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When Marnie Was There
思い出のマーニー
2014 103 min Japan PG 12+
★8.2
Animation, Drama, Family
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
🎭 Based on
«When Marnie Was There»
byJoan Gale Robinson
Trailers
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EN
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EN
Teaser
Teaser
EN
Description
Upon being sent to live with relatives in the countryside due to an illness, an emotionally distant adolescent girl becomes obsessed with an abandoned mansion and infatuated with a girl who lives there - a girl who may or may not be real.
US Gross:
$561,085
Worldwide:
$34.95M
Starring
Sara Takatsuki
Actor
Kasumi Arimura
Actor
Nanako Matsushima
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2016
— Best Animated Feature
Academy Awards 2016
— Best Animated Feature
Key opinion
When Marnie Was There is widely celebrated for its evocative, sensory-rich animation and its deeply touching, melancholic exploration of childhood trauma and self-acceptance. While most viewers praise its gentle, atmospheric storytelling, a minority find the narrative structure disjointed and the character motivations occasionally frustrating.
| Production | The film features breathtaking visual artistry, with lush landscapes and meticulous attention to nature that ranks among Studio Ghibli's best work. | |
| Emotion | The story delivers a powerful emotional resonance, with many viewers finding the conclusion deeply moving and cathartic. | |
| Pacing | The film’s quiet, meditative pacing rewards viewers seeking a reflective, slow-burn experience, though some find it lacks the traditional narrative drive found in classic Ghibli films. | |
| Theme | The relationship between Anna and Marnie is interpreted differently, with some viewing it as a profound, soulful bond while others find its ambiguity and the characters' actions to be inconsistent or emotionally cold. |