When Marnie Was There
Movie Details:
| Kanji | 思い出のマーニー |
| Literal meaning | Marnie of [my] Memories |
| Revised Hepburn | Omoide no Mānī |
| Based on | When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genres | Animation, Drama, Family, Mystery |
| Release date | 19 July 2014 |
| Running time | 1hr 43min |
| Age rating | PG |
| Starring | Sara Takatsuki Kasumi Arimura Hana Sugisaki Hitomi Kuroki Ryoko Moriyama |
| Directed by | Hiromasa Yonebayashi |
| Screenplay by | Masashi Andō Keiko Niwa Hiromasa Yonebayashi |
| Produced by | Yoshiaki Nishimura |
| Cinematography by | Atsushi Okui |
| Edited by | Rie Matsubara Takeshi Seyama |
| Music by | Takatsugu Muramatsu |
| Production Design by | Yôhei Taneda (as Yohei Taneda) |
| Art Direction by | Yôhei Taneda (as Yohei Taneda) |
| Production Company | Studio Ghibli |
| Distributor | Toho |
Cast & Characters:
| Character | Japanese Cast | English Dub Cast |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Sasaki | Sara Takatsuki | Hailee Steinfeld |
| Marnie | Kasumi Arimura | Taylor Autumn Bertman |
| Ryoko Moriyama | Kiernan Shipka | |
| Catherine O’Hara | ||
| Sayaka | Hana Sugisaki | Ava Acres |
| Hisako | Hitomi Kuroki | Vanessa Williams |
| Mila Brener | ||
| Yoriko Sasaki | Nanako Matsushima | Geena Davis |
| Kiyomasa Oiwa | Susumu Terajima | John C. Reilly |
| Setsu Oiwa | Toshie Negishi | Grey Griffin |
| Nanny | Kazuko Yoshiyuki | Ellen Burstyn |
| Tōichi | Ken Yasuda (TEAM NACS) | Fred Tatasciore |
| Mrs. Kadoya | — | Kathy Bates |
| Nobuko Kadoya | Akiko Yoritsune | Raini Rodriguez |
| Doctor Yamashita | Yo Oizumi (TEAM NACS) | Bob Bergen |
| Neighborhood Association Officer | Takuma Oto’o (TEAM NACS) | — |
| Art Teacher | Hiroyuki Morisaki (TEAM NACS) | — |
| Gentleman | Shigeyuki Totsugi (TEAM NACS) | — |
| Emily | Renge Ishiyama | Ashley Johnson |
| Kazuhiko | — | James Sie |
| Takeshi | — | Mikey Kelley |
Storyline:
A 12-year-old girl is sent to the country for health reasons, where she meets an unlikely friend in the form of Marnie, a young girl with long, flowing blonde hair. As the friendship unravels, Marnie may have closer ties to the protagonist than we might expect.
About Movie:
When Marnie Was There (Japanese: 思い出のマーニー, Omoide no Mānī) is a Japanese animated psychological drama film co-written and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Produced by Studio Ghibli and distributed by Toho, the film is based on Joan G. Robinson’s 1967 novel of the same name.
The story follows Anna Sasaki, a young girl who is sent to stay with her relatives in a town located in the Kushiro wetlands of Hokkaido. While there, she discovers an abandoned mansion and meets Marnie, a mysterious girl who asks Anna to keep their friendship a secret. As their bond deepens over the summer, Anna uncovers truths about her family and her own identity.
The film features the final work of Studio Ghibli animator Makiko Futaki, who passed away in May 2016. It also marks Yonebayashi’s last film as a director for Ghibli before moving on to join Studio Ponoc. Upon its release on July 19, 2014, When Marnie Was There received positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation quality, music, vocal performances, and emotional depth. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on March 18, 2015.
The film was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year. Its exploration of themes such as friendship, memory, and self-discovery resonates with audiences, making it a notable entry in Studio Ghibli’s filmography.
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | ¥1.15 billion ($10.5 million) |
| Opening Day | $27,388 |
| Domestic Collection | $561,085 |
| International Collection | $34,451,596 |
| Worldwide Collection | $35,012,681 |