Ghibli’s “Arrietty the Borrower” Headed to US

Add another title to the list of animated features opening in the US in 2011. According to The Ghibli Blog, Arrietty the Borrower (directed by Miyazaki’s key animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi) will open in American movie theaters via Disney later this year. Frank Marshall is once again producing the US translation (as he had with Ponyo in 2008). The borrower sprite Arriety is being voiced by Bridgit Mendler (Disney’s Good Luck Charlie), her parents are being dubbed by Will Arnett and Amy Poehler. David Henrie (Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place) and Carol Burnett will be voicing the human characters, Sho and his Aunt respectively. Based on Mary Norton’s 1952 book, The Borrowers, the Studio Ghibli production was released in Japan last July. It will most likely open in the U.S. during late summer.