Skip to content

Geeky Sweetie

The Best Anime RPG Games For Girls

  • Home
  • Top 10
    • The Best Games for Girls
    • The Best Anime for Girls
    • Top 10 Subscription Boxes for Geek Girls
    • The Best Disney Films For Girls
  • Reviews
    • Game Review
    • Anime Review
    • Manga Reviews
    • Kdrama Review
    • Subscription Box Review
    • Boardgame Review
    • Kawaii Review
    • Toy Review
    • Tech Review
    • Book Reviews
  • News
    • Game News
    • Anime News
    • Manga News
    • Kdrama News
    • Boardgame News
    • Kawaii News
    • Movie News
    • Music News
    • Tech News
    • Book News
  • About Us
    • About Geeky Sweetie
    • The Sweetest Geek
    • Contact Me
    • Understanding Our Scoring System
    • Review VS. Preview
    • Privacy Policy
    • Link to us!
    • Advertise With Us
  • Media Kit
  • Toggle search form

Artbook Review: The Art of The Secret World of Arietty

Posted on March 1, 2018March 30, 2021 By GeekySweetie

I received this book for free in exchange for a review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This large, beautiful hardcover artbook is a must have for any Hayao Miyazaki or Studio Ghibli fan. Within its pages lies a treasure trove of not only gorgeous artwork, but also a behind the scenes look at the work that went into creating The Secret World of Arietty. This book is very high quality. Its large oversize format makes it excellent for laying on your coffee table or bookshelf and its presentation is so inviting that your friends won’t be able to resist picking it up and scanning through the pages. Its an excellent conversation piece, as well as a great asset for a collector’s own private and personal collection.

Studio Ghibli The Art of The Secret World of Arietty Artbook
Studio Ghibli The Art of The Secret World of Arietty Artbook

With this review I struggled if I should include pictures, and if so how many, and which ones to include. I wanted you to see the beautiful artwork and the commentary from the artists at Studio Ghibli but I also wanted to not reveal too much as to avoid spoiling the surprise and excitement of reading the book for yourself. So I selected 3 or 4 images showing concept art and notes from the team. It’s also important to know there are many beautiful full color art pieces in the book as well, including some that spread across both pages. I just felt the concept art was far more interesting as we don’t get a glimpse of that by simply watching the film.

By far, my favorite part of the book is all of the commentary and interviews with the staff of Studio Ghibli. It’s easy enough to fill a picture book full of sketches and doodles, but what I really enjoyed was reading about how the film all came together, the various changes that were made to characters and settings within the anime, and getting a sense for what the artists feel about their finished creation. It was quite fascinating, especially reading it as someone working as a full time artist myself. I can really appreciate the team’s dedication and passion and I think that passion really shows through in the final product (both the film and this gorgeous artbook).

Studio Ghibli The Art of The Secret World of Arietty Artbook
Studio Ghibli The Art of The Secret World of Arietty Artbook

Studio Ghibli’s “The Secret World of Arietty” is based on a popular children’s book, The Borrowers by Mary Norton. This book has entertained children for several generations. But it’s also a book (and film) that can be enjoyed by the whole family, young or old alike. My grandmother told me that it is her favorite book, she told me she first read it when my mother checked it out of the library. I too read the book when I was younger, and I also enjoyed many other film and tv adaptations and similar books and movies and tv series such as The Littles and The Indian in the Cupboard.

The Borrowers and The Secret World of Arietty give you a glimpse at a hidden world right under our noses. The Borrowers are a tiny race of miniature humans who live in our walls and gardens and live off of things we waste or take for granted. If you ever notice a button or a needle is missing, you can bet it’s been “Borrowed”. Of course the human world presents many dangers to Arietty, she must be careful to not be discovered by the humans who could capture her and keep her as a pet or science experiment. At the same time she must be aware of her surroundings at all times. She could get swept away by just a small trickle of water, or mistaken for a mouse and gobbled up by a cat, or crushed underfoot by a horse and carriage. Arietty is of course not afraid of the human world, and instead intrigued by it. She finds the human world fascinating and impossible to resist. Especially when she meets and falls in love with a human boy who is equally fascinated by Arietty’s world. The story teaches us that even though our lives may seem dull and mundane, that all it takes is a change of perspective to be reminded how wondrous life truly is.

Studio Ghibli The Art of The Secret World of Arietty Artbook
Studio Ghibli The Art of The Secret World of Arietty Artbook

Just as life is wondrous and full of adventure, so too is the official artbook, “The Art of The Secret World of Arietty”.

You can buy “The Art of The Secret World of Arietty” Artbook here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/197470033X

Buy the Borrowers complete set of books here: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Adventures-Borrowers-Mary-Norton/dp/0152049150/

Buy the DVD or Blu-Ray of the Secret World of Arietty here: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-World-Arrietty-Two-Disc-Blu-ray/dp/B005LAIGXM

Related

Anime, Anime Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Books and Manga, Fantasy, Featured, Film and Television, Kawaii Cute, Kawaii Review, Manga, Review, Slice of Life, TV and Film Tags:Anime, Anime and Manga, Anime Based on Books, Anime Movies Based on Books, Artbook, Artbook Review, Book Review, Books and Manga, Children's Anime, Cute, Cute Anime, Family Friendly, Family Friendly Anime, Ghibli, Hiyao Miyazaki, Innocent Anime, Kawaii, Kawaii Anime, Manga, Miyazaki, Review, Studio Ghibli, Studio Ghibli Anime Based on Books, The Art of the Secret World of Arietty, The Borrowers, The Secret World of Arietty, The Secret World of Arietty Artbook, Viz, Viz Media

Post navigation

Previous Post: Campus Life™: Fashion Girl IOS Mobile Game Review
Next Post: The Best Anime Apps for Your Iphone

Related Posts

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Tactics Ogre – Let Us Cling Together Review Anime
Devil Maker Tokyo Devil Maker Tokyo Review Android Phone
Persona 4 Persona 4 Review Dating Sim
Stein's Gate Stein’s Gate Review Anime
Dandelion Wishes Brought to You Dandelion: Wishes Brought to You Review Animals
Model Doll F Melissa Baul with Default Faceup By Dollmore Dollmore Model F Melissa Baul Review Action Figures
  • Spoiler Fan Theory: Who is the Real Butcher in M Night Shymalan’s Trap Movie?
  • Geeky Sweetie Gets Airplay on VRT Radio 1 in Belgium with “Even ChatGPT Said It – Must Be True”
  • Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal – Excited? Disappointed? A Little of Both.
  • Review: Sailor Moon Super Live – North America Tour (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • AIR is Finally in English—A Dream Come True for Visual Novel Fans
  • About Geeky Sweetie
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Me
  • Credits
  • Link to us!
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Review VS. Preview
  • Social Stream
  • The Best Anime for Girls
  • The Best Games for Girls
  • The Sweetest Geek
  • Understanding Our Scoring System
  • Welcome to GeekySweetie.com

Android Anime Choices Matter Cute Dating Sim Decisions Matter Free Game Game game review Games games for girls Gaming JRPG Kawaii Mobile Game Multiple Endings Nintendo Nintendo Switch Otome PC PC Game PC Games Playstation Playstation 2 Playstation 4 PS2 PS4 Retro Retro Gamers Retro Games Retro Gaming Review Romance RPG Sim Simulation Slice of Life Sony Story Rich Technology Video Game Videogame Video Games Videogames Visual Novel

  • About Geeky Sweetie
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Me
  • Credits
  • Link to us!
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Review VS. Preview
  • Social Stream
  • The Best Anime for Girls
  • The Best Games for Girls
  • The Sweetest Geek
  • Understanding Our Scoring System
  • Welcome to GeekySweetie.com

Copyright © 2025 Geeky Sweetie.

Powered by PressBook Masonry Dark