drawn into Marnie through the visuals alone, and everything else were the ingredients to bring said visuals to life. They’re known for their environmental agendas and anti-war messages, but one thing I really like about the studio is how good they are at writing female characters. Even near-perfect pacifists like Nausicaa are great because they know that actually attaining that status is hard work, and the two main females in this film continue the Ghibli tradition of being the right blend of charming and flawed. Anna’s situation might seem silly to some people – especially if you live in the ghetto or a third-world country – but children get iffy about their adoptive parents all the time, especially if they don’t think they love ’em. And her personality works as a great contrast to Marnie herself, a mature being who you can’t quite tell is real or not, but nevertheless suffers with problems of her own regarding her wealthy heritage. It’s moe girl drama when you get down to it, but it’s serious enough without being maudlin or sinking into the diabetes-inducing stuff that Mai Mai Miracle consisted of.

The best thing about Ghibli when they focus on this sort of drama is that they really capture what it means to be young on a broad scale without being complicated about it. There are no revenge schemes or convoluted family heritages. No shallow dreams or whatever you want to call what Imaishi does regarding his leads. It’s just simple yet meaningful stuff that I never really lived through, yet can actually relate to all the same. You know how Super 8 captured the nostalgia of what it means to be an 80s kid growing up with Spielberg films? I get the same thing from stuff like Whisper of the Heart and Spirited Away, and I also get the same from Marnie.

Now I don’t want people getting the wrong idea that I love When Marnie Was There because I don’t. The story doesn’t do anything truly unusual with its premise that you haven’t seen before, and whilst I don’t really care too much about how the final revelation was delivered, it didn’t really tell me anything besides “okay, so that’s what’s been going on”. Capturing what it means to be young is one thing, but doing something with it is another thing entirely, and Marnie never really quite gets there. Without giving too much away about the plot, Anna meets other people who are interested in Marnie as well and through unravelling the truth about her, she learns to accept her own situation. It’s kind of like a more down-to-earth and not as revelatory realization from Gravity Falls.

But I will always love what it represents, and it’s that in a medium that has surprisingly become even more bloated over time with pleasing people solely by putting in shallow elements like robots and moe and the thousand cliches you have to put in your light novel series to get it approved for adaptation to the point that people will praise mediocrity just because the bar is set lower than Selena Gomez’s sex appeal, it’s nice to see that even to this day there are studios out there who realize that you don’t need to try too hard to cater towards a large fanbase. Fuck shipping. Fuck concert scenes (although the film does have a dancing scene). Fuck pretty much everything that was in Rolling Girls. If you just make your anime look great and sound great and have a charming story with charming characters, then I could care less that there aren’t any explosions happening in the background, and so will a lot of people given how well this film sold. I love you Studio Ghibli. And that’s why – for now at least – I must say goodbye to you.

{SPOILERS}
Okay, okay hear me out, When Marnie Was There, is not good. When reviewing this film I'm going to keep the fact it's a Ghibli Film out. Every time I think of a Ghibli Film I think it has to be good and this movie is simply not the case. This movie has many problems regarding a lot of things. I don't like this movie and I never recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a Ghibli Film, in fact, I tell them to avoid this movie.
{STORY}
The backbone of this story is lesbian incest. Yep, you read that right. Anna our main character is ... in a foster family and she finds out that her foster mother is paid to take care of her, so she gets mad like a toddler. Her foster mother sends her to live with relatives on an island for the summer because Anna has asthma. While on this trip Anna meets a mysterious girl that she develops feelings for which happens to be her grandma. I don't know how this works because the film never even tries to explain it. Her grandma Marnie and her become close friends but it's clear Anna has feelings for Marnie that aren't returned. When the film is almost over Marnie's story is told by some random person and Anna learns to accept her foster mother. Weird premise, right? Well, I thought so too. I hate the story that was presented. It makes no sense has lesbian incest vibes and is flat out stupid for the most part.
{ART}
It's standard Ghibli art. I liked it, but good art cannot stand in for a bad story. Ever. That's all I gave to say about art as it's not very important.
{SOUND}
It's okay, there's nothing special about it. I liked the end credits song. The rest of the soundtrack was forgettable and I didn't notice it upon first viewing.
{CHARACTER}
I hate every single character in this movie. All of them. Anna is whinny when she doesn't get what she wants and is mostly a butthole. She's upset because her foster mother gets paid to take care of her. Sound ungrateful to me. Marnie is I don't know where to begin. She seems pretty gay until she meets some rich boy. she eventually marries the boy later in life and has Anna's mom who dies later in a car crash. Apparently Marine has problems with her health, but those aren't even addressed until like the last 5 minutes. Marnie was annoying and I hated her onscreen. At first, I lowkey shipped her with Anna until I found out about the whole grandma thing. I hate this movie.
{ENJOYMENT}
The only thing I enjoyed about this film is that in the dub John C. Riley is in the cast. He only has like 5 lines but still it's John C. Riley.

When Marnie Is There is focused on a 12-year old girl named Anna living with foster parents since the deaths of her parents and grandmothe. She spends the summer by the countryside where she becomes fascinated with a run-down mansion that she finds appears like new at night and comes to befriend the spirit of a young girl her age named Marnie. As Anna gets to know more about Marnie, she comes to realize the possibility that her new friend could have more close ties to her than she thought.

When Marnie Was There is a coming-of-age drama that focuses on the issues affecting Anna thanks ... to her upbringing. Many factors lead her to be her present angry and introverted self with the loss of her biological family members, suspicion that her foster family may not care for her and having physical features different from others with her blue-colored eyes. Feeling like an outcast and unwanted by other are things that many people could relate with for Anna's character as they experienced similar emotions growing up due to various factors. In addition, the movie is very effective at conveying subtle nuances to show the issues affecting Anna and other characters, such as Anna guarding her sketchbook and withdrawing from those her age who attempt to connect with her.

The relationship that Anna establishes with Marnie serves as the major focus of the movie as it not only impacts Anna's character development, but also offers some more fleshing out of her character. The new friendship brings positive growth to Anna as she becomes more outgoing, happy and open to others. In addition, the movie fleshes out Marnie's character as well where we see that she shares a similar traumatic past as Anna with feeling neglected by her family and the movie places hints throughout its run eluding to the possibility that the two friends may have more of a connection than they would expect. When all is revealed about the ties Marnie and Anna have with one another, the events make sense if you pick up on the subtle hints dropped throughout the film and take notice of the growth of Anna's character throughout the film.

As to be expected from Ghibli, this is a visually impressive film with gorgeous scenic shots, fluid animation and characters sporting the typical Ghibli style. The only issue that comes out of the visuals are some glaring implementations of CG animation with vehicle renderings that are noticeable in a few camera shots.

Overall, When Marnie Was There is a worthwhile coming-of-age drama that explores Anna's inner problems and how her friendship with Marnie leads her to change for the better from the experience. If this is indeed the final Ghibli film ever made, it is a fitting swan song for the studio's legacy.

"I am a Studio Ghibli movie."

I must say that I've found this movie somewhat boring. Art is what you expect from any Ghibli movies and story is just OK. Sound, it's barely memorable and characters are again, barely memorable except that fisherman guy and Marnie. But why?

--Story--

NO SPOILERS AHEAD.

Our main character goes to her step mum's sister's house (Is that even true I can barely remember who that lady was?) and starts seeing a ghost. This is the story of that ghost and the character. Who is that ghost?

When I was watching this with my mum we had our own theories which was ... not correct and that is the only reason why this story isn't just meh. I liked the fact that it was somewhat surprising. I feel like they could've done better with the story and just decided to do a movie that will be out there and not recognized. It is definitely, DEFINITELY, emotional in the last quarter of the movie because of Marnie but just being emotional isn't enough to make a story great. I was a bit disappointed.

--Art--

Art is generic Ghibli style, same character design that we saw bunch of times which is not bad at all. Great surroundings, stunning views. It is not outstanding but it is very good. I feel like after seeing the same style over and over again it kinda gets boring but that doesn't make it bad. IT'S STUDIO GHIBLI, ART IS ALWAYS GOOD.

--Characters--

Ok, if you ask me the most memorable characters were that fisherman who has like 3 minutes of screen time, Marnie and the little kid that moves into the mansion.

As you can tell, I am not good with names.

Main character is a bit annoying, she definitely has some understandable issues but she is not memorable at all. Only reason why she would be memorable is the Marnie's effect.

Marnie is a great character in my opinion, well thought has a great story and she is just charming. She really saves the movie.

Other characters are also quite good my only problem was with the main girl, I really didn't think much of her and she came across as a not well thought character for some reason and it's sad because she is the main character. The movie only got better when they introduced Marnie to us in my opinion.


--Final Thoughts--

If you have free time and you love Ghibli movies watch it. You will enjoy it, but it is neither great nor a masterpiece. It can get a bit boring at times but the ending is amazing. My favorite parts were in the last 30-40 minutes. I think this movie is a solid 8 because of my respect to the art and the emotional ending, I feel like ending kinda saves the movie and my emotions are overruling against my logic.

I rate this movie a borderline 8 and think that this amazing studio can do way better. Hopefully their next movie will be better.

"When Marnie was there" is truly a beautiful film, as expected from the renowned Studio Ghibli. It doesn't overstep its boundaries and tries to tell a very simple story using extremely detailed characters and art, subtle classical music, and cinematography. It's a good family film, which I can recommend to anyone who has a human heart, from the ages 3 to 99.

The most obvious feature of this film is the beautiful art. This point doesn't need to be expanded upon. Any description will fail to convey the charm of the beauty of every scene of the movie. All of the backgrounds are detailed and full ... of life. This gives the film a very real feel.

What plays a much more important role in the realism are the characters. Those featured in this film are few but well thought out. The main character acts in a lot of ways like a real person. The creators have included very subtle gestures using the eyes, face and hands to truly bring Anna to life. Her behaviour is very realistic for a child of her age. I personally could put myself in her shoes. Awkward moments felt truly awkward, and I instantly remembered the moments when I acted the same way as Anna.
The character of Marnie was purposefully left a little bit mysterious and unreal, to reflect the fact that she was in fact a memory. The atmosphere changes significantly whenever she's on screen. This was achieved using music, clever cinematographic play, and art. All of those had been well thought out to create a mysterious dreamy feeling of uncertainty as to who Marnie truly is. The memories of her slowly come together to form a coherent whole, and we truly understand this person.
The supporting cast is more or less left intentionally blank. However lacking in detail they might be, the entire cast is composed of characters one might find within one's own acquaintances and family. They all seem very real, and this is achieved using a minimum of dialogue and gestures. The random children from preschool act and sound exactly how one would expect them to, as do the teenagers, parents, and random people from the village.

Most of the cast is female. This is perhaps an overlooked, but important fact that should be pointed out.

The music and sound effects don't stand out too much, but that is for the better. Nowhere in the film does the music or the art overwhelm what's most important: what are the characters saying, doing, and feeling. The sound and graphic design is so detailed and subtle, that it allows to immerse yourself in the world of this story.

All in all, the film feels extremely real and subtle. It's not trying to overwhelm you with emotions and flashing CGI. It charms the viewer by showing a world which feels more real than our own.

"In this world, there is an invisible magic circle. There's an inside and an outside. These people are inside. And I'm outside."

Wow. That was a really wholesome story. The whole story is filled with beautiful plot points and colorful themes that one just can't get from a dreamwork or Disney animated film. The story had a perfect amount of depth and dark moments. Anna and Marnie's bond was just......something special.

It does not have some crazy animation, but it fits the movie greatly. the whole atmosphere was great, in a couple of scenes, I was genuinely having goosebumps. Great job at setting the tone with ... the sound and effects. Some people might be bored with it since it's more of a mellow story and not so fantastical and charming compared to other ghibli hits, but for what it is I think it couldn't be any better, and watching anna come to terms with things made me happy to see.

+ loved the soundtrack

When Marnie was There is reminiscent of many other Ghibli Studio films. One scene was practically identical to a scene in Spirited Away, another seemed very similar to Ponyo, and the list continues. I'd elaborate why but it's best you see for yourselves and make the connections.

It's almost as if it's a compilation of some o' Miyazaki's films in particular (though I could have missed some other parallels). I am (or was) a bit ambivalent towards this film for that reason.

It was good overall. Certainly made me think!

When Marnie Was There was not something extraordinary. In fact, compared to other Studio Ghibli's movies, it lacks a few drops of fantasy element and perhaps, requires a faster story pace to make it perfect. But, it doesn't need to be.

Ghibli has always been able to create this sweet and surprising twist somewhere at the beginning, throwing off everyone into the world of unknowns. Then, the plot advances with the protagonist continuing the discovery, meeting peculiar strangers, beasts, witches or even just on old friend. But, there's always something that differentiate Ghibli and other studios, something known as the 'Ghibli's magical touch'. It's a reminder ... that Ghiblis adds to us that no matter how the story turns, twists and progresses, it would reach an end.

An inevitable ending that takes away the protagonist from their adventure. A slap of realisation that takes the protagonist back to reality as it everything was just a dream. This is the power of Studio Ghibli, by creating a warm atmosphere to lure anyone in and to end the journey with a final bittersweet closure. A departure where everyone yearns for more in the unknown future.

A melancholic departure.

The protagonist, Anna is a girl who lives inside a frame that she defines herself with. An unpleasant frame of constriction and full of hatred of herself, annoyance she finds on others. This left her emotionless, because she just couldn't bring herself to handle them after what she's been through. There are only her sketches that bring her comforts, a real connection to the world until she met this one girl. And the whole journey of forgiveness, self-discovery and love begins, patching it's way to a surprisingly pleasant ending.

Overall, the art of the scenery and the ending theme song has their merit points in making the story much more mesmerising. But it is, the strong personality that Marnie has and the emotional development of Anna that makes the ending feels more attached. In the end, it is certainly a beautiful tale that impacts Anna's life, when Marnie was there.


Remarks: As it ends, I couldn't help but thinking about how great it was, and that I'd never get to see another Ghibli adventure again. But whenever I think about Marnie, I'd have a warm smile craved on my face, because this whole ride with Studio Ghibli is truly worth it.

Possibly Studio Ghibli's last film, which really upsets me because it is my favorite animation studio. I grew up watching these movies, getting lost in their worlds and giving me not only some of my best childhood movie experiences, but also giving me some of my most emotional movie experiences. Seriously Studio Ghibli, why do you always make me cry!!! WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is no exception, it is Ghibli at its finest. A very shy and introverted girl named Anna goes to visit some relatives in the countryside, not because her aunt doesn't want to take of her, this isn't some parent throwing her ... child to someone else so she can get a break, it's because Anna has asthma. And after an asthma attack her doctor thinks she should go some place where the air is fresh. When Anna arrives it's hard for her to get comfortable in this new environment. Then she finds an old house near a marsh and a blonde girl named Marine is living there. But is she really? Marnie and Anna become the best of friends and the film explores their friendship, but the film is hiding something from us and as we get deeper into the story more things begin to unravel.

Look, being a kid is hard. I get it, I'm a bit of an introvert myself. I would rather read comics or watch movies than go out to bars and socialize. I was like that in high school and it did make me feel different. There is a fantastic explanation at the beginning of this film that perfectly sums up how kids feel about themselves and their peers. Anna talks about in life there is a circle, on the inside are the popular people and on the outside is her. But because she is on the outside of that circle is because she doesn't believe she belongs there. The rest of the film has Anna slowly moving into that circle. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is easily one of the best films of the year and Ghibli's magnificent swan song. The animation is to die for, the water effects are unbelievable and the characters emotions and facial expressions totally in rich the wonderful surrounding. It could be one of Ghibli's best looking films. And like all good Ghibli films it mixes the drama with the fantasy very well. There is an underlining mystery to the film, a mystery I will not spoil for you, but when it is revealed I had so many emotions going through me.

Plus I just love watching these movies. The music, the landscape the all around slice of life feeling. The sea side towns and friendly neighborhood people. It's a place, like in many of these films I would love to visit and will someday. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is a smart "kids" film meaning it doesn't just throw flashes colors and jokes at you. It deals with real life situations that children at lest six and up should watch and hopefully take something from it. I sure did and it's one of my favorites of the year.

Spoilers: There have only been two films that have made me cry, this was one of them. Maybe it was my allergies and the medication I was taking but the ending where Marnie is waving goodbye to Anna is what got to me.

I was able to relate to Anna with certain things throughout the film which made me get a bit more invested in her character. Now I will say this film is a bit slow especially at the beginning but, at least imo, it makes up for it.

The animation was great as usual and the soundtrack was good as well. The english ... dub which I watched was good too, the VAs definitely help bring the characters to life.

Will definitely be rewatching to see if it was really just my allergies lol.

Studio Ghibli keeps on stepping their game up and continue to impress me in their aesthetics in animation, and it is more and more versatile each time. Perhaps the prettiest Ghibli film is PONYO, but that is in the fantastical and imaginitive sense. The prettiest in antiquity in beauty, in the classic sense is maybe THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA... in a realistic sense, WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE takes the cake. At the beginning of the film, the viewer could be tricked into thinking this to be an insanely dark film... well, extreme for a Ghibli film, with the main character looking at others ... in dismay, setting an initially cynical tone, but really, it isn't too bad, and totally approachable for a "feel good" experience, I think. Anna, our main character, has an asthma attack, and awakens, sick in a bed at "Auntie's" house. This is her caretaker, and Anna expresses concern for having cost them money, but she also knows that "Auntie" isn't her mother, and in fact, receives money for taking care of Anna. This bothers Anna and sets an internal conflict. Anna is sent away to live with family in the country for better air and relaxation, away from the bad air and her troubles at home and school, and here we find an extremely cozy home. It is old and settled in, with surrounding trees almost hugging it and holding it down. If I were to go relax, this would be one of my considerations. She looks out onto the shallow water atop the marshes, and I got the flutter that is constant in Ghibli flicks, with that feeling where you're no longer looking at a screen or a film really, but that you're there in the picture itself and experiencing it in real time, with birds walking over the water and an overwhelming feeling of peace. What I appreciate about the animation in this film is the immense control and care to detail, both little and large, mostly in action and in visuals. Anna decides to walk to an old house she sees that she admires, and it somehow seems familiar, and while walking to it, she trips, as she is walking through the marshes and maybe she stepped on some loose land below the shallow water or maybe it was deeper where she stepped. This isn't anything we were supposed to pay too much attention to, but adding this in just adds that extra touch of control and will to make a film able to be experienced. When she crosses the marshes and reaches the home, an areal view, slightly cornered from the upper right, we see Anna walking up some stone steps, aged, and we see moss on the stone, and she walks up them and we see the rusted steel furniture with a few broken legs that have been there for years and years that may be familiar from our grandmothers' houses, and these, visually, are the attention catered details I admire. There is even a scene with a mirror in the background, and as somebody walks across the room, her reflection shows up in it. Theses are not crucial to the plot and are not crucial to make a pretty film pretty, but they are indeed extra, and extra in a fine way. There are many other great elements too. Where Anna is staying, the kitchen is very cozy and, like the house itself, settled in. Everything seems to have a place, even though it may not actually go there. For example, in my home, we have salt and pepper shakers on our stove. Salt and pepper shakers do not necessarily go on a stove, but in our home, if we need salt and pepper shakers, we go to the stove. They are settled in and are not moving from there any time soon.
Anna is advised by her family, light heartedly, of course, to stay away from the home. It is haunted, apparently. She is also advised to participate in a festival to make some friends. She does and while there, she has a dispute when a more heavyset girl calls her special and comments that her eyes are so blue that they almost seem foreign, and Anna backlashes. She runs off and says that she looks "just like she is" to herself, and that, she thinks, is unpleasant, ugly, hated, etc. This is why she "hates herself," she says. She meets her friend, Marnie who supposedly lives in the home, and they talk at night and become close friends. Marnie's parents are usually away, but when they are home, they throw wonderful parties, one of which Anna attends. At one point, when Anna is supposed to visit Marnie, she "nearly forgets" and then does not see her for awhile. She worries that Marnie might be mad at her and Marnie actually moves away and a new family moves into the house. She soon does get the chance to see her again though, and while talking to her, we discover that Marnie wishes she were Anna and Anna wishes she were Marnie. Marnie has neglectful parents and mean maids. We know Anna's problems. The two profess to love each other more than they love anybody else. A young girl lives in Marnie's old house now and saves Anna who is almost passed out in the rain from a journey that she and Marnie went on. Marnie left Anna. Anna says that she resents Marnie and will never forgive her, although she does. Shortly after, an older woman painting, that said she knew Marnie, reveals everything. She says that Marnie was her friend as a child, and she would brag about her rich parents, but they were neglectful, and the maids were mean, and she grew up and gave birth, but her husband, Kazuhiko, died, and she was sent to a sanatorium, which left her child alone. The child ran off when Marnie was released and tried to become involved in her life again, and married, and had a child and died. Marnie raised the grandchild. We learn that the grandchild was actually Anna. This is why the house seemed and the ghost is Marnie. It is haunted, but not negatively. While this is all being revealed, Anna is looking in on the scenes described, kind of like we see in MILLENNIUM ACTRESS or A CHRISTMAS CAROL. This adds for a more emotional attachment to the plot. The film is a little more complex than most Ghibli films, but totally getable for the average viewer, as it wraps it up in the end almost entirely, kind of like FIGHT CLUB does. Who knows, maybe upon a rewatch, we could catch things not noticed the first time around, being ignorant to all of the details.