BY BARBARA CHAI

Animated movies from Japan's Studio Ghibli such as "Spirited Away" and "Ponyo" have been blockbusters in foreign markets, but have brought in just middling receipts in the U.S.—despite critical acclaim and strong marketing support from Walt Disney Co. and Pixar's John Lasseter.

Disney hopes to boost Studio Ghibli's box-office punch with the English-language release of "The Secret World of Arrietty," which is based on Mary Norton's much-loved children's book "The Borrowers." The film, which tells the story of tiny people who live beneath the floorboards of a house, has already grossed more than $126 million internationally, and will be released ...