Is this the same story as the movie Arrietty?

Yes, both are based on the same book series by Mary Norton. This version is live-action and follows the plot of the first two books more closely, whereas the Ghibli film is a more stylized, standalone interpretation.

Is it too scary for a 5-year-old?

There is some tension when the Borrowers are almost caught by humans or animals, but it's very mild. There’s no violence; the 'danger' is mostly about the fear of being seen and having to move house.

Will my kid find the 1992 effects 'cringe'?

It depends on the kid. If they only watch high-budget Disney+ shows, the green-screen work might look obvious. However, the physical 'giant' props are still impressive and usually win kids over because they look so real.

The Borrowers – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Borrowers

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1992

84%

WISE Score

A tiny family lives under the floorboards and turns your lost safety pins and postage stamps into a miniature Victorian survivalist compound.

The Borrowers

show

U, 1992

84%

WISE Score

A tiny family lives under the floorboards and turns your lost safety pins and postage stamps into a miniature Victorian survivalist compound.

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Screenwise Verdict

This 1992 BBC adaptation is the 'cozy sweater' version of the story. It doesn't have the visual polish of the Studio Ghibli film (Arrietty), but it has a tactile, grounded charm that makes the world of the Clock family feel entirely possible.

If your kid is a builder, a maker, or someone who spends hours setting up elaborate scenes for their toys, this is their jam. It treats the struggle of being tiny with total sincerity. Just be prepared for the fact that it moves at a 1990s speed—there are no subway surfers clips playing in the corner of the screen to keep their attention.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 5 to 10. Younger kids might get restless during the dialogue-heavy scenes, and by 11, the '90s production values might feel too 'old' for them unless they are already fans of the books.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Deeply rooted in family loyalty and the survival of a small, tight-knit unit. It models resourcefulness and a gentle, respectful curiosity toward the 'giant' world.

Imaginative

The central conceit—repurposing human junk into tiny furniture—is the ultimate spark for creative play. It turns every household object into a potential adventure.

Safe

Very safe 1990s BBC production. Peril is limited to being 'seen' or the occasional encounter with a house pet. No modern edge or snark.

Enriching

Encourages kids to look at their physical environment differently. It builds empathy for the small and overlooked while rewarding clever problem-solving.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Masterclass in perspective that makes a simple kitchen floor look like a vast, dangerous desert.
Creative upcycling is the core of the show, showing how a thread spool becomes a table and a matchbox becomes a chest of drawers.
Ian Holm (who played Bilbo Baggins) brings a grounded, serious weight to the role of Pod, making the tiny stakes feel massive.
Gentle pacing provides a necessary break from the strobe-light energy of modern kids' animation.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 1992 factor: The special effects are practical and charming, but kids used to Marvel-grade CGI might find the green-screen work a bit clunky.
British pacing: This is a slow burn. It’s a drama, not a slapstick comedy, so it requires a kid who can sit with a story for more than ten minutes.

Conversation Starters

"If you were four inches tall, what's the most dangerous thing in this room?"
"Pod and Homily call it 'borrowing,' but the humans might call it 'stealing.' Is there a difference if the humans don't miss the items?"
"What's one thing in our junk drawer that would be super useful for a Borrower family?"

Deep Dive

Before the world got the lush animation of The Secret World of Arrietty, we had this: a crunchy, practical-effects-driven BBC series that felt like you could actually reach into the TV and touch the oversized props.

The Original Upcyclers

The real magic here isn't the 'magic' of being small; it's the engineering. The show spends a lot of time on the mechanics of how Pod (the father) navigates the house. He uses a 'climbing' kit made of old fish hooks and twine. This focus on tools and utility is incredibly satisfying for kids who like to know how things work. It’s basically a survival show where the wilderness is just the space behind the wainscoting.

Why 1992 Still Works

While the video quality won't win any awards in 2026, the physical sets are phenomenal. Because they had to build giant versions of everyday objects, there is a texture and reality to the world that CGI often misses. When Arriety explores a garden, the blades of grass look like heavy, dangerous velvet. It’s a great way to introduce kids to the idea that 'old' media can still tell a gripping story without needing a million frames per second.

What Parents Ask

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