As a lifelong fan and follower of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films, the announcement that ‘The Secret World of Arrietty,’ the studio’s newest foray, will include several former Saturday Night Live cast members has left me understandably worried.
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler, a couple whose names are now household references, have long-since hung up their hats at SNL’s Manhattan studio. With success assured, however, the two is turning their attention toward an often ignored, undermined medium: Japanimation. And who better to team up with than Studio Ghibli, the animation house partly responsible for introducing America to the bizarre themes and memorable sprites of anime. The Secret World of Arrietty ironically borrows its concept from Mary Norton’s popular book series, ‘The Borrowers.’ With Poehler and Arnett at center stage, the film will follow the exploits of the Clock Family, a group of 4-inch people who make their toil by snagging resources from their host family. If the script avoids any painful references to cowbells and concentrates on what’s made Ghibli films great, Disney may just succeed in transferring the idea from East to West.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Foreign-language Animation
- The success of 'The Secret World of Arrietty' featuring former SNL cast members highlights the potential for more collaborations between Western performers and Japanese animation studios.
- Celebrity Voice Actors in Animation
- The casting of famous actors in animated films, particularly those who are not traditionally associated with the medium, could bring new attention and wider audiences to the genre.
- Adaptations of Popular Children's Books
- Animated films based on beloved book series, such as 'The Borrowers,' could appeal to fans of the source material and introduce new generations to classic stories.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Animation/entertainment
- Collaborations between Western celebrities and Japanese animation studios could lead to fresh and innovative animated features, appealing to a wider audience.
- Publishing
- Animated adaptations of popular children's book series could generate renewed interest in the original source material, leading to increased book sales.
- Marketing/advertising
- The use of celebrity voice actors in animated films can attract attention and generate buzz, leading to increased ticket sales and brand awareness for both the celebrities and the films they appear in.
