14-year-old Arrietty and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their own home from items "borrowed" from the house's human inhabitants. However, life changes for the Clocks when a human boy discovers Arrietty.
The character Arrietty shows great bravery as she ventures out into the human world despite the risks.
The movie emphasizes the value of friendship through the relationship that develops between Arrietty and a human boy named Sho.
Arrietty's curiosity drives much of the plot and leads her to discover new things about the world.
Characters show compassion and care for each other, despite their differences in size and species.
There are moments of danger and tension, particularly involving the small characters and their interaction with larger humans and animals.