‘The Secret World of Arrietty’ borrows from ‘Borrowers’

When: Opening Friday at local theaters

Cast: Voices of Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett

Directors: Hiromasa Yonebayashi , Gary Rydstrom

The story: A diminutive family hides among humans, until their daughter is discovered by the wider human world.

The buzz: If the plotline sounds familiar, it should; it’s borrowed from Mary Norton’s kid-lit classic "The Borrowers" but moves the action from Britain to Tokyo — because this is the latest animated adventure from Japan’s Studio Ghibli , the wonderful folks who brought you "Spirited Away" and "Howl’s Moving Castle." But don’t worry — you won’t have to read subtitles, thanks to the dubbed-in-English soundtrack.

— CAROL CLING