The Secret World of Arrietty
Fourteen-year-old Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler, Saoirse Ronan, and Mirai Shida) and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their own home from items that they borrow from the house's human inhabitants. However, life changes for the Clocks when a human boy discovers Arrietty.
Despite a mid-range budget of $23.0M, The Secret World of Arrietty became a runaway success, earning $149.7M worldwide—a remarkable 551% return.
12 wins & 6 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) demonstrates strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Hiromasa Yonebayashi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 5.6, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Arrietty and her parents live secretly beneath the floorboards of a human house, preparing for her first "borrowing" mission. Her world is small, hidden, and safe.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when During her first borrowing, Arrietty is seen by Shawn through the grate. The fundamental rule of Borrower survival is broken—their hidden existence is compromised.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Hara, the housekeeper, discovers evidence of the Borrowers and becomes suspicious. The stakes raise—what was a personal secret becomes an active threat. The false safety of their friendship is exposed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 62 minutes (66% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Hara captures Homily, tears apart the Borrowers' home, and calls pest control. The Clock family's entire way of life is destroyed. Arrietty faces the "death" of her home, her safety, and her childhood innocence., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 68 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Arrietty and Shawn work together to rescue Homily. The family escapes with the help of Spiller, another Borrower. Arrietty says goodbye to Shawn, giving him her hair clip as a token of their friendship before departing into the unknown., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Secret World of Arrietty's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Secret World of Arrietty against these established plot points, we can identify how Hiromasa Yonebayashi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Secret World of Arrietty within the animation genre.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Hiromasa Yonebayashi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.4, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Secret World of Arrietty takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Hiromasa Yonebayashi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Hiromasa Yonebayashi analyses, see Mary and The Witch's Flower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Arrietty and her parents live secretly beneath the floorboards of a human house, preparing for her first "borrowing" mission. Her world is small, hidden, and safe.
Theme
Homily warns Arrietty about being seen by humans: "Being seen by a human means the end of our way of life." The theme of visibility, connection, and choosing between safety and authenticity is introduced.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Borrower world: the Clock family's routines, the rules of borrowing, the dangers of being seen. Shawn arrives at the house to rest before his surgery, curious and observant.
Disruption
During her first borrowing, Arrietty is seen by Shawn through the grate. The fundamental rule of Borrower survival is broken—their hidden existence is compromised.
Resistance
Pod and Homily debate whether they must move immediately. Arrietty is torn between fear and curiosity about Shawn. Pod tries to teach her the old ways while she questions whether hiding forever is truly living.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Arrietty and Shawn's secret friendship grows. She explores with new freedom, he shares his fears about his heart surgery. The "fun and games" of their cross-species connection—the premise the audience came for.
Midpoint
Hara, the housekeeper, discovers evidence of the Borrowers and becomes suspicious. The stakes raise—what was a personal secret becomes an active threat. The false safety of their friendship is exposed.
Opposition
Hara actively searches for the Borrowers. Shawn tries to help but his interference makes things worse. Pod is injured during a borrowing. The pressure intensifies as Arrietty's two worlds collide destructively.
Collapse
Hara captures Homily, tears apart the Borrowers' home, and calls pest control. The Clock family's entire way of life is destroyed. Arrietty faces the "death" of her home, her safety, and her childhood innocence.
Crisis
Arrietty grieves the loss of her home while trying to rescue her mother. She must process that her friendship with Shawn, however genuine, led to catastrophe. The dark night of uncertainty and loss.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Arrietty and Shawn work together to rescue Homily. The family escapes with the help of Spiller, another Borrower. Arrietty says goodbye to Shawn, giving him her hair clip as a token of their friendship before departing into the unknown.