Which Studio Ghibli film was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi in 2014?
Answer
When Marnie Was There
When Marnie Was There was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi in 2014.
The film follows Anna Sasaki, a lonely girl sent to stay with relatives in rural Hokkaido. There she meets Marnie, a mysterious girl who lives in an old mansion beside a marsh. Their friendship unfolds across shifting memories, dreams, and discoveries about Marnie’s identity.
Yonebayashi adapted the film from Joan G. Robinson’s 1967 British children’s novel When Marnie Was There. It was his second feature as director after Arrietty. Studio Ghibli released the film in Japan on July 19, 2014, the same date used for several major Ghibli summer releases.
The story is sometimes categorized simply as a ghost story, but its emotional focus is Anna’s loneliness, adoption, family history, and gradual ability to trust others. The film was the last Studio Ghibli feature directed by Yonebayashi before he left the company and helped establish Studio Ponoc.