Review: ‘Ponyo’

Ponyo swims into theaters today, and as the latest film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, who gave us such landmark titles as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle, this little fish finds itself in a very big pond, and in some highly esteemed company.

The movie tells the story of a magical fish, who yearns to leave the ocean and visit the human world. To this end, she sets out on a quest that nearly takes her life. She is rescued by a human boy, Sosuke, who takes her home in a bucket, and promises to take care of her. When Ponyo’s father, Fujimoto, a once human mad scientist who fell in love with the sea, learns of it, he is furious, and comes to take her back. But Ponyo is too much like her mother, and will not be contained. She is determined to become a human girl, and won’t let anything stop her from being reunited with Sosuke.

This film looks and feels like vintage Disney. From the art style to the color palette to the hand drawn animation, Ponyo seems like it could have come right out of the Disney vault. That’s no surprise when you consider that Miyazaki has been described as “the Walt Disney of Japan”, and many of the staff who went on to create Ghibli had worked on some classic animation titles, such as The Last Unicorn.

Aimed at a young audience, Ponyo is something of a departure from Miyazaki’s more recent films. That kid friendliness may translate into bigger profits at the box office. Anime films, while a hot commodity in certain circles, tend to receive critical acclaim here in the states, but sell most of their tickets at home in Japan. Ponyo’s appeal to a younger demographic may help it to buck this trend.

That in no way implies that the movie is dumbed down from Ghibli’s other titles. Ponyo may have kid appeal, but parts of the film are very dark, and might be a bit frightening to young viewers. There are some scenes for the parents, too. The portrayal of Lisa, Sosuke’s mother, as she deals with the strain of having to juggle caring for him and working at the local senior center while his father, a captain, is out at sea, is both humorous and heartwarming. Fujimoto’s efforts to keep Ponyo a fish and prevent her from joining the human world highlight the folly of human wisdom, and the struggle that all parents face as they resist the idea that their children are growing up.

The film touches on some of Miyazaki’s favorite themes, such as environmentalism, and the relationship between humans and nature. Ponyo and Lisa are both strong female protagonists, while there is no true “villain” in the film. Fujimoto is misguided, but well intentioned, wanting only to protect his daughter, and the sea he loves.

Ponyo boasts an impressive cast, with Liam Neeson giving his acting talents to the voice of Fujimoto. Cate Blanchett continues her trend of otherworldly female roles, playing the part of Gran Mamare, the spirit of the sea. Tina Fey and Matt Damon voice Sosuke’s mother and father respectively, while Sosuke himself is played by none other than Frankie Jonas, the youngest of the Jonas Brothers. Noah Cyrus plays the title role of Ponyo, while Golden Girl Betty White makes a wonderful appearance as both Yoshie and Noriko. White is having a busy year, also appearing in The Proposal and Love N’ Dancing. Cloris Leachman, a veteran of Ghibli films who played in Castle In the Sky, also lent her talents to the film as Yoshie and Noriko.

If you’ve got a taste for some vintage animation, or if you’re a parent who’d like to indulge in a bit of nostalgia while taking your children to see a modern day classic, consider a trip to the theater to see Ponyo this weekend.