When Marnie Was There

When Marnie Was There is the latest offering from arguably the greatest anime studio of recent years, Studio Ghibli, which has previously released staple anime films such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. Like other Ghibli films such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Arrietty, When Marnie Was There is adapted from a classic English children’s book, this time Joan Robinson’s Norfolk fantasy adventure first published in 1967. Possibly Studio Ghibli’s last feature film due to the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki, When Marnie Was There follows a young girl who moves to the countryside and discovers an abandoned mansion in which she finds an unlikely friend in Marnie, a girl who may or may not be real. As with all Ghibli films, When Marnie Was There treats us to an atmospheric and heart-warming story of dreams, magic and mystery. With gorgeous animation and a beautiful score of music, When Marnie Was There is definitely not one to be missed for avid fans of Studio Ghibli and is also a great start for those who are completely new to the genre.

Hannah Freeman