There isn’t a single line of dialogue spoken in the first trailer for Japanese animation Studio Ghibli’s upcoming film – probably a relief for audiences who don’t speak Japanese – When Marnie Was There, but words really aren’t necessary. The trailer gets its point across just fine with images and music. And that point is: you will cry, but you’ll be admiring the beautiful animation through your tears.
When Marnie Was There is Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s second directorial effort (he’s had different roles on other various animated films) after his 2011 film, The Secret World of Arrietty – adapted from the Mary Norton novel, The Borrowers. Like Arrietty, When Manrie Was There is based on a novel – this time one with the same title as the film written by Joan G. Robinson.
Here’s the book’s plot summary:
Anna hasn’t a friend in the world – until she meets Marnie among the sand dunes. But Marnie isn’t all she seems…Sent away from her foster home one long, hot summer to a sleepy Norfolk village by the sea, Anna dreams her days away among the sandhills and marshes. She never expected to meet a friend like Marnie, someone who doesn’t judge Anna for being ordinary and not-even-trying. But no sooner has Anna learned the loveliness of friendship than Marnie vanishes…
When Marnie Was There is set for a July 19, 2014 release; an American release is expected sometime after.