We last saw the North American release of When Marnie Was There as distributed by Universal on DVD and Blu-ray back in 2015 and it’s now coming around again thanks to GKIDS. The film is set for a DVD/BD steelbook limited edition on October 11th, 2022. The set will feature the original Japanese language with English subtitles as well as the English dubbed version.
Extras for the set include:
- Exclusive Booklet
- Feature-Length Storyboards
- The Making Of When Marnie Was There
- Yohei Taneda Creates The Art Of When Marnie Was There,
- Behind The Scenes With The Voice Cast
- Trailers & TV Spots
Based on the novel by Joan G. Robinson, the 2014 anime feature film was directed by Hiromasa Yonebashi who worked on the screenplay with Keiko Niwa and Masashi Ando. Ando also worked on the character designs and served as the animation director with Studio Ghibli handling the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes Kasumi Arimura as Marnie, Sara Takatsuki as Anna, Hana Sugisaki as Sayaka, Hitomi Kuroki as Hisako, Kazuko Yoshiyuki as Baaya, Nanako Matsushima as Yoriko, Susumu Terajima as Kiyomasa Ōiwa, and Toshie Negishi as Setsu Ōiwa.
The English dub was directed by Jamie Simone at STUDIOPOLIS with a cast that includes Hailee Steinfeld as Anna, Kiernan Shipka as Marnie, Ava Acres as Sayaka, Ellen Burstyn as Nan, Geena Davis as Yoriko, Grey Griffin as Setsu Oiwa, John C. Reilly as Kiyomasa Oiwa, and Vanessa Williams as Hisako.
Plot concept: Sent from her foster home in the city one summer to a sleepy town by the sea in Hokkaido, Anna dreams her days away among the marshes. She believes she’s outside the invisible magic circle to which most people belong – and shuts herself off from everyone around her, wearing her “ordinary face.” Anna never expected to meet a friend like Marnie, who does not judge Anna for being just what she is. But no sooner has Anna learned the loveliness of friendship than she begins to wonder about her newfound friend…
