GKIDS has released the When Marnie Was There U.S. trailer. Based off the 1981 book by Joan G. Robinson, Marnie tells the story of Anna, a lonely, young girl who meets a strange girl by the name of Marnie.  Just when it seems like their friendship is striking up, Marnie mysteriously disappears, and Anna begins to learn some strange truths about her new friends.

The story looks absolutely lovely with some of Studio Ghibli’s finest animation to date. Last August, we reported that although the legendary animation studio wasn’t closing its door, it was “restructuring”, and we have yet to learn what that means for their future in terms of producing movies. Judging by this trailer, I hope Marnie isn't their last because it looks like their movies are as strong as ever.

Check out the When Marnie Was There trailer below. The film opens in New York and L.A. on May 22nd, and features the voices of Hailee Steinfeld, Kiernan Shipka, John C. Reilly, Vanessa Williams, Geena Davis, Kathy Bates, Ellen Burstyn, and Catherine O’Hara.

Via USA Today.

Here's the synopsis for When Marnie Was There:

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…

 

Based on the novel by Joan G. Robinson, When Marnie WasThere is the newest film from Studio Ghibli, and the second feature film by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the director of The Secret World of Arrietty.