When Marnie Was There

When Marnie Was There (Japanese: 思い出のマーニー, Hepburn: Omoide no Mānī, "Marnie of [My] Memories") is a 2014 Japanese anime drama film written and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, produced by Studio Ghibli for Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DYMP, Walt Disney Japan, Mitsubishi, Toho and KDDI and distributed by Toho. It is based on Joan G. Robinson's 1967 novel of the same name.[2][3]

When Marnie Was There
Japanese theatrical release poster
Japanese思い出のマーニー
HepburnOmoide no Mānī
LiterallyMarnie of [my] Memories
Directed byHiromasa Yonebayashi
Produced byYoshiaki Nishimura
Screenplay by
Based onWhen Marnie Was There
by Joan G. Robinson
Starring
Music byTakatsugu Muramatsu
CinematographyAtsushi Okuo
Edited byRie Matsubara
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • 19 July 2014 (2014-07-19)
Running time
103 minutes[1]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Budget¥1.15 billion
($10.5 million)
Box office¥3.85 billion
($36 million)

The film follows Anna Sasaki staying with her relatives in a town in Kushiro wetlands, Hokkaido. Anna comes across a nearby abandoned mansion, where she meets Marnie, a mysterious girl who asks her to promise to keep their secrets from everyone. As the summer progresses, Anna spends more time with Marnie, and eventually Anna learns the truth about her family and foster care.

It was the final film for Studio Ghibli, before it announced a short break after The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, and the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki a year before the film was released.[4] The film featured the final work for Studio Ghibli animator Makiko Futaki, who died in May 2016.[5] It was also the final film that Yonebayashi directed for Ghibli before he left and joined Studio Ponoc. The film received positive reviews from critics, praising its animation, music, vocal performances, and emotional story. It was released in theatres on 19 July 2014,[6] and on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on 18 March 2015.[7] It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 88th Academy Awards.

Kushiro Wetlands, in Hokkaido, Japan
Places such as Sapporo were part of the film.
The old silo that appears in the film is based on Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill, Norfolk.

Plot

Anna Sasaki is an introverted 12-year-old girl with low self-esteem living in Sapporo with foster parents, Yoriko and her husband. One day, she suffers an asthma attack at school. The doctor insists that her asthma is being triggered by stress. At the doctor's recommendation to send Anna to a place where the air is clean, her parents decide to have her spend summer break with Yoriko's relatives, Setsu and Kiyomasa Oiwa, who live in a rural seaside town called Kissakibetsu, located between Kushiro and Nemuro.

Anna investigates an abandoned mansion across a salt marsh. She finds it familiar but gets trapped by the rising tide until she is found by Toichi, an old fisherman. Setsu tells her that the mansion used to be a vacation home for wealthy foreigners, but has been empty for a long time. Anna starts dreaming of a blonde girl in the mansion. On the night of the Tanabata festival, she meets the blonde girl, Marnie, at the mansion. The two agree to keep their meetings secret. Marnie asks about how Anna likes living with the Oiwas but disappears. Anna has visions of being back in the Oiwa house, implying that Anna is dreaming. Marnie invites Anna to a party at the mansion, where she sees Marnie dancing with a boy named Kazuhiko. Locals find Anna asleep outside, suggesting that the party may also have been a dream. The mansion also appears abandoned and dilapidated again.

Anna meets Hisako, an older woman who paints. Hisako comments that Anna's sketches look like a girl whom she knew when she was young. Not soon after a family is set to move into the mansion. At the mansion during the move-in, Anna meets a girl named Sayaka, who gives her Marnie's diary that had been hidden in a drawer. Anna meets Marnie again and admits to finding documents that show her foster parents are paid to take care of her. She makes the assumption that they only pretend to love her for the money, and says she can’t forgive her biological family for leaving her behind and dying. Marnie shares how her parents are always traveling abroad, and how she is always left behind with her rude nanny and two maids. The maids bully her and threaten to lock her in the silo near the mansion. Anna leads Marnie to the silo to confront the latter’s fear of it. Marnie conquers her fear and the pair fall asleep. Anna has a dream of Kazuhiko comforting Marnie. She wakes up, only to find Marnie gone, and is heartbroken.

Meanwhile, Sayaka finds the missing pages from Marnie's diary, which include passages about Kazuhiko and the silo. She and her brother search for Anna, only to find her unconscious with a high fever. They bring her back to the Oiwas, where Anna dreams about confronting Marnie, who tells Anna she is sorry for leaving her and that she cannot see Anna anymore.

When Anna recovers from her fever, Hisako reveals Marnie's story: Marnie married Kazuhiko and they had a daughter named Emily, who Marnie loved dearly due to years of loneliness and depression. Kazuhiko died from a sudden illness and Marnie committed herself to a sanatorium to cope with her loss. With no other family to care for her, Emily was sent to a boarding school at a young age. Marnie recovered but preteen Emily was resentful for her mother abandoning her. In her adulthood, Emily had a daughter herself, but she and her husband were killed in a car accident. Marnie raised her granddaughter, who was placed in foster care after her death.

At the end of the summer, Yoriko arrives to take Anna home and is delighted to see Anna having made new friends in Hisako, Toichi and Sayaka. She gives Anna a photograph of the mansion and says it belonged to Anna's grandmother. When Anna sees Marnie's name written on the back, she realizes that she is Emily's daughter, and Marnie's granddaughter. This revelation brings closure about her identity. Yoriko also tells Anna about the government payments, but reassures her that they have always loved her. For the first time Anna calls Yoriko her mother.

During the end credits, Anna says goodbye to her friends before seeing Marnie at the mansion window waving goodbye to her.

Production

The original novel by Joan G. Robinson had previously been cited by Hayao Miyazaki as one of his favorite children's novels.[8] Hiromasa Yonebayashi was assigned the project by Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, who asked him to change the setting of the story to Japan. Yonebayashi found the story moving, but he "thought it would be very difficult to visualize as a film," and initially turned down the role. His interest was later renewed, however, and he began to conceive of new elements for the story, such as Anna's characterization as an artist.[9] Although the setting was changed, the decision was made to retain Marnie's appearance as blonde and blue-eyed, though Miyazaki was opposed to this decision. He later criticized the usage of Marnie's character to promote the film, opining that it was "plain outdated and cheesy."[10]

Yonebayashi intended the film to be encouraging to children in Japan who felt lonely and isolated, and hoped that "when they see Marnie, maybe they could take a little step forward".[9] Key focus was placed upon highly detailed character movements and backgrounds, as well as depicting the details of Anna's experience in the environment.[11][12] The Marsh House that is central to the story was designed by Yohei Taneda, who Yonebayashi asked "to draw the Marsh House as if it were another character who watches over Anna." Taneda scouted buildings in Hokkaido for inspiration.[13]

Voice cast

Character Japanese cast English dub cast[14]
Anna Sasaki Sara Takatsuki[15] Hailee Steinfeld
Marnie Kasumi Arimura (young)
Ryoko Moriyama (old)[15]
Kiernan Shipka
Taylor Autumn Bertman (young)
Catherine O'Hara (old)
Sayaka Hana Sugisaki[16] Ava Acres
Hisako Hitomi Kuroki[15] Vanessa Williams
Mila Brener (young)
Yoriko Sasaki Nanako Matsushima[15] Geena Davis
Kiyomasa Oiwa Susumu Terajima[15] John C. Reilly
Setsu Oiwa Toshie Negishi[15] Grey Griffin
Nanny Kazuko Yoshiyuki[15] Ellen Burstyn
Tōichi Ken Yasuda Fred Tatasciore
Mrs. Kadoya N/A Kathy Bates
Nobuko Kadoya Akiko Yoritsune Raini Rodriguez
Doctor Yamashita Yo Oizumi Bob Bergen
Neighborhood Association Officer Takuma Otoo N/A
Art Teacher Hiroyuki Morisaki N/A
Emily Renge Ishikawa Ashley Johnson
Kazuhiko N/A James Sie
Takeshi Doi N/A Mikey Kelley

Music

When Marnie Was There Soundtrack Music Collection
Soundtrack album by
Takatsugu Muramatsu
Released16 July 2014 (2014-07-16)
GenreSoundtrack
Length1:11:18
LabelStudio Ghibli Records
Tokuma Japan Communications
Singles from When Marnie Was There Soundtrack Music Collection
  1. "Fine on the Outside"
    Released: 2 July 2014

When Marnie Was There Soundtrack Music Collection, known as Omoide no Marnie Santora Ongaku Shuu (思い出のマーニーサントラ音楽集) in Japan, is a two-disc soundtrack and image song album that was released on CD in Japan and in 113 countries worldwide (including Japan) as a digital download on the iTunes Store on 16 July 2014.[17] The first "Image Song" disc features music composed to express the personality of the characters and feel of places in the film. The second disc features all the background music for the film. Priscilla Ahn, the writer and performer of the movie's theme song, "Fine on the Outside", also released an accompanying album to the film called Just Know That I Love You on 16 July 2014.

Track listing

Disc 1
No.TitleLength
1."'The Oiwa Home' (大岩さんの家, Oiwa-san no Ie)"3:36
2."High Tide, Low Tide (潮の満ち引き, Shio no Michibiki)"3:43
3."Anna (杏奈)"3:38
4."Marnie (マーニー, Mānī)"4:37
5."Sayaka's Dream (彩香の夢, Sayaka no Yume)"2:23
6."Anna (Piano Version) (杏奈(ピアノバージョン), Anna (Piano Bājon))"3:54
Total length:21:50
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."'An Ordinary Face' (「普通の顔」, 'Futsū no Kao')"1:40
2."Anna's Journey (杏奈の旅立ち, Anna no Tabidachi)"1:42
3."Sending a Postcard (ハガキを出しに, Hagaki o Dashi ni)"2:00
4."The Marsh House (しめっち屋敷, Shimetchi Yashiki)"2:09
5."'The Light Is On!' (「明かりがついてる!」, 'Akari ga Tsuiteru!')"0:23
6."The Girl in the Blue Window (青い窓の少女, Aoi Mado no Shōjo)"0:57
7."Sketching on the Boat (ボートの上でスケッチ, Bōto no Ue de Suketchi)"0:43
8."The Girl Stood Up! (少女は立ち上がった!, Shōjo wa Tachiagatta!)"0:39
9."'Like Just What I Am' (「わたしはわたしのとおり」, 'Watashi wa Watashi no Tōri')"0:59
10."When I Held a Doll (人形を抱いていた頃, Ningyō o Daiteita Koro)"0:47
11."'It's Not a Dream!' (「夢じゃないわ!」, 'Yume janai wa!')"3:25
12."The Two on the Boat (ボートの上の2人, Bōto no Ue no Futari)"1:47
13."Three Questions Each (質問は3つずつ, Shitsumon wa Mitsu Zutsu)"1:14
14."The Party (パーティ会場, Pāti Kaijō)"1:45
15."Kazuhiko and Marnie Dance (和彦とマーニーのダンス, Kazuhiko to Mānī no Dansu)"2:22
16."'Let's Dance, You and I!' (「あたしたちも踊りましょう!」, 'Atashi-tachi mo Odorimashō!')"1:57
17."While Cutting Tomatoes (トマトを切りながら, Tomato wo Kirinagara)"1:14
18."Hisako's Painting (久子の絵, Hisako no E)"0:37
19."The Blue Diary (青い日記, Aoi Nikki)"2:43
20."The Mushroom Forest (キノコの森, Kinoko no Mori)"1:21
21."The Two Confess (2人の告白, Futari no Kokuhaku)"3:38
22."'It's Like We Traded Places!' (「入れ変わっちゃったみたい!」, 'Irekawatchatta Mitai!')"0:57
23."Anna Runs in the Storm (杏奈、嵐の中を走る, Anna, Arashi no Naka wo Hashiru)"0:46
24."A Final Wish (最後のお願い, Saigo no Onegai)"2:52
25."Hisako's Story 1 (久子の話1, Hisako no Hanashi 1)"3:13
26."Hisako's Story 2 (久子の話2, Hisako no Hanashi 2)"1:26
27."When Marnie Was There (思い出のマーニー, Omoide no Mānī)"1:58
28."Fine on the Outside" (Words and music written by Priscilla Ahn)4:14
Total length:49:29

Release

When Marnie Was There was released in Japan on July 19, 2014. On 14 January, GKIDS announced that they would be distributing the film for a North American release on May 22, 2015.[18] The film premièred at the New York International Children's Film Festival on 27 February 2015.[19] The film had its UK premiere during the BFI London Film Festival on 10 October 2015 with a wider release scheduled for 10 June 2016.[20]

The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan by Walt Disney Studios Japan on 18 March 2015,[21] and released on Blu-ray and DVD in America by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on October 6, 2015.[22]

Reception

Box office

When Marnie Was There opened at third place, grossing ¥379 million during its opening weekend in Japan.[23] By its fourth weekend, it had earned ¥2.08 billion ,[24] made an additional ¥930 million in its next two weekends,[25] and had a total of ¥3.363 billion by its eighth weekend.[26] By the end of 2014, the film had grossed ¥3.53 billion ($33,319,244) in Japan.[27]

Overseas, the film sold 114,679 tickets in France,[28] equivalent to approximately 743,120 ($848,792) in 2015.[29] In North America, the film had grossed $186,844 by its third weekend,[30] and went on to gross $561,085 in the United States and Canada.[31] In South Korea, it grossed ₩284,696,700 ($251,686) in 2015.[32] The film grossed $763,191 in other territories,[33] for a worldwide total of approximately $35,732,996.

Book sales

Following the success of the film, Robinson's original novel experienced a boost in sales internationally. Her agent Caroline Sheldon sold the rights of the book to 10 countries, including Japan, Italy, Spain and China. The book was also re-released in English by HarperCollins Children's Books as part of its classics range.[34]

Critical response

When Marnie Was There received positive reviews. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 91%, based on 99 reviews, with an average rating of 7.47/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "When Marnie Was There is still blessed with enough visual and narrative beauty to recommend, even if it isn't quite as magical as Studio Ghibli's greatest works."[35] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[36]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Results Ref(s)
2015 Japan Academy Prize Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year Nominated [37]
Chicago International Children's Film Festival Best Animated Feature Film Won [38]
Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Animated Feature Film Nominated [39]
2016 Annie Awards Best Animated Feature – Independent Nominated [40]
Directing in an Animated Feature Production Hiromasa Yonebayashi Nominated
Writing in a Feature Production Keiko Niwa, Masashi Ando and Hiromasa Yonebayashi Nominated
Academy Awards Best Animated Feature Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura Nominated [41]
Saturn Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [42]

References

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