048 4 Ponyo is one of those films that needs to be viewed multiple times to get the full effect ( just like many of Miyazaki's works ) . When I first saw this in theaters my initial reaction was well , that was okay , but now that I have the dvd and I've had the chance to watch it a few more times ( and notice some of the more subtle details ) , I must say that it's growing on me .
The plot basically involves a goldfish who leaves her home under the sea and is found by a five-year-old human boy named Souske . He names her Ponyo , and they develop a friendship . However , her father , Fujimoto , is a powerful wizard who attempts to get her back . She later uses her magic to become a human girl , but her powers throw nature out of balance , causing a large storm . Eventually , her father and her mother ( a sea goddess ) devise a test for Souske . He passes and Ponyo is allowed to stay with him as a human . And that is basically the plot in a nutshell .
Like many other Miyazaki films , Ponyo is character-driven rather than plot-driven . The plot itself is pretty simple , and the ending seems too easy compared to other hardships faced by characters in other Miyazaki films , but there is deep and rich characterization present . I especially found the relationship of Souske's mother and father to be interesting , as well as the characterization of the grumpy old woman , Toki . I find it interesting that she's the most cynical , and is also the only one to notice or care about the strange qualities of Ponyo . Fujimoto is the closest thing to an antagonist that this film has , but like all of Miyazaki's antagonists , he is not one-dimensional . Yes , he is a bitter , human-hating individual who is too controlling , but at the same time , he has some good qualities to him - - he genuinely seems to love his daughter and care about her . He even says at the end of the movie , as a sort of apology , try to remember me kindly , if you will .
At first I though this film was rather heavy-handed in it's environmentalist message , but then I realized that the only character in this movie who pushes the message is Fujimoto , and he is clearly bitter . The sea goddess ( the one who should rightly be most angry ) doesn't seem that bitter or angry at all . In fact , she seems to always keep a sense of good humor about her . This is especially evident when Fujimoto is getting all stressed out on the boat and she just tells him to stop worrying so much . In an act of good faith , she even restores some vitality to the seniors at the end of the movie . In the end , everyone ends up happy and in good spirits . Overall , I like how many characters are left morally ambiguous . This is a hallmark of many Miyazaki films , and I love it because it really makes you think .
I also like how Mizaki plays with some of our sensibilities by turning them upside down . For example , he kind of plays with the mind of the viewer by swapping the parent-child dynamic between Souske and his mother , Lisa . He often seems to be the responsible mature one and she often comes across as immature ( but still fun and loving ) . This is especially evident in how she drives like a maniac , leaves him alone during a storm , and in how she throws a tantrum when her husband has to work overtime and can't come home for dinner . Souske's maturity is especially apparent during this latter scene when he has to tell his mother , I know dad doesn't always keep his promises , but he loves us and does his best for us . I also like how fantasy and reality are deftly blended together ; as evidenced by how many of the adults seem not to notice or care about the fantastical elements ( ex . - Toki sees Ponyo's human face and the other seniors aren't alarmed by it , Souske's mom rather quickly accepts the idea that the human Ponyo used to be a fish , etc . ) . None of this is ever explained , and it's all meant to be taken in and accepted in a surreal sort of way . Aside from all the interesting themes , characters , and whatnot , this is a genuinely funny and cute film . There are many funny moments interspersed to keep things light-hearted .
Lastly , this film is graphically and musically beautiful . As everyone is aware by now , Ponyo is entirely hand-drawn , and while this may be a dying art , at least Ponyo is proof that it's going out with a bang ! I especially love the imagery of the living shapeshifting waves . The music is also quite lovely ; the opera singing during the introduction is rather beautiful , and Ponyo's theme song during the credits is funny and cute . Disney has added a remixed version of the theme song in the later credits that I don't really care for , but you don't really have to listen to it anyway since it's in the end credits , so I guess it doesn't really matter .
The last thing to discuss is the technical specifications of the release . First off , I bought the blu-ray / dvd combo pack . The thing you should know about this is that the special features are all located on the blu-ray , so if you only have a dvd player then you might want to get the 2 - disc dvd set instead . The combo pack , however , would make a good set for someone who's transitioning from dvd to blu-ray . As for the special features themselves , they are pretty good . Of note are some interviews with Miyazaki about his inspiration behind Ponyo , a section detailing the locations that inspired the setting of Ponyo , interviews with the voice cast , and a segment on composing music for this and other Miyazaki films . In the past , Miyazaki films often had very little in the way of special features , so the Ponyo release is definitely worth getting if you enjoyed the movie . So , there's my two cents . If you haven't yet seen the movie , rent it first and see if you like it . Enjoy !
004 4 I have enjoyed Miyazaki's films for years , and in the past have watched them with my 5 - year-old son , but he has never been overly into them or asked to watch them , it has always been a fight between my picks ( Howl's Moving Castle , Nausicaa ) and his ( Cars , Toy Story ) . However , when I saw the reviews for Ponyo I hoped he might like it , so we watched it together today .
Wow ! It is rare for him to be so completely enthralled by , and emotionally involved in , a movie . He enjoyed every little nuance of the movie to the fullest ( giggling at every instance of ' HAM ! ' ) , and when Ponyo's father took her back to her home under the sea he was seriously NOT happy . When she busted out her little chicken arms and legs and ran back to her beloved Sosuke on the backs of her behemoth fish / sisters , he was almost giddy . I truly enjoyed the film and didn't want to look away at any point - the story was enjoyable in its simplicity and the artwork completely amazing - and I especially did not want to miss my son's reactions throughout . I would highly recommend this for any mom with younger children !
One final note - in the past I have been disappointed with the American voice acting in these movies . . . the Japanese voice actors have always been so superior . However , this one was very well done - at no point was I irritated by the voices or words that were chosen .
005 4 In an age where the majority of children's movies have inappropriate language or potty humor , sexual suggestiveness , stereotypical gender roles , and a good deal of violence and fighting , the films of Hiyao Miyazaki are a breath of fresh air . My children are 4 and 6 and they absolutely LOVED this movie . We saw it in the theater twice . As others have said , the animation is incredibly beautiful . The characters are unique , the story is imaginative and wondrous . Sure , maybe every detail is not explained , but this is a children's film - - children don't need every detail to be explained . The story moves along in a dreamlike way , much the same way that a child's imagination flows .
As far as the film being scary , my four-year-old was a bit frightened of Ponyo's father at first . However , this movie is so tame compared to most children's movies today . My children were much more frightened by the baby who burst into flames in The Incredibles and the monsters who scare children in Monsters , Inc . than they were by Ponyo . I think it is partly because Ponyo is so surreal and dreamlike where many children's movies have an element of reality to them . There is no doubt in the viewer's mind that this film is make-believe - - perhaps this is why it did not scare my children as much as other Disney films .
Anyway , I highly recommend this movie , particularly for children ages 4 - 7 . The animation is extraordinary , the characters are loveable , and it is overall just a refreshing change from other children's movies today .
007 4 Ponyo is an amazing movie .
Our 4 year old daughter loves it . . . mainly because she loves mermaids and this is a mermaid type story . The relationship between the little boy and Ponyo are so sweet . The little boy and his mother have a great relationship . Ponyo's mother ( Mother Goddess Ocean ? ) is beautiful and trusting of her daughter . Ponyo's father is eccentric and strange , but truly cares for his daughter . The little boy has a great relationship with the older women at the retirement center .
Great life lessons and multigenerational interacting . Wonderful story !
034 4 I'm a long time fan of Miyazaki's work , and saw Ponyo in the cinema , so have been waiting for this DVD for some time .
This is the story of a small fish who escapes from the submarine of her father ( a sea-wizard ) and happens to taste a drop of blood from a young boy and becomes human-like for a while . The boy , Sosuke , names her Ponyo , and the main story is all about the friendship and love that develops between the two of them ( and Ponyo's fondness of all things human , like ham sandwiches , of all things ) . But their relationship also disrupts the natural balance between sea and land , and disasters in the form of floods and a typhoon loom to threaten everyone , not just the innocent friends . So the story is not just about a developing friendship , but the responsibilities that come along with that , to the people in the fishing village , to the elderly people in the retirement home ( where Sosuke's mother works ) , to the creatures in the ocean , and beyond that to the planet itself . All , of course , is resolved in the end .
Beyond the story , however , Ponyo has some of the most amazing animation scenes , especially of the raging waves that lash the shore in a typhoon , coming alive into wild creatures of fury . I thought this might not translate so well to a smaller screen , but I was not disappointed . The disc is really a beautiful rendering . You can turn down the sound and still have a fine time simply viewing the animation , one beautiful image after the other .
Some who've seen Miyazaki movies before may get a sense of deja vu - Ponyo seems a lot like Mai from Totoro ,
the Sea Wizard seems a lot like Miyazaki's other long-nosed European-ish characters in Howl's Moving Castle , and there are many other similarities too numerous to mention . But what do you expect - it's the same artists doing the drawing ( and yes , this is hand drawn animation at its best ) , so you'd expect some stylistic similarities . But there is enough new here to surprise and delight , and if you've never seen a Miyazaki movie before , then it will all be new .
The one thing I dislike is the silly English translation of the theme song at the end , so I greatly appreciate that the disc retains the original Japanese soundtrack , where the original is much more appropriate . The extras on the 2nd disc are nice for Miyazaki fans , but it's the movie itself that is the real value here .
035 4 I love Miyazaki . Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa are two of my favorite films by him ( and I can't wait for those to be on Blu-Ray ) . However , Ponyo does not stand up to them in terms of story to me . While I find the story to be only alright , the quality of the animation is wonderful . Disney did a great job on the transfer . I definitely recommend watching the Japanese audio version as I can't stand Noah Cyrus's voice as Ponyo . Liam Neeson's voice also doesn't quite fit , but everyone else is cast well just like most of the dubs of Miyazaki's films in past years . I highly recommend this film and blu-ray for parents with kids .
Movie : 3.5 stars
Blu-Ray : 4.5 stars
I wish they left the Japanese DTS-HD audio track on here ( - .5 stars )
037 4 Ponyo is an incredibly beautiful movie . You can watch it for the wonderous animation alone , and blu ray is terrific . The details and humor make it an interesting movie for adults to watch , but five year olds go bananas over it . Truly . One of my grandson's friends insisted on being called Ponyo for quite a while ! The story is akin to Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid , but Miyazaki adds his own touch , pulling in many generations - - the women in the elder care facility , two-career parents , and , of course , children . If you have been to Japan , you will recognize the little touches of modern Japanese life , as well as the Japanese appreciation of imagination and nostalgia - - even ecological lessons abound . It is traditional Japanese artistry beautifully brought to a twenty-first century level .
I found the American voices a bit too recognizable for my comfort and thus a bit distracting . Since I enjoy learning about Japanese culture and language , I liked the film even better when I switched rhe settings to Japanese with English subtitles . ( Sorry , Disney marketing ) .
Miyazaki has a magical raport with children that no other director has , and he consistenly turns out movies that have an instant appeal to all ages .
041 4 If you've seen a Miyazaki film before , you already know what kind of experience you're in for . Miyazaki's movies are some of the most imaginative , clever works you will ever witness . Ponyo is targeted for a younger audience , but it's still really enjoyable for adults .
In most Japanese to English movies , I almost always prefer the Japanese voice acting . In Ponyo , I like the English voice acting a lot more . This shouldn't really come as much of a surprise with some of the big names in this movie .
046 4 Beautiful animation from Miyazaki again .
A pure friendship , fresh colorful sweet and deep .
My son is 7 and loved it .
050 4 This movie , though not the best of Miyazaki's , is very interesting . It reminds you of being in a dream . The mother of the boy , Sosuki , is very courageous . Sosuki is a very positive , honest child . They both meet their challenges with enthusiasm .
The story is NOT predictable between the beginning , where Sosuki finds the fish , and the end , where Ponyo and Sosuki accomplish their goal , and is full of some very fantastical surprises . There is only a trace of The Little Mermaid theme to it .
For most of the movie you really don't know whether Ponyo's father is the villain or not . The many other characters in the movie round out this dream quite well , especially the old ladies . Sosuke's father has some charm , too , and Ponyo's mother tops it off amazingly .
All in all Ponyo is a very enjoyable movie for young and old alike .
058 4 Ponyo was the first movie we took our 3 year old daughter to see . Not only was she captivated , we , her parents , were too . The story and animation was a breath of fresh air from the typical animated films being produced these days .
Our daughter was not scared during the film and repeatedly asked ( over and over and over ) to watch Ponyo again . Ponyo is a rarity , a film you can actually enjoy with your toddler .
066 4 As a long time fan of Hayao Miyazaki , I was overjoyed when I learned that he had created yet another one of his masterpieces , and now it's going to be released at the beginning of next month !
I actually had the chance to watch the full movie before I bought it , and I have to say it's just as charming , sweet and at the same time entertaining as any other of his masterpieces . In fact , I am in college and I'd rather watch this movie than Princess Mononoke sometimes ( even though Princess Mononoke was a stellar film also ) . Once again we see that he has placed an ecological lesson for us in the guise of a children's movie which is wonderfully delightful if you're a grown up kid as well . That's perhaps the best part of this movie : it doesn't just entertain , but it brings up important issues that we in the real world cannot afford to ignore .
Ponyo is not only irresistibly adorable , she is a very determined little goldfish whose desire is to be human , which I think too many people take for granted . FIve year old Sosuke is beyond precious in his efforts to take care of Ponyo , and both children can bring you back to a time when everything was much simpler .
And then of course , there's the part that Miyazaki-sensei is known for more than anything : the sheer beauty of his work . Even though this is a children's movie , no corners were cut in the animation of this film , in my opinion . Just the opening scene alone of the jelly fish rising in the ocean is mesmerizing to say the least .
Now having said that , I only have one warning : DON'T LISTEN TO THE DUB !
Well , the Disney dub was at best OKAY , but it was certainly no substitute for the original actors .
To conclude without revealing too much , this movie is a must have for any Hayao Miyazaki fan , or anybody who's never even heard of him before .
073 4 She's got a box full of DVD movies and I was trying to expand her horizons beyond the typical Disney movie ( who distributes this movie by the way . ) She's usually good for about 40% to 60% of any movie before she starts finding something else to do because she's bored . She watches this movie from beginning to end all the way through the credits and the next day does the same thing . She can't get enough . It's very sweet and cute and the art work is really amazing . I'm not much of an Anime fan but this one is a good one .
086 4 I will be short and simple , Ponyo indeed is a masterpiece .
The movie have no special computer effects , but the art is amazing .
Miyazaki is always superb , the master gets the history and makes The Art .
I came to perceive that does not matter if the art have computer effects or not ,
some masters make superb art with computer effects , some make art with his
own bare hands ( or pencils to be more exact ) .
The entire work have something that surpass many other animation movies .
In my opinion Ponyo are not the best animation movie from Miyazaki , and
his animation is not above the best from Japanese Anime , but for sure
i think the animation movies from the east are far better from the
ones made in the west .
097 4 Great movie , a big improvement over Miyazaki's last two , Howl's Moving Castle and ( ugh ! ) EarthSea . It's apparent that Miyazaki is not a young man anymore , and he wants to make kid's movies , but when they are done as whimsically as this , even adults will be charmed .
Some people have complained about the art style he used in this film , that it's not detailed and slap-dash . These people are stupid . The art is obviously done with meticulous effort to emulate the style of classic art that would have been popular in the time that the original source material , The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen , was written . While the story is updated , the art is classic , beautiful and painterly .
My favorite thing is how Disney packages their Blu-rays with the DVD of the movie ( and just the movie , of course ) . This is enormously convenient , since I have PS3 at home , but don't have a BD drive in my laptop , desktops , or any other portable player . Please , BD industry , take note and follow .
108 4 Our 3 YO daughter LOVES Miyazaki's movies . She can watch Totoro ( 1st edition ) & Kiki's delivery over and over . ( She hasn't watched Chihiro and others yet because I find them a bit scary or dark for her age ) .
The beginning was a bit intriguing and scary at times so my daughter had to be in my arms ( I won't complain about it ) but other than that , this movie is just awesome . . . Ponyo is just a cute little fish / girl ( spitting image of Mei from Totoro ) and Sosuke is an adorable 5 YO boy with a big heart . Some characters look familiar = my daughter spotted Satsuki & Mei's father . I'm glad we watched it on bluray at home because I don't know the reaction in the audience if our daughter shouted in the theater Maman look , it's Satsuki's dad ! ! ! !
The animation looks simple but is gorgeous . The background is amazing ( the town , trees , harbor etc ) and kind of made us want to live there , with Sosuke and his mom . The tsunami scene is impressive and the waves look like these old Japanese paintings of storms . . .
Today is Friday , no school tomorrow , I guess tonight we'll be watching Ponyo again = > YEAH ! ! ! !
114 4 I thought long and hard before giving the film this score , but there are simply too many things that make Ponyo not work for me . This latest animated movie from Myazaki , who needs no introductions , had the intriguing premise of the sea . He spoke of the sea being a character in itself . I was intrigued to see the movie . I knew it had two children as the frontline , but being a fan of My Neighbour Totoro , I knew that Myazaki has an unreal insight into the mindset of children .
The very first scene of Ponyo is breathtaking . Hundreds of fishes and jellyfish accompanied by breathtaking , oceanic music , finally zooming in on a man in a pinstriped suit , creating a bubble around his ship . We later find out that he is the father of one of the main characters , the fish girl Ponyo who wants to become human after befriending Sotsuke , a 5 - year old boy living in a house by the sea . She is able to do this with a mixture of her father's magic ( which she's inherited ) and Sotsuke's blood ( a drop of which she licked when he cut himself ) .
The problem with Ponyo is the vagueness of the story . There is practically no sense of conflict to the story at all . There is no substantial threat to the characters , and they have very little development . That the characters are so young shouldn't justify this , if we remember Mei in My Neighbour Totoro . Also , Ponyo's father is so at odds with practically everything in the movie's universe , it's hilarious and off-putting at the same time . Ponyo herself is , personally , creepy rather than cute ( and her numerous little siblings are no different ) . I don't understand how nobody finds it peculiar that Ponyo , supposedly a goldfish , has a humanoid face ( and Sotsuke shows her to quite a few people ) . It's even weirder when Lisa ( Sotsuke's mother , whom he oddly always refers to by name ) , an intelligent woman , sees Ponyo eat a slice of ham in whole ( as a goldfish ) and isn't at all surprised about it . The only really developed character , and the warmest , is the loudest of the old women at the retirement home where Lisa works .
What Ponyo lacks in substance , it makes up for in visuals . The movie's highlight in my opinion is where Lisa and Sotsuke are driving down a road continually drenched in waves , on top of which Ponyo is running . These waves take on the form of giant fish . A wonderful piece of animation . The many underwater scenes are beautiful , with underwater creatures big and small swimming . Something about the overall production values of the visuals feel a bit unfocused , though . The morse code scene is then hilarious .
On the whole , however , Ponyo feels like a lot of elements that just don't work together . Sotsuke faces no real trials like other young Myazaki protagonists have faced . None of the characters feel like they serve any real purpose other than to bring Sotsuke and Ponyo together . The film's subplot of Ponyo's magic causing a rift in the natural order and causing the moon to come closer ( which explains the flood ) is never sufficiently delivered to the audience .
I was simply expecting a better delivery from a master storyteller like Myazaki . Ponyo may only really work for the smallest children , but that's excluding a large part of Myazaki's fanbase . He's one of those filmmakers whom I respect for continually showing people that animated movies can be for people of all ages . Ponyo obviously aims at a lower age group , but I just hope that the children will be more drawn into Sotsuke and Ponyo's story than I was ( there is so much courteous and / or cute dialogue that I felt downright embarrassed at points ) .
Decent , but definitely not the brightest spot in Myazaki's repertoire .
121 4 Wonderful Movie . I didn't see any problems with the DVD and haven't been able to watch the Blu-ray version yet . If your kinda stuck between Media like I am at the moment . Then I think this is the version for you . If you already have a Blu-ray player then I don't see the point in getting the DVD . If you don't plan on getting a Blu-ray player then just buy the DVD .
Hope that helps .
130 4 Ponyo
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki ( 2008 )
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I had the great fortune to see this film in a large , modern movie theatre , with a lot of little kids in the audience for a mid-afternoon matinee . It was a marvelous movie , totally age appropriate for the enchanted five - and six-year olds , as well as their appreciative adult attendants . Miyazaki's films can sometimes be a little too weird or sinister for this age group , but this time he managed to temper his dark side a bit and make a film that still celebrates nature and respects its dangerous side , while not also creeping the bejeezus out of little viewers .
The film is set by the oceanside , and this wave-washed setting affords Miyazaki many opportunities to evoke the power of the natural world , as well as to frequently overwhelm the viewer's senses . ( It was gorgeous and evocative on the big screen ; I wonder how much of this will translate to video . . . ) Although some of Miyazaki's older fans may grumble about him babying-down his material , Ponyo is clearly a great film , probably better than naysayers might think , and certainly one of the best films made for small children in the last twenty or thirty years . The character animation is a bit rough , but the backgrounds and overall design of the film are rich , sensual and majestic , and Miyazaki's key themes come through loud and clear . Highly recommended ! ( Joe Sixpack , ReadThatAgain children's film reviews )
134 4 This is a beautiful movie , but I don't think it's one of Miyazaki's best . I think it's great that Miyazaki sometimes makes movies for younger kids ( Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service ) and some movies that are for adult fans ( Princess Mononoke ) . This movie is definitely written for the younger audience . I'm giving this probably a higher rating that I would have just because I think it's well made , great animation , great music , pretty good voice acting . But I really don't like the story line . For one it just doesn't hold together very well , at first I think it's a story about a boy who's father is not a home very often and he's dealing with an over-worked and over-stressed mom and finds a magical friend in the form of a fish . Then it starts to morph into a little-mermaid type of story where the little fish-girl's father is a crazy lunatic of a former human and has a sea goddess as a mother . And it ends rather abruptly with the two declaring undying love ( or else the little girl will die ) . . . don't forget that the two lovers are only 5 years old or so . I know some Asian cultures still accept arranged marriages between children ( they wait until they are older to get married , it's just decided when they're little ) but still , I thought that was kind of a rare deal these days . Ok , aside from the creepiness of kids declaring undying love , there's just too many stories going on here and it gets a bit confusing , a bit overwhelming and seems disjointed .
All that said , I still think you should watch it . Just rent it before you decide to buy it .
136 4 This is a G movie , and I've got a 5 year old and a 2 year old audience , with themes that are clearly not in line with our personal values . ( Yes , my 5 year old asked with concern why the little boy and girl were being left by themselves ? ? ) The animation is beautiful , sure , and I'm glad Disney didn't kill off the parents for once . . .
Wow , that sounds a bit priggish , but I'm having a hard time verbalizing that I did NOT like this movie , and think it wasn't on target for little ones .
I did like how the sea life was depicted . And the waves . I like the music quite a bit .
I did NOT like how the child was the go-between in the grousing between the parents . I did NOT like when the Sensei let the child leave alone in clearly bad circumstances . I did NOT like when the parent left the kids alone , driving across flooded roads , etc . The pacing was odd , and seemed to lurch a bit . I guess I wish they had suspended reality entirely , than this odd amalgam of normality mixed with high art . Talking teapots worked better somehow .
Finally , my 5 year old said it was boring . This from the child that can watch the same movie back to back for 3 days on cross country road trips .
Wish I hadn't bought this on a gamble . Renting it first would have saved me some money .
138 4 Earlier today I ordered this Blu-ray . I made the mistake of not checking if the Japanese track was in a lossless format . There was no information about this on this site . The scanned picture of the back cover isn't very good so it isn't easy to ascertain if the Japanese track was lossy of lossless . I went to [ . . . ] and noticed there that the Japanese track is , in fact , only the lossy Dolby Digital . Since amazon is now shipping my item I cannot cancel the order , but I want to warn other people about this . I am sure that the picture quality is great and being a great Miyazaki fan I am sure that the movie is equally great .
Being a great Miyazaki fan I always listen to the original language track , NEVER the dubbed track . I did try and listen to the dubbed track of Kiki's Delivery Service at one time and it was horrid . Changing the music to fit the English language is truly dreadful . I have also discovered on other dubs of Japanese anime that quite often important plot points are distorted or directly incorrect . I have all the other Miyazaki films on DVD and I never listen to the dubbed track . Listening to the Japanese track has it's charms since everything about the movie and the way everything and everyone work to make movie great make sense when listening to the original track . That goes for everything , not just Miyazaki's movies or anime in general .
So if you are a Japanese anime fan and are used to listening to the original track be aware that the Japanese track is in Dolby Digital and not DTS-HD Master Audio . Only the English dub is in DTS-HD Master Audio . I must also say that I am extremely disappointed that Disney made this gigantic mistake when making the Blu-ray . I can only hope that won't do the same mistake when issuing the other Miyazaki movies on Blu-ray . Learn from Pioneer when they issued a truly magnificent release of Akira !
139 4 I haven't loved a Miyazaki movie since Princess Mononoke . Everything about this movie is amazing , especially the visuals . I was compelled from start to finish and I can't say enough great things about this movie . The video quality of the blu-ray is absolutely gorgeous ; true reference material .
With that said , I had this blu-ray pre-ordered until reviews came out and reveled that only the English track is given the DTS-HD MA treatment . The original Japanese is given a measly Dolby Digital 5.1 ( DVD audio . ) I cancelled my pre-order immediately . I buy blu-rays because I want the full HD treatment and clearly Disney doesn't care about purists like myself . In my opinion , dubs are rarely ever good and this movie is no exception . Regardless , the original audio track is clearly how the movie was intended to be presented and the original track should never be treated this poorly .
I may buy this blu-ray down the road because I love the movie itself so much but only a crazy sale price will make this appealing to me .
So if you're a film purist like me , beware of the blu-ray .
143 4 I love all of Hayao Miyazaki's movies and I loved Ponyo . This was the first movie in a theater that my squirmy 3 yr daughter ever saw and she was simply entranced and actually sat through the whole thing . I recommend this wondrous charming movie to any age group and any person . It is artful and marvelous .
Now given all that is this particular DVD version the English dubbed one that was seen in American theaters ? It is very confusing . The Amazon page gives the American Actors as the principle players in the animated movie and then says it is Japanese with English Subtitles . I am very hesitant to buy this version for my kids since it does not appear to know what it actually is .
144 4 Ponyo has about the most beautiful animation I have ever seen in a movie . It is simply stunning . It seems to live in a world somewhere between Anime and Japanese woodcuts . The large stunning blocks of vibrant colour almost live in themselves and most of the actual things which are chosen to be animated are stunning to - however this does little to hide what seems to be a stilted story which I feel sure has lost something in the translation both of language and culture from Japanese to English .
This is the retold tale , Japanese style , of the little mermaid . Brunhilde is the daughter of a mad scientist and the sea / earth mother . She is a fish like creature who lives in her father's ship in a bubble under the sea . But she wants more , and in the opening scenes escapes inside a jellyfish , the most beautiful scene to open a movie with .
She ends up being saved from certain death by a little boy , Sosuke , who takes her to school but loses her back to the sea in a rather child-frightening scene where the scientist summons up some fierce and sinister looking waves .
Ponyo ( or Brunhilda to her father ) returns to Sosuke determined to be a girl . She drinks her father's elixirs and unbalances the world in the process . The tsunami scenes are both fearfully frightening again for some young children , and hilarious - Ponyo - now a little girl runs along the top of the waves .
It all is resolved and the earth mother talks to Sosuke's mother and Sosuke says he will love Ponyo forever and all is well with the world again .
The story just didn't seem to flow . The mother and earth mother talking for long hours . The Old lady who refused to go under water and is taken down anyway , Sosuke and Ponyo's long , seemingly pointless trip in the boat . The very strange prehistoric fish which swim , seemingly threateningly , under their boat . And why does Sosuke say pre-cambrian . I know what Pre-Cambrian is , but is there a point that they are there ? Is there a point that he knows ? why aren't there just fish there ? Is this because the balance of the world is out ? But then why does Sosuke , a 5 year old know ?
Sorry , but for me the movie was full of these sort of questions . What was this or that all about ? Some is explained but very often I think there is something really important been missed out somehow .
Anyway . It was an all right movie to watch . My 7 year old quite liked it , the 6 year old found it very frightening , and I found it frustrating and full of unexplained things .
052 4 This movie is so adorable I was smiling the whole time I watched it . I watched it in the original Japanese with subtitles , and I highly recommend watching it that way . I watched a little of the english dub and I was not impressed . But , back to the movie itself . The music is great , the animation is spectacular . I love Myasaki . . . ever since I was a kid . Nausicaa was the one I grew up on but Ive seen almost all of his movies . This one is more towards kids like Totoro but this is even better than Totoro ! It is very enchanting like a disney movie but of course better . The music reminded me of disney a bit , in a great way , like sleeping beauty or snow white . Such a great movie , buy it !
024 4 This is such a charming film . Full of action , but without the frenetic pace of so many cartoons . My kids all love it ( 16 - 6months - Ok , maybe the baby doesn't love it yet ) . Miyazaki films have a wonderful depth to them . We are firm fans .
075 4 A cute movie for kids of all ages and kids at heart . There are some parts that may scare really young chidren . My advise would be to rent it and watch it first , if you are considering buying it for a young child .
088 4 Ponyo is a great animation film the animation and colors are amazing . My daughter loves this movie . The story is really similar to the little mermaid but with more heart . Ponyo is such a great character she is sweet , curious and defiant at the same time . If you want to be explore foreign animation this is a great way to start . After you watched Ponyo you are going to want to check out other movies by Ponyo's director Hayaou M . Another great tittle is Kiki's Delivery Service .
090 4 Great movie ! I bought it for the 2hour road trip and my 7 - year old daughter was glued to the screen for the whole time ! The movie is a bit too long , but great for the road trips , at least you know your child will be quiet the whole time and will not ask the annoying question are we there yet . I haven't seen the movie myself yet , but I liked the reviews , it is beautifully done . . . i'm planning to watch it with her on a rainy day . . .
014 4 This is a beautiful movie . A real work of art in every way . The story line is heart-warming . my 3 1 / 2 year old son sat in ahh watching at the movie theater and asked when we could have it at home . I pre-ordered it on blueray and got it the day it came out . Some of his friends were not as interested in the movie because it is not as fast moving as some of the other movies out there .
123 4 I was impressed with the price and quality of this product ! Thanks for a wonderful and easy transaction .
142 4 I liked the visuals , It was like watching an impressionist painting at times . However , the plot was very screwed up . The Dad served only to eat up screen time and add confusion . The ending was pretty abrupt and anticlimactic . They spend the whole movie building suspense about ponyos mother , and setting her father up as the villan , only to have it nd with the dad basically yes dear ing as a form of plot resolution . I think one of the problems ( and a constant problem with alot of the directors movies ) is that they were trying to shoehorn to much plot into to small a length of time . IMO this would have been alot better as a short run tv series , they would have had more time to properly explore the kids relationship , both fathers relationships to their kids , etc .
054 4 My 7 year old daughter loves this movie . I found the imagery to be fantastic ! We also saw this in the theater . I am 57 years old and I enjoy any Miyazaki movie , but this one has special appeal by his treatment of water throughout the movie . This movie is not for older children , unless they appreciate the art . The characters are supposed to be kindergarten age ( the boy goes to a nursery ) although the mother seems to trust the boy to be on his own a great deal of the time . However , Miyazaki always seems to have children ( or characters that appear to be quite young ) doing fantastic things . I think that is the point of all his movies . They all happen in dreamlike worlds in a hard to discern time period . They always stimulate the imagination .
060 4 I adored this movie . If you are a true Miyazaki fan , you will too . Its got less of a plot in it than other films such as Howls , but its still amazing . It sucks you in with that true Miyazaki feel . I always get a comforted feeling when Im watching these films , and this one was nothing different . Love love loved it !
072 4 I'll let my fellow reviewers speak for me with regards to the quality of the movie itself . For myself , I'd like to focus on the quality of this Blu-ray . At first , I was skeptical - - how much benefit could I really expect the Blu-ray format to provide for a hand-drawn film created by a Japanese studio ? As it turns out , Ponyo is an amazingly-beautiful film on Blu-ray , far more so than the standard DVD , and well worth the additional investment if you've got a decent HDTV .
080 4 i am a big Miyasaki fan , but this time around this one is really aimed for a younger audience than is other film ( like spirited away and owl'S moving castle which are my favorites ) though the blu-ray version of ponyo is really amazing , the colors are nice not to punchy . If you are not sure i suggest a rental , but i really appreciated my second viewing of this movie . I glad i bought it though my little niece really digs this movie a lot . recommended
093 4 Everyone can enjoy this film and it is a fantastic movie to watch with that special someone as its super cute yet will make a guy look more sensitive : ) . I loved this film I've seen it twice in the cinema the secound time was through massive effort of the local anime community they brought it over to my small island home local cinema . The first was better in a massive American cinema though .
100 4 This is a title to watch numerous times , having a deceptive simplicity . . . . . . per other films of Miyazaki , it is poetic and is a celebration of life with all the contradictions left in . The Blu-ray I purchased does not allow me to access the extras . . . . . . my firmware is current on the LG player I use . . . . . . . anyone else having the same difficulty . . . . . . ? ? ? ? ? ?
149 4 I cant figure this out . It seems to me that Disney is selling people special fetures in hi def and then the movie on a regular dvd . Is this correct ? ? If so , it seems underhanded .
148 4 We've been patiently waiting for Disney to release the movie on DVD and finally we got it . The movie seems interesting , except neither I or my kids could hear the dialogue . At all . The music is exremely loud and the dialogue is very , very quiet somewhere on the background . We spend the whole 103 min playing with the volume of the remote , trying to hear what the actors were saying . It might be a nice story or might not , we just don't know . Shame on Disney for ruining the experience . I looked through the other reviews and it seems that most of them are based on the theatrical release and not the DVD .
091 4 I admit , I waited awhile to watch this one , although the kids obviously LOVED it . They loved it so much , that when I finally committed to watching it , I saw my deaf 3 year old twins both stand to clap when it was beginning . This is a really sweet movie , beautifully done , with a great story . Buy it ! And , if you have a blu-ray player , invest in the blu-ray for this one . . . It's a keeper ! !
150 4 This is the first film in quite a few years that I have so thoroughly disliked . Many admirers claim it's hand-drawn , not the cold , heartless work of computers ! or the symbolism is so important and you obviously don't get it , or Miyazaki's a master ! or you need to attend to what's not being said as much as what IS being said . I still say any film that has a father-figure dressed like a bad drag combo of Ann-Margaret and Cher , any film that has a mother ignore warnings and outrace a flood in her crappy car and then LEAVE her very young child alone ( with a strange fish ! ) in said flood in order to check on a bunch of old folks who are in an institution miles away with other guardians , any film that allows 5 - year-olds to determine their destinies in love , and any film that so clearly wimps out at its climax is hooey . Enjoy the magic ! Revel in childhood innocence ! Accept the unacceptable ! Yep , heard and read it all before . Ponyo's annoying and endless repetition of Sosuke and ham is grating ( not cute ) , and the ecological message is heavy-handed . Miyazaki is more interested in emotions than conflict ; yet , without conflict , emotional impact is lost . Again , I'm supposed to believe that this boy and fish are drawn ( pun intended ) together ? Are fated soul-mates ? Kids , get back to me in 20 years and let's see how you're doing . Yes , I hear the collective intake of great indignation , but for me , this was an exercise in tedium and sappiness .
043 4 Panyo is one of Hayao Miyazaki's best movies to date . It is a testimony to the human spirit of love against all odds . The animation is awesome , as usual . You will not see a better animated film .
056 4 Thank you Miyazaki for another great film . I love Ponyo , she's a real go-getter ! Granted , it's not Miyazaki's greatest movie or my favorite ( Kiki's Delivery Service ) , but still well worth seeing . The transfer is great on the standard version ( I watch on a Sony Bravia with HDMI connection ) . Don't think of it as a Little Mermaid ripoff , because it's not . A wonderful story of acceptance that kids will love , and even those over 50 ( like myself )
069 4 I am a fan of Miyazaki's films and was unhappy with this recent release . Yes , it's for a younger age group , but kids are pretty sharp and I felt that the movie was dumbed down unnecessarily . The visuals are fantastic , but the story plods along , and after a while I was just waiting for it to be over . I never felt any connection to the characters and just plain didn't care what happened to them , which to me means the movie missed its mark . Also , some things happened that seemed totally nonsensical - - for example , the mother drives with her son through flooding streets and a dangerous storm rather than follow the official's advice to evacuate . Why put your son in danger like that ? Other things happened and I felt that there was no explanation given for them , leaving the story feeling choppy . I wouldn't bother to watch this movie ; I felt that it skated on the reputation of an admired artist and didn't deserve the credit it received .
070 4 Hayao Miyazaki loves and respects children ; he knows them well and gives them far more credit than many of you seem to . Bambi's mother being burned to death frightened the heck out of me as a kid , not to mention all of the other acceptable Disney films where characters meet violent ends , but I apparently survived this childhood trauma and matured into a healthy adult . Parents , your children are NOT as delicate as you want to believe they are . While not quite as compelling as Princess Mononke in my opinion , Ponyo is a beautiful movie that the whole family should enjoy together . And here's a spoiler , both parents live !
082 4 Like a dream you don't want to wake from , the world of Ponyo is so imaginative and full of wonder that you wish there was a snooze button to hit so that the movie could just go on . An eventful story led by characters who embody the curious spirit of childhood . Quirky and fun , Ponyo is in the most innocent use of the word , a romance which neither dumbs down or intellectualizes its plot , smartly making it a joy for people of all ages .
099 4 This is the continuation of the magic that Hayao Miyazaki weaves in that he has the means to capture your childlike self and to take you on an exquisite adventure that leaves you feeling inspired and happy to be alive . This tale is one of friendship and innocence that triumphs against all odds . It talks of loving in the purest sense and also of loving life enough to stand for it against all odds . The magical aspect only lends to the adventure and trust me you will feel as if you are living in a sureral world where all things turn out for the good . A film for young and old to invigorate the mind and inspire the soul . Enjoy it as you romp through the eyes os these two main characters
151 4 This movie was just plain weird . Freaky and a bit scary for kids ( I have both a 5 and 6 yo ) . Very cheap animation , nothing like any animated movie nowadays , very old-school looking . I can get over that , no big deal . But the fact that the human mother in the movie got mad at her husband and called him a jerk , slammed down the phone and chugged a beer , is not my idea of what to portray to a 5 year old . The fish / man / freak father in the movie was a bit scary , following them around and making waters flood the lands , etc . Kids don't understand that kind of thing . Oh , and the 5 year old fish and human boy in the movie have to decide if they are true loves . Really ? ? Yes , lets leave that decision to a five year old-quite normal . These writers ought to be slapped .
016 4 Ponyo is a great story for adults and children . I watch it all the time ( because my two-year-old makes me ) . This is one movie that is safe to share with children who like to watch the same thing over and over . Very sweet .
119 4 This movie was pretty scary , my daughter did not want to finish it , ( she is seven ) , and I agreed with her . I never felt the burning desire to know how it ended , so never watched it again .
129 4 FIrst off I half to say I love the story of the little mermaid . I also really love director of this movie . But I really didn't care for the story line . I was hoping for a little more adventure like in Howl's moving castle .
The animation is beautiful and outstanding .
Magical , beautiful and everything that you can expect from Hayao Miyazaki . I was completely in awe when I watched this film . In this day and age , we tend to put so much into CG animated films and rarely do we see hand drawn quality animation anymore . I'm so glad that Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli continues to show this creative style through this film . The hand painted backgrounds are absolutely beautiful , the character design continues that Miyazaki look and style but looks absolutely fluid during its more action-oriented scenes .
Presented in 1080p High Definition , detail can be seen on the painted backgrounds . Vibrant during the day scenes with trees that are full of detail and water reflecting the trees , cliffs showcasing the detail as shadows and detail showcasing the curvature and the little pieces of grass that are placed within the rocks . The scene with the storm and the crashing features Miyazaki's handiwork as he created the water and his waves all by himself . It's an amazing sight to see .
There are no compression artifacts , edge enhancement , aliasing , banding or any problems in picture quality for Ponyo whatsoever . Ponyo achieves perfection !
AUDIO & SUBTITLES :
Ponyo is presented in English 5.1 DTS Master Audio ( 48 kHz / 24 - bit ) and in Japanese and French 5.1 Dolby Digital . First the good . The English dub track is fantastic . You want an immersive soundscape , Ponyo delivers . From the sound of the ocean , bubbles popping , the rush of the waves , the sounds of trees rustling , the sound of rain , sea animals swimming in the water and most of all , a beautiful musical score by Joe Hisaishi . This soundtrack is absolutely divine . Great use of front and center channels with dialogue and music that is crystal clear . The surround channels and the use of LFE as the sound effects bring Ponyo to life . This lossless soundtrack is perfect !
Now the bad . There is no lossless Japanese audio soundtrack . The Japanese Blu-ray release has a lossless soundtrack but what happened to it for this Blu-ray release ? There is no doubt that audiophile purists who want the original Japanese soundtrack are going to be upset by this and one can hope that if Disney does bring out a Miyazaki release on Blu-ray in the near future , that a lossless soundtrack is included for both the English and Japanese audio .
Subtitles are in English SDH , French and Spanish .
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Ponyo has a good number of special features in 1080p High Definition and 480i Standard Definition . Audio is in English 2.0 Dolby Digital and subtitles are in English SDH , French and Spanish . Special features include :
* Meet Ponyo - ( 3 : 22 ) Executive producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy talk about working with Hayao Miyazaki and give a quick introduction to Ponyo .
* Original Japanese Storyboards - Watch the entire film but this time with the video showcasing the original storyboards .
* A Conversation with Hayao Miyazaki & John Lasseter - ( 3 : 31 ) PIXAR's John Lasseter and a friend of Hayao Miyazaki talk about Ponyo .
* Creating Ponyo - ( 3 : 58 ) Hayao Miyazaki talks about how he came up with the concept of Ponyo and him wanting to create a film for children .
* Ponyo & Fujimoto - ( 2 : 59 ) Hayao Miyazaki talks about the name Ponyo and the character Fujimoto .
* The Nursery - ( 2 : 00 ) Studio Ghibli Producer Toshio Suzuki talks about Miyazaki wanting to create a children's nursery and both men made Miyazaki's dream happen by creating the Studio Ghibli Nursery .
* Producer's Perspective : Telling the Story - ( 2 : 27 ) Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki talks about how Miyazaki works and creating the storyboards and story for Ponyo and more .
* The Locations of Ponyo - ( 9 : 32 ) An excerpt from a Japanese documentary on Miyazaki's animated films and visiting the areas that inspired Miyazaki to create the village of Ponyo .
* Scoring Miyazaki - ( 7 : 19 ) A featurette about Joe Hisaishi's scoring Miyazaki films and more .
* Original Japanese Trailer - ( 3 : 22 ) The original Japanese theatrical trailers .
* Behind the Microphone - ( 6 : 04 ) Featuring the English dub voice talent talking about their role , their appreciation for Miyazaki and his films and interviews with the All-star talent .
* My Neighbor Totoro - Creating My Neighbor Totoro - ( 3 : 00 ) Miyazaki talking about the creation of his film My Neighbor Totoro .
* Kiki's Delivery Service - Creating Kiki's Delivery Service - ( 2 : 27 ) Hayao Miyazaki discussing the creation of Kiki's Delivery Service and what inspired Miyazaki for the creation of the city in the film .
* Castle in the Sky : Character Sketches - ( 2 : 37 ) Miyazaki talks about the characters of Castle in the Sky and discussing how his audiences are loyal to his films over time .
* Enter the Lands - Visit the land featuring various small animated Studio Ghibli characters ( from all films ) . Click on a character from that film ( note : only Ponyo , My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky are available ) to get a Q & A or a small video info . of that film and its characters .
EXTRAS :
A DVD of Ponyo is included with this Blu-ray release . The DVD is in Widescreen ( 1 : 85 : 1 ) - Enhanced for 16 × 9 Televisions , English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound , Japanese and French with subtitles in English SDH , French and Spanish .
JUDGMENT CALL :
Once again , Miyazaki continues to prove to us that hand-drawn animation is absolutely beautiful and there is no need to join the pack and create a CG animated film . Ponyo succeeds on all levels - storyline , animation , music and its soundtrack . I absolutely loved this film !
Before I saw the film , I figured that people were so used to Miyazaki's more serious work and for him to try to go back to something similar to My Neighbor Totoro was going to be difficult in this day and age but with Ponyo , he managed to pull it off . The world he creates is magical , the characters are just enjoyable to watch . From every scene , I was literally just loving the animation and the painted backgrounds and to find out that Miyazaki actually drew the sea and the waves himself using 170,000 separate images is amazing .
In terms of any deep messages on society or ecology , in Ponyo , we see how trash and waste has been collecting on the ocean floors and Ponyo being stuck in a bottle lying in a wasteland under the sea . For Fujimoto , as he tries to maneuver underwater , waste and garbage is everywhere . So , it was great to see Miyazaki convey how people have mistreated the ocean with their garbage and incorporating it to the storyline .
The Blu-ray is absolutely beautiful when it comes to picture quality , lossless audio and also contains a good number of special features . If there was only one thing that prevents this Blu-ray release from reaching perfection is the lack of a lossless Japanese audio soundtrack . But both English and Japanese vocals are well-done with the English track featuring all-star talent with Tina Fey , Liam Neeson , Cate Blanchett , Betty White , Cloris Leachmen , Lily Tomlin and Matt Damon providing their voices for this film . Even Jonas Brothers sibling Frankie Jonas ( as Sosuke ) and Miley's younger sister Noah ( as Ponyo ) do a great job as the primary vocals . The Japanese soundtrack features two of Japan's top celebrities with George Tokoro lending his voice for Fujimoto and Tomoko Yamaguchi as Lisa . And also Hiroki Doi ( Sosuke ) and Yuria Nana ( Ponyo ) do a wonderful job providing the main voices for the Japanese audio track as well .
Overall , Hayao Miyazaki is truly a remarkable filmmaker and Ponyo is a true masterpiece . Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli show no signs of waning and they manage to capture the magic that I have felt when I was younger when I first watched Ghibli classics such as Nausicaa , My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service and Laputa : Castle in the Sky . This Blu-ray release is highly recommended !
001 4 Hayao Miyazaki is one of those rare directors who can take the magic of nature and childhood , then somehow capture it for the screen .
And his tenth Ghibli movie Ponyo is no exception - - it's a reimagined tale of a little mermaid who wants to become human so she can be with a little human boy she loves . It's a simple story told in a simple manner ( occasionally TOO simple ) , but it has a lush oceanic beauty and an innocent sweetness that really capture your heart and imagination .
A little boy named Sosuke finds a tiny goldfish with a human face on a beach , trapped in a bottle . He names her Ponyo , and goes to great lengths to care for his little fishy friend .
But then the sea wizard Fujimoto , Ponyo's overprotective dad , appears and snatches Ponyo back into the sea - - and she decides that she wants to become human so she can be with Sosuke . Having tasted a bit of Sosuke's blood , she sprouts chickenleggy limbs and starts to change , but inadvertently disrupts a magical well that causes the moon to drop , the seas to rise over the land , and prehistoric magic to rise once more .
Sosuke and Ponyo are delighted to be reunited , despite the raging storm that is engulfing the city and causing ships to go missing . While the children go searching for Sosuke's missing mother , Fujimoto struggles to fix the balance of nature before the entire world is destroyed , with the help of Ponyo's sea goddess mother . The only hope of restoring balance lies in Ponyo and Sosuke - - and if Sosuke's love is not true , then Ponyo will be reduced to sea foam .
Compared to Miyazaki's other movies , Ponyo is a very simple story - - it's basically a boy-meets-fishgirl story , with lots of children running around being adorable and exquisite looks at the sea . Even its theme is simple - - the story is dependent on on true selfless love and how it knows no boundaries of age , experience or even species . Not to mention parents letting go of their children .
If there's a downside to the story , it's the lack of internal conflict . Example : the test that Fujimoto and the sea goddess use for Sosuke . . . well , it's far less impressive than it seems .
And Miyazaki does not disappoint animationwise - - he conjures a waterworld of luminous sea life , sparkling ships , prehistoric creatures , finned submarines and a town that has been swallowed by the sea ( complete with boats floating over the rooftops ) . It's an exquisite piece of work that turns the ocean into a magical , otherworldly realm where wizards work in coral-encrusted towers and shimmering jellyfish take little mermaids to the surface .
Ponyo herself provides a lot of the movie's charm - - she's effusive , hyperactive , has a babylike fascination with the human world ( HAM ! ) , and an array of handy magical powers . Sosuke is a likable lad who is fascinated by Ponyo and her world , and Fujimoto makes a enjoyable anti-hero - - spindly , gaunt and with a mane of messy red hair , he's like a rock'n'roll embodiment of parental stress .
The extras are pretty promising on this particular edition , as you'd expect with a Ghibli film - - a slew of documentaries and interviews ( including with Miyazaki himself ) , storyboards , explorations of the story's background . And most striking is the World of Ghibli , an interactive creation which apparently allows people to enter the worlds of various Miyazaki movies - - Ponyo's , Kiki's , Castle in the Sky's , and so on .
Ponyo is simpler and more childlike fare than most of Miyazaki's past films , but it's still a sweet and lushly-animated piece of work . At the very least , it will transport you to a magical childhood .
002 4 In 2008 , Studio Ghibli released their latest Hayao Miyazaki film Ponyo ( aka Gake no Ue no Ponyo ) in Japan and followed with a U.S . release in August 2009 . The film which is Miyazaki's eighth film for Studio Ghibli has amassed several awards including the Japanese Academy Prize for Animation of the Year . The film which is budgeted around $34 million dollars made over $199 million worldwide . Where his 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro was Miyazaki's tale for older children , this time around for Ponyo he wanted to create a film for young children and was inspired from Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid .
VIDEO :
Magical , beautiful and everything that you can expect from Hayao Miyazaki . I was completely in awe when I watched this film . In this day and age , we tend to put so much into CG animated films and rarely do we see hand drawn quality animation anymore . I'm so glad that Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli continues to show this creative style through this film . The hand painted backgrounds are absolutely beautiful , the character design continues that Miyazaki look and style but looks absolutely fluid during its more action-oriented scenes .
Presented in 1080p High Definition , detail can be seen on the painted backgrounds . Vibrant during the day scenes with trees that are full of detail and water reflecting the trees , cliffs showcasing the detail as shadows and detail showcasing the curvature and the little pieces of grass that are placed within the rocks . The scene with the storm and the crashing features Miyazaki's handiwork as he created the water and his waves all by himself . It's an amazing sight to see .
There are no compression artifacts , edge enhancement , aliasing , banding or any problems in picture quality for Ponyo whatsoever . Ponyo achieves perfection !
AUDIO & SUBTITLES :
Ponyo is presented in English 5.1 DTS Master Audio ( 48 kHz / 24 - bit ) and in Japanese and French 5.1 Dolby Digital . First the good . The English dub track is fantastic . You want an immersive soundscape , Ponyo delivers . From the sound of the ocean , bubbles popping , the rush of the waves , the sounds of trees rustling , the sound of rain , sea animals swimming in the water and most of all , a beautiful musical score by Joe Hisaishi . This soundtrack is absolutely divine . Great use of front and center channels with dialogue and music that is crystal clear . The surround channels and the use of LFE as the sound effects bring Ponyo to life . This lossless soundtrack is perfect !
Now the bad . There is no lossless Japanese audio soundtrack . The Japanese Blu-ray release has a lossless soundtrack but what happened to it for this Blu-ray release ? There is no doubt that audiophile purists who want the original Japanese soundtrack are going to be upset by this and one can hope that if Disney does bring out a Miyazaki release on Blu-ray in the near future , that a lossless soundtrack is included for both the English and Japanese audio .
Subtitles are in English SDH , French and Spanish .
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Ponyo has a good number of special features in 1080p High Definition and 480i Standard Definition . Audio is in English 2.0 Dolby Digital and subtitles are in English SDH , French and Spanish . Special features include :
* Meet Ponyo - ( 3 : 22 ) Executive producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy talk about working with Hayao Miyazaki and give a quick introduction to Ponyo .
* Original Japanese Storyboards - Watch the entire film but this time with the video showcasing the original storyboards .
* A Conversation with Hayao Miyazaki & John Lasseter - ( 3 : 31 ) PIXAR's John Lasseter and a friend of Hayao Miyazaki talk about Ponyo .
* Creating Ponyo - ( 3 : 58 ) Hayao Miyazaki talks about how he came up with the concept of Ponyo and him wanting to create a film for children .
* Ponyo & Fujimoto - ( 2 : 59 ) Hayao Miyazaki talks about the name Ponyo and the character Fujimoto .
* The Nursery - ( 2 : 00 ) Studio Ghibli Producer Toshio Suzuki talks about Miyazaki wanting to create a children's nursery and both men made Miyazaki's dream happen by creating the Studio Ghibli Nursery .
* Producer's Perspective : Telling the Story - ( 2 : 27 ) Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki talks about how Miyazaki works and creating the storyboards and story for Ponyo and more .
* The Locations of Ponyo - ( 9 : 32 ) An excerpt from a Japanese documentary on Miyazaki's animated films and visiting the areas that inspired Miyazaki to create the village of Ponyo .
* Scoring Miyazaki - ( 7 : 19 ) A featurette about Joe Hisaishi's scoring Miyazaki films and more .
* Original Japanese Trailer - ( 3 : 22 ) The original Japanese theatrical trailers .
* Behind the Microphone - ( 6 : 04 ) Featuring the English dub voice talent talking about their role , their appreciation for Miyazaki and his films and interviews with the All-star talent .
* My Neighbor Totoro - Creating My Neighbor Totoro - ( 3 : 00 ) Miyazaki talking about the creation of his film My Neighbor Totoro .
* Kiki's Delivery Service - Creating Kiki's Delivery Service - ( 2 : 27 ) Hayao Miyazaki discussing the creation of Kiki's Delivery Service and what inspired Miyazaki for the creation of the city in the film .
* Castle in the Sky : Character Sketches - ( 2 : 37 ) Miyazaki talks about the characters of Castle in the Sky and discussing how his audiences are loyal to his films over time .
* Enter the Lands - Visit the land featuring various small animated Studio Ghibli characters ( from all films ) . Click on a character from that film ( note : only Ponyo , My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky are available ) to get a Q & A or a small video info . of that film and its characters .
EXTRAS :
A DVD of Ponyo is included with this Blu-ray release . The DVD is in Widescreen ( 1 : 85 : 1 ) - Enhanced for 16 × 9 Televisions , English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound , Japanese and French with subtitles in English SDH , French and Spanish .
JUDGMENT CALL :
Once again , Miyazaki continues to prove to us that hand-drawn animation is absolutely beautiful and there is no need to join the pack and create a CG animated film . Ponyo succeeds on all levels - storyline , animation , music and its soundtrack . I absolutely loved this film !
Before I saw the film , I figured that people were so used to Miyazaki's more serious work and for him to try to go back to something similar to My Neighbor Totoro was going to be difficult in this day and age but with Ponyo , he managed to pull it off . The world he creates is magical , the characters are just enjoyable to watch . From every scene , I was literally just loving the animation and the painted backgrounds and to find out that Miyazaki actually drew the sea and the waves himself using 170,000 separate images is amazing .
In terms of any deep messages on society or ecology , in Ponyo , we see how trash and waste has been collecting on the ocean floors and Ponyo being stuck in a bottle lying in a wasteland under the sea . For Fujimoto , as he tries to maneuver underwater , waste and garbage is everywhere . So , it was great to see Miyazaki convey how people have mistreated the ocean with their garbage and incorporating it to the storyline .
The Blu-ray is absolutely beautiful when it comes to picture quality , lossless audio and also contains a good number of special features . If there was only one thing that prevents this Blu-ray release from reaching perfection is the lack of a lossless Japanese audio soundtrack . But both English and Japanese vocals are well-done with the English track featuring all-star talent with Tina Fey , Liam Neeson , Cate Blanchett , Betty White , Cloris Leachmen , Lily Tomlin and Matt Damon providing their voices for this film . Even Jonas Brothers sibling Frankie Jonas ( as Sosuke ) and Miley's younger sister Noah ( as Ponyo ) do a great job as the primary vocals . The Japanese soundtrack features two of Japan's top celebrities with George Tokoro lending his voice for Fujimoto and Tomoko Yamaguchi as Lisa . And also Hiroki Doi ( Sosuke ) and Yuria Nana ( Ponyo ) do a wonderful job providing the main voices for the Japanese audio track as well .
Overall , Hayao Miyazaki is truly a remarkable filmmaker and Ponyo is a true masterpiece . Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli show no signs of waning and they manage to capture the magic that I have felt when I was younger when I first watched Ghibli classics such as Nausicaa , My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service and Laputa : Castle in the Sky . This Blu-ray release is highly recommended !
003 4 The mother Lisa has the most poignant line in Ponyo , saying the equivalent of When you find yourself surrounded by magic and wonder , you don't try and understand it you just enjoy it .
To me , that is the theme and lesson of Ponyo ( Gake no Ue no Ponyou or Ponyo on the Cliffs ) . After dabbling in darker themes and more adult-orientated fare like
Princess Mononoke
and
Spirited Away
, Miyazaki has returned to the lighter , simpler themes of the magic and mystery of childhood as found in his groundbreaking
My Neighbor Totoro
. One can always tell the target audience for a Miyazaki film by the age of the main character : Spirited Away was made for 10 - year olds , Princess Mononoke was made for teenagers . The lead characters in Ponyo are 5 years old .
Like My Neighbor Totoro , Ponyo is a film based on a childlike sense of joy and imagination . There is no need for a villain or some arbitrary conflict or threat for the children to overcome . Like Satsuki and Mei , Sosuke and Ponyo are pure at heart , and open to exploring the wonders around them . They feel their emotions without cynicism or thought , instead living in the moment and experiencing its joys , sorrows and fears .
Which is not to say there is no depth here . In Ponyo , Miyazaki has blended two unlikely sources ; Richard Wagner's pounding opera
Die Walkure
from
Der Ring Des Nibelungen
and Hans Christian Anderson's melancholy fairy tale
The Little Mermaid
. The essential set-up comes from Die Walkure , where the god Wotan holds the goddess Freia captive , and is also the possessor of the Rhinegold Ring which grants vast magical powers so long as one gives up all possibility of love . As a nod to this , the name Ponyo is giving by her father is Brünnhilde , one of the Valkyrie who feels the power of the Ring and must make the choice between love and paradise . This story is skillfully blended with Anderson's Little Mermaid , about a sea creature who must win the love of a human or be reduced to soulless sea foam .
Miyazaki essentially presents two movies . The front film is basic , colorful and easy to understand for children . The animation in Ponyo is some of the best that I have ever seen , with Miyazaki personally drawing much of the underwater and ocean scenes , utilizing the influence of classic Japanese ukiyo-e pictures . Miyazaki has said that Ponyo is his most technically complicated film , using more unique images than any previous film .
The second , deeper story is something that can only be assembled from fragments and snatches of conversation . For example , the wizard Fujimoto , Ponyo's father , was a human being who fell in love with the ocean goddess Gran Mammare , and struggled for centuries to burn away his humanity and become consort and protector for the entity he loved . More than anyone , he understands the sacrifices and struggles awaiting Ponyo when she loves someone not of her world . These story / sub-story elements are one of the things I love so much about Japanese film , where more expectations are put on the audience to read between the lines and to give thought to the unspoken as well as the spoken
I am not sure how much of this deeper story survived the translation into English , as I watched the film in Japanese . There are some nuances that probably went missing , and I am curious as to how some of the scenes were handled , such as when Lisa sings Sosuke a part of the theme song to My Neighbor Totoro to cheer him up when his father is not home . Some other things , such as the significance of tunnels in Japanese folklore ( considered the realm of female Mountain Gods who are prone to jealousy , it is assumed that the tunnel would not take kindly to a water deity passing through . However , outside the tunnel is a statue of Jizo , the protector of children , which sends a visual clue to the audience that Sosuke and Ponyo are going to be alright . ) also might pass unnoticed or appear confusing to Western audiences , although every Japanese person would inately understand this without needing to be told .
Miyazaki proved in Ponyo that he is still the greatest director of animated films alive . I am so thrilled to have seen this movie , and I know I will watch it again and again .
008 4 I had rather high expectations from this movie after seeing the commercials . I LOVED Miyazaki's other movies . I've seen Mononoke , Totoro , Kiki , Spirited Away , and Howl's Moving Castle , and the animation of this one is beautiful especially with the sea-creatures and the animation that shows creatures coming from the water . One of my favorite scenes was Ponyo running on top of the ocean when the water had taken the shape of fish . Seriously , that was so cool .
However , what bothered me about this movie was the vagueness of the story . If Ponyo's mom is a goddess and her father is human ( or at least used to be ) and is now a wizard , then why would Ponyo lose her magic as a human ? And if Sosuke said that he would love and accept Ponyo , then she should have just stayed a fish . I wish that the relationship between Ponyo's mom and dad was explored more . What made Ponyo different from her sisters ? To me , the story was just not put well together . I had no problem with the flooding of the ocean and some of the other parts , like the old ladies being able to walk again , but with the overall vagueness of Ponyo's background and her parent's , it was hard for me to enjoy the story . And while I can understand 5 - year-olds becoming best friends , love is another matter . A 5 - year old is not really qualified to make a decision as to whether she wanted to be human or not , especially at such a great cost . Ponyo / Brunhilde's father himself said she didn't understand ( earlier in the story ) Would you expect any five-year-old , even a bright one , to make such a serious and apparently permanent decision ?
Kudos for the animation and some wonderful scenes , but blah for the story and plot .
011 4 To anyone who was disappointed by this movie . . . You have no soul .
Let me start by saying that my first and favorite Miyazaki movie was Spirited Away . But as much as I , the ultimate anime / animation lover , can say that . . . It was long and somewhat plodding at times . Yes I know the tone of the movie and the characters dictated this to some degree , but still . . .
Ponyo on the otherhand is a more stunningly realized and tighter movie with innocence to spare . My partner and I just watched in amazement at the colors , the music , the themes , the hidden little messages , nuances . . . Sigh . . . : ) It's childhood and adulthood realized in one wonderful work of art .
If you have children or still feel like a child at heart , buy this , in blu ray for the love of !
, immediately . You simply won't be disappointed .
022 4 I haven't seen all Miyazaki's films ( I'm in the process of doing it ) but the four I've seen until now are masterpieces . Hayao Miyazaki may be the greatest animator in the world , his films combines beautiful , detailed hand-drawn backgrounds and stories that engage you with excellent stories and great characters . The films that I've seen so far are My Neighbor Totoro , Princess Mononoke , Spirited Away and Ponyo ( all excellent ) .
I've read some reviews that this is a light effort from Miyazaki . I disagree . I think that the master animator divides into two categories : the all innocent , sweet and simple films ( My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service and Ponyo ) and the much more complex , ambigous ones ( Nausicaa , Castle in the Sky , Porco Rosso , Mononoke , Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle ) . Both categories are excellent in their own right and serve to satisfy people of all ages .
Ponyo is an excellent film . Here in Ecuador unfortunately Disney understandably does not release Studio Ghibli films in theaters . While that's a shame , I understand that this films are not all quite embraced by the public in the West ( although their following is increasing ) , so I have to buy it through Amazon . I was impressed by the beautifullness of the film . From the beginning it takes your breath away by showing you stunning scenes of the sea and the land . The story is really simple but I think that is one of the many strengths of the film . The characters are great and the two children behave properly as five year old should . Miyazaki takes inspiration in The Little Mermaid but give the film his own identity which we all have learn to love .
Ponyo is a sweet , simple , beautiful film that will lift your spirits and will make you smile thoughout it and after it . 5 stars . Totally recommended .
026 4 Ponyo is another great anime from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli . This is a film like all of Miyazaki's works - it makes you feel good and doesn't make you wonder why you took the time to watch it .
028 4 An excellent and cute story . Another great film from Miyazaki-san and Studio Ghibli . Definitely one to add to your movie collection . Yet , it does not hold the same majesty as some of the previous ones like Totoro or Mononoke Hime ( Princess Mononoke ) .
039 4 First off , I would like to say Thank you to Amazon . I got the movie the day it was released and have enjoyed it since . The movie came brand new , untouched and was the perfect gift for my spouse who adores Studio Ghibli movies .
The movie itself has some good bonus features to keep you entertained and the movie is just amazing . It's a pretty touching story , has good animation and voice acting . I recommened this movie for anyone who loves Studio Ghibli movies .
You won't regret it !
057 4 I was introduced to the works of Director , Hayao Miyazaki less than a decade ago . At first glance , his work may seem different . My first experience with Miyazaki's work came with the best animated film of 2002 , Spirited Away . I have to admit , this is not the best film to use as a doorway into the world of Ghibli , as Spirited Away rides that different line a lot harder than most of his work . However , after my next experience , My Neighbor Totoro , I was completely hooked . These are films that , when watched with unclouded vision , will open up your movie world to a whole other arena you never imagined possible . I am more calm and relaxed when I watch a Miyazaki film , than when I watch any other Director's work . There is a serenity present in the worlds he creates that cannot be found anywhere else .
Ponyo is no exception , and in fact may be the piece that best represents that feeling I have when watching a Miyazaki film . The colors are vibrant , and the animation pristine . There is incredible value given to the art of traditional hand-drawn animation . It begs the question to enter our minds as to why that form of art has been , for the most part , abandoned . The music , ( from composer Joe Hisaishi ) is transcending . Mr . Hisaishi is to Hayao Miyazaki what John Williams is to Steven Spielberg . The marriage of their work is meant to be .
I cherish the innocence of the story . The characters , while experiencing extraordinary things , remain emotionally deep , and memorable . The scenery is as inviting as ever . You feel at times , as if you have become a permanent part of what you are viewing . It leaves the realm of animated film , and becomes something real , if only inside of you .
This is Miyazaki at his absolute best . If you have not been introduced to the works of this amazing Director , this is a fantastic entry point , and should be taken with no questions asked . In the opinion of this reviewer , this was the best film of 2009 .
062 4 It has been widely agreed that Hayao Miyazaki is a master at his craft when it comes to combining rich animation with thoughtful story lines and similarly imaginative characters . His movies , from NAUSICAA , TOTORO , KIKI , LAPUTA , and MONONOKE to the recent HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE are all not only gorgeously rendered in terms of art , but in terms of movie-making as well . Can this man do no wrong ? Not really , but it is impossible to expect everyone of his movies to always be five star marvels . His newest film , PONYO , an unashamedly family-friendly tale of a goldfish out of water , is as lushly animated and alive with interesting characters as you would expect . . . and yet this is the first film of his which treads into lesser territory . Don't get me wrong , PONYO is not a bad movie by any means . As mentioned , it is a sight for the eyes and is as charming and adorable as TOTORO and KIKI . The problem is that the story doesn't stay afloat to satisfy anyone eager for another engrossing , in-depth plot .
For its opening hour , PONYO is Miyazaki storytelling at its finest , in which a rowdy and overeager young goldfish ( who later becomes named Ponyo ) makes a forbidden trip to the human world where she is subsequently adopted by a boy her own age named Sosuke ( modeled , interestingly , after the director's own son ) . This does not please Ponyo's father , a mysterious wizard named Fujimoto , who is very angry at the humans for their destruction of the sea ( this environmentalist theme is not much different from Miyazaki's other films ) . . . a problem he very much intends to rectify by creating jellyfish from the prow of his submarine . He separates the pair and tries to talk Ponyo into staying underwater with him . The goldfish , however , has already tasted both Sosuke's blood ( healing a cut on his finger ) AND some of the human food ( ham , which she becomes inexplicably addicted to ) , and of course steals into her father's forbidden potions , transforming into a hyperactive young girl ( who is the spitting image of Mei from MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO ) . This triggers a dangerous tsunami which threatens to engulf the entire world with water . Conspiring with his wife , Gran Mamare , a diaphanous sea goddess who alternatingly shifts from super-sized titan to human-size form , Fujimoto decides to test the two youngsters ' love for each other . They do this by elevating the sea to the level of Sosuke's house , prompting the youngsters to set out across their now ocean-infested world in an over-sized toy-boat ( made possible by Ponyo's own magical powers ) .
It is at this point where PONYO begins to run out of steam . Although Ponyo and Sosuke are adorable and the scenes involving them are funny and cute , they slow down the film . Where the film really takes on water , unfortunately , is at the climax in which Sosuke must prove his love to Ponyo , presented in a way which is strangely anticlimactic and rushed , bringing an otherwise charming tale to an abrupt halt . This will likely underwhelm viewers expecting another instant masterpiece from the man who has delivered far more interesting finales for many of his other movies . Remember the destruction of Laputa ? Satsuki's search for little Mei ? Kiki's rescue of Tombo ? Porco Rosso's fight with Curtis ? The rescue of the Forest Spirit's head ? Or even the test between Chihiro and Yubaba ? All those resolutions were far more satisfying and felt more complete than this one .
On a technical level , PONYO cannot be faulted . The animation is absolutely gorgeous to look at , produced entirely without a single shot of computer-generated-imagery , and naturally Joe Hisaishi provides us with yet another breathtaking musical score ; the best moments being the rousing sequences underwater , accompanied by a chorus and a soprano voice . And the backgrounds are lovingly painted and detailed as any other Ghibli movies .
Having proved themselves worthy on translating and dubbing Ghibli's previous movies into English with top-quality results , Disney Studios and Pixar once again provide an English dub complete with a mostly capable cast of actors . Frankie Jonas is surprisingly good as Sosuke , sounding very natural and believable throughout . Noah Cyrus as Ponyo , on the other hand , sometimes goes overboard in shouting her lines before eventually settling down toward the end . Leads aside , the rest of the cast includes Liam Neeson as the overprotective Fujimoto ( who manages himself unsurprisingly well in the character ) , Cate Blanchett as Gran Mamare ( in an omnipresent tone which is not much different from her Galadriel in LORD OF THE RINGS ) , Matt Damon as Sosuke's constantly seafaring father Koichi ( who is good but nothing to write home about ) , and Tina Fey as Lisa . Of them , Fey is the best voice in the entire cast , imbuing the character with just the right amount of spirit and personality . Her scenes with Sosuke show real chemistry . On the other hand , Cloris Leachman , who was spectacular as Dola in CASTLE IN THE SKY , is disappointingly wasted as one of three handicapped elderly women ( she barely has ANY lines ! ) , who are also voiced by Betty White and Lily Tomlin . Of them , only Tomlin's character , a cantankerous woman named Toki , shows any real personality , but if I were casting the movie , I'd switch Tomlin with Leachman . Probably the only really jarring drawback of the dub is a blasty techno-remix of the film's catchy ( but ridiculously repetitive ) title song , which thankfully doesn't occur until midway through the closing credits .
On the whole , PONYO is a good film ; a fine piece of animated work which is perfect for youngsters and family audiences . Due to the loss of momentum toward the end , though , it falls far short of classic status . Since Miyazaki at his least is still better than a majority of other animated films , though , I'll be generous and give PONYO a full star recommendation , because any feature of his is still very much worth watching . And of course , Disney gives it a superlative DVD edition complete with an impeccable visual and sound transfer as well as a huge serving of extras - - arguably their largest ever for a Ghibli title .
063 4 The following was originally posted to the Ponyo Theatrical Release :
First off , let me say that Miyazaki is one of my favorite directors and animators . Kiki's Delivery Service , Spirited Away , Whisper of the Heart are just some of my favorites .
The problem I had is two-fold : 1 ) The animation was , IMO , sub-par . As another reviewer mentions Miyazaki aimed this movie at 5 year olds , well I'm not letting them have all the fun in what may be his last movie , so 1 ticket please ! But I digress , Lisa's character ( voiced by Tina Fey ) was not well drawn , Look at her body symmetry , specifically her legs , as an example . I've seen art for children and frankly it can be done better or worse , depending on the illustrator . Since I've seen most , if not all his previous work , I guess I was expecting better . The attention to detail found in previous works was missing here . 2 ) The story was simple enough , again aimed at 5 year olds . But , in addition to being somewhat slow , it begs the question : What value did Sosuke's Dad bring to the story ? He could have been left out completely as far as I can tell . Also , compared to Chihiro , I think Sosuke's test was simultaneously anti-climactic and daunting . In order to bring balance to the world's oceans a 5 year old is expected to love someone he has just met ? I mean , a test of bravery would have been better , again IMO , to show his true character . I also think the audience might have responded to this a little better . Finally , such a star-studded cast . Wow , talk about wasting talent . I'm sure the fact that Miyazaki's films haven't done well in US theaters might be part of the motivation , and it did work , but unless you are good at picking out voices , most of the characters don't get enough voice time to matter much . Now granted , I didn't go to the movie to hear Cloris Leachman or Lily Tomlin , but I was expecting a little more screen time for Liam Neeson's Dad .
I've been waiting for this movie to hit theaters for a year , and this might be the reason I'm being a little hard on the movie , but Miyazaki is not getting any younger and I'd like to think he plans on going out on a high note .
I know that what I've done is probably equivalent to punching a kitten , and I'm likely to get roasted by my fellow reviewers , but this was not my intention , just my opinion , so spare me the righteous indignation please . BTW , my 9 year old daughter loved the movie and wants to see it again .
065 4 I'm a great appreciator of Studio Ghibli , to the point of having all the output on DVD and visiting the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka ( Japan ) .
This film is very pleasant but not groundbreaking . The transfer is good .
What enrages me though and loses this item 1 star is the decision by the wretched Disney ( the anti-Ghibli in my opinion - oh the irony of it being them who have control of Ghibli's work in the west ) to include an HD audio soundtrack for the ( American ) English dub but only a Dolby Digital 5.1 track for the ( much preferred ) Japanese original audio !
WHY ? ! This defies all logic and is an insult to those people who truly understand how a Ghibli movie should be presented . Disney are the McDonalds of the audio / visual world and treat their customers like nothing more than an income stream . Another case in point is the incredible number of unskippable trailers on Disney disc releases . How insulting to force me to watch the same trailers EVERY time I watch the movie I've paid for . Put the trailers in the extras options guys !
067 4 Hayao Miyazaki is one of those rare directors who can take the magic of nature and childhood , then somehow capture it for the screen .
And his tenth Ghibli movie Ponyo is no exception - - it's a reimagined tale of a little mermaid who wants to become human so she can be with a little human boy she loves . It's a simple story told in a simple manner ( occasionally TOO simple ) , but it has a lush oceanic beauty and an innocent sweetness that really capture your heart and imagination .
A little boy named Sosuke finds a tiny goldfish with a human face on a beach , trapped in a bottle . He names her Ponyo , and goes to great lengths to care for his little fishy friend . But then the sea wizard Fujimoto , Ponyo's overprotective dad , appears and snatches Ponyo back into the sea - - and she decides that she wants to become human so she can be with Sosuke . Having tasted a bit of Sosuke's blood , she sprouts chickenleggy limbs and starts to change , but inadvertently disrupts a magical well that causes the moon to drop , the seas to rise over the land , and prehistoric magic to rise once more .
Sosuke and Ponyo are delighted to be reunited , despite the raging storm that is engulfing the city and causing ships to go missing . While the children go searching for Sosuke's missing mother , Fujimoto struggles to fix the balance of nature before the entire world is destroyed , with the help of Ponyo's sea goddess mother . The only hope of restoring balance lies in Ponyo and Sosuke - - and if Sosuke's love is not true , then Ponyo will be reduced to sea foam .
Compared to Miyazaki's other movies , Ponyo is a very simple story - - it's basically a boy-meets-fishgirl story , with lots of children running around being adorable and exquisite looks at the sea . Even its theme is simple - - the story is dependent on on true selfless love and how it knows no boundaries of age , experience or even species . Not to mention parents letting go of their children .
If there's a downside to the story , it's the lack of internal conflict . Example : the test that Fujimoto and the sea goddess use for Sosuke . . . well , it's far less impressive than it seems .
And Miyazaki does not disappoint animationwise - - he conjures a waterworld of luminous sea life , sparkling ships , prehistoric creatures , finned submarines and a town that has been swallowed by the sea ( complete with boats floating over the rooftops ) . It's an exquisite piece of work that turns the ocean into a magical , otherworldly realm where wizards work in coral-encrusted towers and shimmering jellyfish take little mermaids to the surface .
Ponyo herself provides a lot of the movie's charm - - she's effusive , hyperactive , has a babylike fascination with the human world ( HAM ! ) , and an array of handy magical powers . Sosuke is a likable lad who is fascinated by Ponyo and her world , and Fujimoto makes a enjoyable anti-hero - - spindly , gaunt and with a mane of messy red hair , he's like a rock'n'roll embodiment of parental stress .
The extras are pretty promising on this blu-ray , and they seem to be the same as the regular DVD edition's extras ( rather than stiffing or one or the other group of buyers ) - - a slew of documentaries and interviews ( including with Miyazaki himself ) , storyboards , explorations of the story's background , et cetera . And most striking is the World of Ghibli , an interactive creation which apparently allows people to enter the worlds of various Miyazaki movies - - Ponyo's , Kiki's , Castle in the Sky's , and so on . And given how luminous and lush the colors are , the movie itself should be spellbinding visually .
Ponyo is simpler and more childlike fare than most of Miyazaki's past films , but it's still a sweet and lushly-animated piece of work . At the very least , it will transport you to a magical childhood .
068 4 This film is a quality family film with the usual Miyazaki combo of cute characters , morally-ambiguous villains and an eco-infused adventure along the way . Since My Neighbor Totoro Miyazaki hasn't made a film quite as accessible to children as Ponyo . ( It also logs in at about 15 - 20 minutes shorter than most Miyazaki films . )
One of charms that has drawn me to Miyazaki's work is the exquisitely hand-drawn feel of the pencil line art that have always been painted in a graphically rich two-shade process . The backgrounds are often enchanting pieces of watercolor-style art that could stand as lovely art even apart from the bonus you get with charming and mysterious animated characters . Fortunately , as the age of computers has sped up the production process and reduced the costs of 2D animation , even the previous digitally painted Miyazaki / Ghibli film Howl's Moving Castle still preserved a tremendous level of the artistic quality that the earlier hand-drawn , hand-cel-painted films had .
Ponyo on DVD is a stunning transfer compared to previous Miyazaki DVD releases . There is hardly any artifacting on the DVD transfer . The only bad detail is the hiccup where the film transfers out to play English intro / credits or Japanese intro / credits depending on what language has been chosen . Blu-ray is even more pristine a picture .
Unfortunately , this more pristine quality shows off that Studio Ghibli compromised too greatly on the digital conversion of the hand-drawn art . Line art looks overly black , rigid and sterile at times , like it was auto-traced with vector-art animation software . The softer nuances of the pencil art upon which it is based are lost most of the time . The digital painted cels are clean , but overly flat and without grain , and frequently missing the elegance of the two-color shading style that has been used consistently in previous Miyazaki films . Backgrounds at times look like cheaper digitally airbrushed backgrounds , which really stand out as horrid compared to some of the nice Ponyo backgrounds . Ponyo is very bright and colorful , yes , but below the art standard of previous Miyazaki films . Some scenes are so bad , and some characters so consistently poorly rendered ( like the bad guy father Fujimoto ) that Ponyo art comes off more as a glorified Saturday Morning Cartoon , and not as a lilting , nuanced , subtly elegant masterwork like has come before .
Ponyo is a charming and worthwhile film to see , for sure , especially if young children are in tow . But of all the Ghibli films to get Hi-Def treatment no film has come up so short in showcasing the Studio Ghibli masterful , artistic 2D animation heritage as Ponyo . I wish Totoro or Howl's Moving Castle or Castle in the Sky had been released on Blu-ray instead .
076 4 From Hiyao Miyazaki ( who if you didn't know created the Oscar-winning Spirited Away ) is this his latest movie which is an original story , although slightly inspired by The Little Mermaid and some elements of The Frog Prince . This is his eighth film that he's done through Studio Ghibli , which he co-founded , and was fortunate to be released in U.S . theatres through Disney .
A 5 - year old boy named Sosuke lives right on the ocean with his parents . His father is a fisherman who usually isn't at home , and his mother Lisa works at a senior citizens center . One day , Sosuke catches a strange looking goldfish he calls Ponyo which licks a cut on his finger and heals him . The fish gets away , but is really the daughter of a strange Willy Wonka-dressed man who is some kind of keeper of peace in the seas . Ponyo uses her magic to transform into a human girl , although sometimes she looses her composure which causes her to change into a slightly frog-like creature . She runs into Sosuke who immeadiately recognizes her as the fish he caught , and is taken in temporarily by Lisa during a huge typhoon which floods the entrie area . Lisa leaves to go look in on the old ladies at the center , leaving Sosuke and Ponyo to set out the next morning in a toy boat that Ponyo makes bigger with her magical powers . They then encounter Ponyo's father who takes them to his underwater refuge , where Lisa and all the old ladies from the center have been kept to save them from the flood . There , they encounter Ponyo's mother who is essentiually a cross between a goddess and Glinda the good witch , and lets them know that Ponyo can stay with Sosuke and his mother . The movie ends with the balance of nature being turned back to normal , because somehow Ponyo accidently caused it to happen with her magic .
I'd have to say I very much enjoyed this movie . It's Miyazaki's first movie intended for children since My Neighbor Totoro , and it comes off as such . There isn't any dark overtone like some of his last films like Howl's Moving Castle or Princess Mononoke , and is done purely for sheer fun . Granted , the plot didn't seem to have too much of a main direction to it , but Miyazaki makes up for it with his stellar visuals . The dub is pretty fair with the usually roster of celebrities that Disney gets for its movies , including Tina Fey as Lisa , Matt Damon as Sosuke's father , and Cate Blanchett as Ponyo's mother . I'd say Liam Neeson was miscast as Ponyo's dad , and it could have done without the Jonas Bros . and Cyus siblings being cast as the main characters , but was still acceptable . I'd recommend this film as a mainstay for someone's family , although traditional anime fans might find it a little hokey . So , definately look it up if you want another Totoro-like pump of the warm fuzzies .
078 4 The world of Ghibli has astounded its fans for almost 30 years and while the last ten years were not the kindest to this animation studio , Miyazaki himself knew it was time to take the helm once again to remind us what makes his films so great . With that he gives us ' Ponyo ' .
Loosly based on the classic film ' The Little Mermaid ' , Ponyo is a gold fish that knows there is more to a simple life than just staying under water in the care of her sorcerer father ( who strangley enough it not fish like at all ) . With a little intuition she escapes to the surface and takes on a human form . The she finds a little boy names Sosuke , a boy who's favorite thing in the world is to help people . When he comes upon Ponyp he wants to care for her too and they form a very special bond . Now the two of them need to fight and let her father understand that the world of the sea and the world of the surface can live together in peace so long as both worlds understand just how important they are to one another .
This film is such an enjoyable on , because of the fact that it has gone back to the magical roots that make Ghibli films so amazing . The scenes where the water looks like faces crashing onto the last is so creative and all the bright colors and the innocence of the characters make the film more enjoyable . ' Ponyo ' is the very first Ghibli film to be shown on a wide release of U.S . movie theaters . It is about time too . While there haven't been such great films since ' Spirited Away ' , ' Ponyo ' is a sign that hopefully as the studio reaches it's 30th annuversey there will be some new films that are just as magical as the greats that cam before it .
081 4 Spirited Away to me is the greatest animated film of all time , and after growing up with the other Studio Ghibli films I was worried that Ponyo might not live up to Miyazaki's standard . However I found Ponyo to be a very light innocent film that is not seen today . While watching , I was genuinely happy and smiling for the majority of the film .
Artistically , like Hayao's other films , it is bar none the most beautiful drawn world in today's animation . Think of Ponyo as if The Little Mermaid met My Neighbor Totoro , with the originality of Spirited Away , and that should give you an idea of what to expect .
Voice acting is very good , with Liam Neeson outperforming everybody else as Fujimoto , the father of Ponyo . Tina Fey also does a surprisingly stellar job as Lisa , the mother of Sosuke .
The Soundtrack is yet again perfectly fitting and portrays the scenes well , Joe Hisaishi did another tremendous job .
So if you haven't already , pick up Ponyo and prepare to let your mind wonder and enjoy the last film made by the great Hayao Miyazaki !
087 4 This movie is a perfect example of how relevent and amazing 2D animation can be . Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have ALWAYS produced amazing , quality artwork with all the love and care in the world . It's the only anime I've ever seen that teaches children to love and appreciate the world and all of the magic and wonder in it .
I recommend this film to anyone with or WITHOUT a child , along with any of Studio Ghibli's previous works . These movies are amazing for all ages and all types of people , though I CAUTION : WATCH IT IN JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES . The Disney dubbing job is absolutely awful with a cast that doesn't fit the characters at all , but were instead selected for ' political ' reasons . I mean come on , it's no coincidence that a Jonas AND a Cyrus are in the dubbed version of an American Disney release of a Japanese film .
So watch it in Japanese and you'll be amazed by the spirit and heart of this film !
102 4 Be warned , the theme song of this fanciful epic by the renowned Hayao Miyazaki , who won an Best Animated Film Oscar for Spirited Away ( reportedly , even the directors of Lilo and Stitch voted for that film even though their film was in the same competition .
Ponyo , a.k.a . Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea , is perhaps the most innocent and wondrous of Miyazaki's films . It's said to be loosely based on The Little Mermaid ( even the DVD package suggest this ) but it really only bears a passing resemblance to either the Andersen or Disney versions . Like other Miyazaki films , it tells its own story by its own rules and requires that you allow yourself into an almost alternate universe that coexists with a realistic world . Sorry to be so pithy , but it's hard to describe these films adequately . They need to be experienced .
Big name stars perform the dubbed English version and most of them agreed because of their love for the director's previous work .
Among these is Liam Neeson , who appears on camera on one of the bonus features on the two disc set . Tina Fey says she was channeling the movie moms she grew up with . We see the cherished Betty White in recording sessions ( she plays one of three ladies in a nursing facility , the other two voiced by Lily Tomlin and Cloris Leachman ) . Especially remarkable are the performances of young Noah Cyrus ( Miley's sister ) and Frankie Jonas ( the Jonas Brothers ' little brother ) as the two leads . It's difficult enough to match the voices in an overdubbed foreign language film , it's quite another to add emotion and depth .
My children loved this film . It was their first introduction to Miyazaki , which can be an acquired taste for some . If you enjoy and admire the work of Pixar , you can't deny the extreme ( and eagerly credited ) influence of Miyazaki on Pixar character development and storytelling in particular .
The two DVD discs also include a storyboarded version of the film and lots of short features about the music , voices , characters and setting of Ponyo .
My only question - - where was the U.S released soundtrack album , including the Cyrus / Jonas version of the song ?
103 4 The latest Studio Ghibli masterpiece ( would they even be capable of producing a bad movie ? ) is based on Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid but reworked into a new , distinctive take . Under the sea is a once-human wizard , now a magical being , loyal to nature and indignant over man's treatment of the Earth . He has hundreds of children , strange little fishes with faces , whose mother at first remains unseen ( I'm trying not to spoil the surprises of later in the movie ) . When one of these fish - an especially adventuresome little girl fish - is washed up on land and rescued by a little boy named Sosuke ( who keeps her in a bucket of water and names her Ponyo ) , the two become inseperable . Then little Ponyo becomes infused with human blood - after she licks a small cut on Sosuke's finger to heal it , and is changed . She can become human , and yearns to stay on land with her beloved little friend , Sosuke .
The little pair finds themselves at the center of a global crisis when the world , already out of balance , becomes much more so when the wizard's Water Of Life is accidentally unleashed upon the ocean . To say too much more about the plot would be to rob the viewer of discovering how this wonder-filled story unfolds on their own . It has hugely memorable characters , focuses deeply on the bonds between people - between Sosuke and Ponyo ; between Ponyo and her parents and her numerous sibling fish ; between Sosuke and his mother ; between Sosuke , his mother , and the father who has to be away at sea for long periods of time ; between Sosuke , his mother , and the old ladies at the senior center she works at ; and so on . It's full of whimsey , comedy , awe , and a pure , magically innocent little love story . The animation and the use of color is fantastic , and the worlds and events represented in that animation are amazing - the undersea home of the wizard ; walls of water being pulled skyward toward the moon ; massive ocean waves transforming into huge , titanic-sized fish and back again . The beautiful animation is complimented well by great voice acting .
Studio Ghibli ( makers of
Whisper of the Heart
,
Spirited Away
,
Kiki's Delivery Service : Special Edition - 2 - Disc DVD
, and a host of other gems ) , just continues to amaze . Ponyo is one of the year's most perfect movies .
104 4 What a precious film Ponyo is ! The colors and its beautiful story really captivate you . Helmed by Academy Award ® - winning director Hayao Miyazaki , at the Japanese animation film Studio Ghibli , this astonishing movie follows the tradition established by Miyazaki and Ghibli , with wonderful animated films like My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service , and Castle in the Sky .
One of the main characters in the story is Sosuke , a happy kid who spends his day going to school and returning home with his mother Risa , who works in a senior-care facility , which is located next door to Sosuke's school . His father , a sailor , is seldom home because his job is very time-demanding . Their house is located on a cliff in a picturesque Japanese coastal fishing village . One day , Sosuke discovers what appears to be or looks like a goldfish at the beach downhill from his house . He picks it up , puts it in a bucket with water , and names her Ponyo . However , it happens that Ponyo is the daughter of a powerful wizard and a sea Goddess .
With time , the wizard takes Ponyo away from Sosuke , which breaks her heart because she loves Sosuke - and she also wants to become a human . She escapes from her father's custody , unleashing drastic changes on our planet as a result , causing tsunamis , sending earth into pre-historic times ( with its fauna and flora ) , and getting the moon very close to the earth , leading to possible , eventual crash . Only true love will allow the balance of nature to be restored .
Ponyo is just awesome . The animation is mesmerizing , as well as its attention to detail . Based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic ` The Little Mermaid , this is a film that all the family will treasure for generations to come . The fantastic Blue-ray edition includes documentaries in which the world of the Ghibli Studios and the film's characters are profiled , interactive games , and more . A DVD copy of the movie is provided on a second disc . In addition to PONYO , the Disney Studios also released DVD editions of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO , CASTLE IN THE SKY , and KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE on March 2 , 2010 . ( Japan . 2008 , color , 103 min plus additional material )
Reviewed by Eric Gonzalez exclusively for [ . . . ] on March 8 , 2010 .
106 4 It's wonderful to live in an era when one of the all time legends of entertainment is still actively producing works . I imagine that in years to come people will look back with tremendous fondness to the days when Hayao Miyazaki was still directing and it's a blessing to know ( or at least hope ) that more films are yet to come . I had heard after ` Howl's Moving Castle ' that Miyazaki might be retiring from but Ponyo laid that rumor to rest . According to Wikipedia Miyazaki is signed to direct at least two more movies but at 69 years of age you never know .
Ponyo is the story of a tiny mermaid who runs away from home only to end up in the bucket of a young boy who assumes she's a goldfish ( despite her obviously humanlike face ) . Her father , Fujimoto , a human who now shuns humans and lives beneath the ocean tries to retrieve Ponyo using various water based magic at his disposal . Ponyo has other ideas in mind as she uses her own magic to try and become an actual human girl . Unfortunately all of this mucking around has created a rift in reality that threatens to bring complete disaster on everyone .
If you've watched more than a few Miyazaki films you'll notice that like Walt Disney he has a particular artistic style that the animators at Studio Ghibli adhere to . The first thing I noticed about Ponyo was that the art seemed a somewhat different . It's a bit rougher or perhaps more simplistic , particularly with the characters of Ponyo and her father Fujimoto , than what I've seen in previous movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke . The backgrounds by contrast are absolutely lush and gorgeous and retain the dreamlike quality that is a trademark of Miyazaki films . Most of the film takes place in charming little coastal city in Japan based on the actual city of Tomonoura . The rest is underwater and it is positively glorious . It absolutely teams with life and naturally this is all hand drawn animation . It's almost impossible these days to find animation that is 100% hand drawn but unless I am mistaken there is not a CGI frame to be seen in the film . I have to applaud the effort of the animators here in drawing some if the most dynamic , vibrant images ever .
Miyazaki , like Pixar , has never produced a bad or even mediocre film only varying degrees of great . I felt that Howl's Moving Castle was below average on the Miyazaki scale and Ponyo is only somewhat better . My wife , on the other hand , felt that that Ponyo was every bit as good as Miyazaki's very best . For me the weakness was in the story which had a flaw or two . In particular it was hard to draw a distinction between what was supposed to be reality and what was supposed to be fantasy . Let me just say that the town in the movie undergoes a dramatic event , one which would generally be an utter disaster and yet here there seems to be no harm done . It's kind of like when Wily Coyote falls of a cliff and creates that ring of dust only to be up and around in the next scene . Miyazaki is generally pretty consistent in his stories and in this case it was hard to tell the boundaries . I also felt that the animation wasn't as strong as in the previous three Miyazaki films save for the backgrounds which are absolutely top notch . I don't regret for one second adding this film to my personal collection sight unseen and any nitpicking doesn't take away from the fact that this is a great film .
113 4 Alright , I've heard many good reviews of Ponyo and a few negative ones . I can definitely see what there is to like , because there is much , but I also see where the film could have fallen short in the eyes of many viewers . I am not a strong fan of anime , but my friends are . I do like anime though ; I think many artists and storytellers have achieved great things through their works in anime but , for me , nothing compares to the works of Hayao Miyazaki . He seems to capture a magic in his visuals paired with his song choices and overall tone . I am a huge fan of Spirited Away , Princess Mononoke , and Howl's Moving Castle , and I have become a fan of Ponyo . The reason I give this movie four stars is not because I do not like it , but because I felt it wasn't as strong as Miyazaki's other films . The four stars is based on a comparison which I probably should not even have made . This is why I say : if you're buying Ponyo because you love Miyazaki and you love the intricate details in the storytelling as well as the epic storyline ( like Princess Mononoke ) , you will not get it here . This movie is more contained , simpler . Does that make it a bad movie ? Heck no ! On the contrary , Ponyo's simplicity is what makes it so great . It is the kind of movie that tells a simple enough story , but manages to bombard your eyes with beautiful , colorful images that are not simplistic in any way . I do recommend this movie ; but don't do what I did : don't go in there expecting a two hour epic anime like Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke , because it is not those movies . Allow yourself to be taken in and don't expect too much , because sometimes too much is not a good thing . Ponyo is just enough . Enjoy !
115 4 This film has been well summarized and reviewed so let me keep this personal . . .
I have been a fan of Miyazaki's work for more years than most folks in the states have known he existed . Like most fans I thought the peak of his artistic achievements were Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away . However after having children and rearing them to the age that I thought it worthwhile to begin exposing them to these films ( my boy is 6 and my twin girls are 4 ) I have found a new dimension by which to judge these films . This new dimension is the simplicity of the stories being told and how well their message can be absorbed by young children . What I have found is that Miyazaki's genius runs deeper than I had originally thought in my art snob anime days . The genius is in the simplicity of some of his stories and how well he is able to strike the balance wherein a story is palatable to younger viewers ( 4 - 6 ) but no less relevant for an adult viewer . And when looking through his body of work you can often find that love for the beauty in simplicity in the worlds he creates . These are simple stories that take place in a larger fantastic world , and all the intricacies of that world need not be explained ad nauseum to the view , we are there for the story and must simply accept the fantastic and magical elements within that story without weighty explanations .
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is a perfect example of a simple story that is told in a way that is both poignant and beautiful to behold . The story is well explained in other reviews so I will leave those bits out and say simply that it is a joy to watch for the whole family and after multiple viewings with the children I find myself just as drawn to the screen as they are . The story lacks the complexity and maturity of Princess Mononoke because it doesn't require it . The characters are bright and lovably innocent though they exist in an imperfect world were parents have many responsibilities and sometimes can't make it to dinner because of work . Sosuke is a brave and mature little boy whom you can tell has been shaped that way by the adversities of his family life . For me the character demonstrates that even in a family where work requires much of the parents time that the love they exhibit and express to their child makes up for raising him in an imperfect situation , which I feel is a theme in many other of Miyazaki's stories such as My Neighbor Totoro . Ponyo is vibrant and always excited in the new world of possibilities that she has found above the water , and though she inadvertently causes some havoc in the world around her , her good natured frolicking tends to make you forget that she is the cause of most of the stories upheaval .
As in most of Miyazaki's stories there is no true antagonist and the conflict is limited mostly to the natural fallout of Ponyo's transformation . This however does not take away from the story in my opinion as is usually the case with these movies . Miyazaki's movies typically end in a spirit of resolution and understanding rather than victory over an enemy which I feel is a great lesson for the kids to understand the concept of moral ambiguity and trying to resolve conflicts through understanding rather than the violent destruction of an uncompromising evil .
Pony has definitely become the favorite movie for now in the house and the kids cannot stop watching it and after having it a few weeks I find myself no less impressed by its charm and of course its visually stunning animation . I would recommend all of Miyazaki's work to anyone young or old but in particular I would recommend this for houses with younger children as your experience will be enhanced by observing them as they take in all the visuals of this wonderful fantasy story ( And be sure to sing along with them to Ponyo , Ponyo , little fishy in the sea . . ) . If you enjoy Ponyo I would strongly recommend you follow it closely with The Cat Returns and My Neighbor Totoro
116 4 The mother Lisa has the most poignant line in Ponyo , saying the equivalent of When you find yourself surrounded by magic and wonder , you don't try and understand it you just enjoy it .
To me , that is the theme and lesson of Ponyo ( Gake no Ue no Ponyou or Ponyo on the Cliffs ) . After dabbling in darker themes and more adult-orientated fare like
Princess Mononoke
and
Spirited Away
, Miyazaki has returned to the lighter , simpler themes of the magic and mystery of childhood as found in his groundbreaking
My Neighbor Totoro
. One can always tell the target audience for a Miyazaki film by the age of the main character : Spirited Away was made for 10 - year olds , Princess Mononoke was made for teenagers . The lead characters in Ponyo are 5 years old .
Like My Neighbor Totoro , Ponyo is a film based on a childlike sense of joy and imagination . There is no need for a villain or some arbitrary conflict or threat for the children to overcome . Like Satsuki and Mei , Sosuke and Ponyo are pure at heart , and open to exploring the wonders around them . They feel their emotions without cynicism or thought , instead living in the moment and experiencing its joys , sorrows and fears .
Which is not to say there is no depth here . In Ponyo , Miyazaki has blended two unlikely sources ; Richard Wagner's pounding opera
Wagner - Die Walkure
from
Der Ring Des Nibelungen
and Hans Christian Anderson's melancholy fairy tale
The Little Mermaid
. The essential set-up comes from Die Walkure , where the god Wotan holds the goddess Freia captive , and is also the possessor of the Rhinegold Ring which grants vast magical powers so long as one gives up all possibility of love . As a nod to this , the name Ponyo is giving by her father is Brünnhilde , one of the Valkyrie who feels the power of the Ring and must make the choice between love and paradise . This story is skillfully blended with Anderson's Little Mermaid , about a sea creature who must win the love of a human or be reduced to soulless sea foam .
Miyazaki essentially presents two movies . The front film is basic , colorful and easy to understand for children . The animation in Ponyo is some of the best that I have ever seen , with Miyazaki personally drawing much of the underwater and ocean scenes , utilizing the influence of classic Japanese ukiyo-e pictures . Miyazaki has said that Ponyo is his most technically complicated film , using more unique images than any previous film .
The second , deeper story is something that can only be assembled from fragments and snatches of conversation . For example , the wizard Fujimoto , Ponyo's father , was a human being who fell in love with the ocean goddess Gran Mammare , and struggled for centuries to burn away his humanity and become consort and protector for the entity he loved . More than anyone , he understands the sacrifices and struggles awaiting Ponyo when she loves someone not of her world . These story / sub-story elements are one of the things I love so much about Japanese film , where more expectations are put on the audience to read between the lines and to give thought to the unspoken as well as the spoken
I am not sure how much of this deeper story survived the translation into English , as I watched the film in Japanese . There are some nuances that probably went missing , and I am curious as to how some of the scenes were handled , such as when Lisa sings Sosuke a part of the theme song to My Neighbor Totoro to cheer him up when his father is not home . Some other things , such as the significance of tunnels in Japanese folklore ( considered the realm of female Mountain Gods who are prone to jealousy , it is assumed that the tunnel would not take kindly to a water deity passing through . However , outside the tunnel is a statue of Jizo , the protector of children , which sends a visual clue to the audience that Sosuke and Ponyo are going to be alright . ) also might pass unnoticed or appear confusing to Western audiences , although every Japanese person would inately understand this without needing to be told .
Miyazaki proved in Ponyo that he is still the greatest director of animated films alive . I am so thrilled to have seen this movie , and I know I will watch it again and again .
117 4 Among my favorite anime films are Hayao Miyazaki ` s Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away ( won Best Animated film ) ; those two films are truly masterworks of animation accompanied by a very intricate storyline . Howl's Moving Castle was good but I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag . Miyazaki's eighth film for Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli , PONYO On The Cliff ( full title : Gake No Ue No Ponyo ) has been imported by Disney to U.S . shores on a limited theatrical run . The way to approach any of Miyazaki's films is to temper your expectations ; although honestly , hearing about another Miyazaki film is just so delightful that any Miyazaki fan would become excited . Ponyo is more a family-friendly film that uses the traditional hand drawn animation instead of CGI . This has been promoted as Miyazaki's last film .
Sosuke ( voiced by Doi Hiroki ) is a young boy who lives with his young mom Lisa ( voiced by Yamaguchi Tomoko ) in a small house on a cliff that overlooks a small port in Japan ( Based on Seto Island ) One day , he encounters a magical sea sprite / goldfish that he found on the beach who he names Ponyo . Taking the magical creature to wherever he goes , the two have such a good bonding because of a certain cured meat called ham ' . But as soon as the two become close , Fujimoto ( Tokoro Joji ) a former human who has rejected the surface world who has become a sea sorcerer who collects magical elixirs is hot on Ponyo's trail . He takes Ponyo back ( who he calls Brunhilde ) back to the depths , but Ponyo now desires to become human and to be with Sosuke ; a desire so strong that she breaks out of Fujimoto's undersea lair that causes the his elixirs to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world that causes a major storm that threatens the island . Fujimoto seeks out the aid of Ponyo's mother , a water element dubbed as the Mother of the Sea ( voiced by Yuki Amami ) to try and put things back to normal before the sea engulfs the surface . . .
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki , Ponyo is a film with a very simple premise that borrows some elements from The Little Mermaid . As with Miyazaki's past films , the film has strong messages about ecology and environmentalism that focuses on the well-being of the world's oceans . The opening scene with all the pollution , debris and garbage in the ocean makes a very strong commentary , these sequences give justification as to why Fujimoto would leave the life of a surface dweller . Fujimoto has taken it upon himself to try to repair the damage this has caused , but all appears to be fruitless as the oceans are damaged faster than he could anticipate . Some of the environmental messages may appear too heavy-handed but Miyazaki is a master of fantasy-storytelling and he manages to overcome the film's flaws .
The film's central focus falls on the friendship between Sosuke and Ponyo . Sosuke exhibits this optimistic innocence that is just so full of life . Ponyo as the sea sprite is just so cute and adorable .
I admit to a certain extent , that the film does take its time getting to its goals . However , the first half is also full of charm , warmth and endearing scenes that would please any viewer of any age . Once Ponyo reverts to a human however , the film gets into gear as the viewer is treated to an animated visual marvel that is quite refreshing to see in these days dominated by CGI animation . Seeing a colorful , great visual achievement using traditional cell animation is so cool to look at , Miyazaki still proves that one doesn't need CGI to deliver a good animated film . Miyazaki has the eye to deliver something truly fantastic as well as bizarre and outrageous ; Miyazaki intentionally made the drawings to resemble the use of crayons and pencils to make them superbly reflective of a child's imagination . The animation work is truly charming that retains the look of a kid's coloring book given life and motion . The animation work by Katsuma Kondo is excellent for the film's tone .
Child actors Nara Yuria and Doi Hiroki do magnificent work as Ponyo and Sosuke . I will NOT give credit to the English voice cast by Disney at all , since I saw this in its original form . Anime is meant to be seen in Japanese , English dubbed work is often abysmal . Nara Yuria is magnificent as Ponyo . Her voice portrayal fits the infantile charm and wit exhibited by her animated counterpart . She sounds so cute and adorable on some scenes , it comes as no surprise that Doi Hiroki would fall for the magical sea sprite turned human . Tomoko Yamaguchi is also awesome as Sosuke's mom . Tomoko is a model and I could just feel her ` vibe ' as her youthful , energetic young woman . I was a little confused as to why Sosuke kept on referring to her as Lisa instead of mom , but perhaps this is just a reflection on the more modern Japanese family . Comedian Joji Tokoro is great as Fujimoto . His character is full of weird potential but sadly , Miyazaki doesn't really flesh his character out more thoroughly . I would have loved to see more of the relationships between Sosuke and his father as well as more of Fujimoto's background . Everything did feel like they had to take a back seat in favor of the visuals . I also would have liked more undersea world detail as rendered by Miyazaki .
In this world , Ponyo represents the oceans and Sosuke represents the surface world . There are some parallels to the friendship between the two to the relationship between Fujimoto and the Mother of the Sea . Miyazaki seems to be giving the viewer that for the world to succeed , man and his environment need to work in unison . Man needs to respect and love his environment for what it is , and not change anything for his own selfish motives . Love , sincerity and compassion are needed to save the planet .
Miyazaki Hayao's Ponyo is a little light in the dramatic areas and ends up better as an adventure ` exploration ' film than an actual undersea journey . It will not match Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away in raw brilliance . The film does suffer a bit within the limits it imposed on itself , Miyazaki's talent still shines through and I hope that this isn ` t his last film . Miyazaki has crafted another modern fairy tale that can be appreciated by the young and old alike . It is a timeless story of friendship , love and adventure that exhibit's an endearing warmth that cannot be soon forgotten .
Highly Recommended ! ! [ 3 ½ + Stars ]
127 4 Like Miyazaki's other great movies , Ponyo is a vivid and refreshing story . The characters are delightful , energetic , and personnable . The story , which is a play on the Little Mermaid , is a wonderful modern take on a classic tale . . . with Ponyo as the obvious representation of the mermaid .
The animation is just as clear , vibrant , and smooth , as one could expect from a Miyazaki / Ghibli production . One could watch it multiple times and still find something new hidden among the beautiful art . The English voices are provided by acting talents such as Tina Fey , Liam Neeson , Cate Blanchett , Betty White , and many more . . .
All-in-all , it is another instant classic from the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and should find a home in anyone's collection . . . animation fan , or , just a fan of great story telling . The environmental theme is present and contributes to one of the most powerful scenes in the movie . I know not everyone will enjoy it as much as I have , but , I strongly recommend watching it atleast once .
128 4 Ponyo is a young fish-girl who loves to explore , but her father , a great wizard of the sea , fears the chaos her untamed powers could unleash upon the world . He's right to worry , since she , like every young undomesticated child , is an elemental force of nature who has little respect for the boundaries that grownups take so seriously . She escapes and meets up with a young boy whose imagination at least is a match for her magical powers - and it is love at first sight . Not romantic love but something more innocent and pure - like the youthful love of nature .
It starts out strong - and contains some of Miyazaki's most delightful and exuberant imagery , as when Ponyo runs blissfully upon the backs of her sisters who are at once giant fish and enormous waves . The story itself as it develops has gaps , moments that don't all add up , and unexplained elements . As another reviewer mentioned , for example , the test that Fujimoto and the sea goddess devise for Sosuke is somewhat anticlimactic , unlike the tests faced by the heroine of
Spirited Away
. I had the suspicion several times that perhaps Disney cut things out for its U.S . release - since the plot lacked some of the depth and richness in its backstory of many of Miyazaki's other works . A bit of searching shows I was wrong - this is the film Hayao Miyazaki intended . He is quoted in the L.A . Daily News as saying : I intentionally tried to simplify things for this film . I figured that this movie should be seen by 5 - year-olds , since they are the main characters . So I made the storytelling easy to understand . I figured they could watch it later as adults and understand the more complex parts of it , so I didn't foreground those elements . In hindsight he may be right - - from a young person's perspective what matters is just the magical relation between two young children , and from their perspective everything else , the fate of the cosmos , even , hinges on that .
Like most of his films , there is an ecological message here , that humans tend to ignore the wonders around them and treat carelessly the gift of the earth . Here it is expressed in an entertaining and magical story that will be easily understood by children . While , from the perspective of an adult viewer , I found this film less fully satisfying than masterpieces like
Spirited Away
and
Princess Mononoke
, or even the delicate and rich
My Neighbor Totoro
- which is the closest in spirit to this film - still it contains some remarkable and beautiful imagery and delightful moments . Well worth watching , and a very lovely and simple introduction to the work of one of the most inventive and important animated storytellers alive . There's no one else quite like him , and we're lucky to have another Miyazaki film , especially given his initial plans to retire upon completing the Academy Award-winning
Spirited Away
. Highly recommended .
131 4 As a fan of Hayao Miyazaki's many other animated films , I thoroughly enjoyed Ponyo . Though it is slightly more childish and innocent than Miyazaki's other stories , it was a pure delight !
As I suspected , Ponyo is loosely based on The Little Mermaid . She is a little fish who washes up on shore to have a young boy discover and befriend her . Sosuke and Ponyo soon become very close friends and they share an innocent love for each other . But Ponyo longs to be human ( hence the little mermaid reference ) and her father , Fujimoto , who watches over the sea , is worried this transformation will upset the balance of nature . Sosuke must prove his love for Ponyo for things to go unscathed .
Obviously what makes this movie is the beautiful artwork . It is so imaginative and breathtaking ; half the time I was simply admiring the art . The story is very different from Miyazaki's other films . Whereas Spirited Away is more of a lesson and a deep , moving , story , Ponyo is much more lighthearted and fun . I could not stop laughing throughout the movie ! ! When Ponyo yells HAM you will laugh just as hard , trust me . And her little mannerisms , along with the innocence of childhood , are just delightful and make you want to giggle the whole time .
Ponyo is a definite must-see for all Miyazaki fans , of course , but also for anyone who appreciates well-drawn art and a simple , fun story .
HAAAAM !
133 4 This is a marvelous film , another magical movie adventure from the genius of Hayao Miyazaki , I would highly recommend it to everyone , so happy that the dvd will be coming out in March , and for the person who wondered if it was the version seen in the theater - yes , note that the studio is Disney , it will be the in English dubbed with Cate Blanchett , Frankie Jonas , Noah Lindsey Cyrus and others , Disney / Buena Vista does the distribution and dubbing for the Miyazaki films released in English , thankfully under the condition that not a iota is changed ~ wonder what the next Miyazaki gift will be . Go see this film , colors are fabulous , story line is thoughtful and fun , a treat for the whole family , you can't go wrong with a Ghibli film ! Check them all out ~
135 4 When I first heard of Disney dubbing Studio Ghibli's films for the U.S . market , I have to admit I approached them with trepidation . I needn't have worried , they did a beautiful job with Princess Mononoke , Kiki's Delivery Service , Spirited Away and the rest . So when I picked up Ponyo , I had heightened expectations .
As usual , the voice acting was first rate . Clearly everyone involved with the project cared about the product that would eventually find its way to the shelves of video stores across the nation . Ponyo itself is a beautiful film for the family . I saw it in Japan . You could call it Hayao Miyazaki's twist on Hans Christina Andersen's The Little Mermaid , but that would be a disservice to the innate storytelling ability of Hayao Miyazaki . There's far more here than a western tale told in Japanese style . This is a story told with heart , al all to rare thing nowadays .
BUT
There was one thing I objected to , enough to take a star away from what would otherwise have been a perfect review . The film ended with a despicable re-mix of the Ponyo theme , featuring ( gag ) AUTO-TUNE . Oh , the pain . . . the pain . . .
So , I loved the film . But the soundtrack will not be on my shelf . Auto-tune is an abomination , and needs to return to the pits of hell from whence it ascended .
141 4 The art , the charecters , the color are all Miyazaki , the story is kinda Miyazaki , the magic is Disney ( which is to say there is none ) .
I may be wrong but as I understand it , this is a collaborative effort between Miyazaki and Disney . If so , please , please , please NEVER do it again . Admittedly I'm an old coot and not the target audience , but I've loved all the other efforts by Studio Gibli and Miyazaki . Spirited Away is one of my favorite movies . This is not up to that level .
Go watch something done by Disney while Walt was still at the helm and then watch something from after he left . Notice the differance ? No Magic in the newer ones . Thats Ponyo .
I give it 3 stars omly because anything Miyazaki does ( even with Disney interference ) is worth that .
navigation , search
The Borrower Arrietty
Poster advertising The Borrower Arrietty in Japan .
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Produced by Toshio Suzuki
Written by Hayao Miyazaki
Music by Cecile Corbel ( theme song )
Cinematography TBA
Editing by TBA
Studio Studio Ghibli
Distributed by Toho ( Japan )
Walt Disney Pictures
Release date ( s ) July 17 , 2010 ( 2010 - 07 - 17 )
Country Japan
Language Japanese
The Borrower Arrietty ( ½è ¤ ê ¤ ° ¤ é ¤ · ¤。 。 ¥ ¢ ¥ ê ¥ ¨ ¥。 。 ¥。 。 ¥ £ , Karigurashi no Arrietty ? ) is a 2010 Japanese anime film to be produced by Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli , based on the fantasy novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton . [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
The upcoming film is slated for a July 17 , 2010 release in Japan and will mark the directorial debut of Studio Ghibli animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi , who will be the youngest person to direct a film for Ghibli . Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki will be supervising the production as a developing planner
032 4 I took my children to see this movie on the big screen and worried that it might not hold the attention of my 7 and 11 year old children . It seems suitable for younger kids , on par with My Neighbor Totoro . It is about a little boy who befriends a sea princess . In Little Mermaid fashion , her desire to stay on land leads to danger and peril . Ultimately there is a happy ending . However both of my girls were entranced and begged me to purchase the DVD , which I did . I sprung for the Blu-Ray because the visuals are gorgeous , especially scenes of the sea - both underwater and churning over the land . This is a worthy addition to the Miyazaki / Studio Ghibli line . Thoroughly enjoyable for children and adults .
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Bough this from Amazon ( vs other sellers ) and was shocked to see it in the mail 3 days before expected . I was thrilled , Kudos to Amazon ! GREAT JOB GUYS !
P.S . Movie is great too . . very sweet !
095 4 Bough this from Amazon ( vs other sellers ) and was shocked to see it in the mail 3 days before expected . I was thrilled , Kudos to Amazon ! GREAT JOB GUYS !
P.S . Movie is great too . . very sweet !
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Ponyo is one of those films that needs to be viewed multiple times to get the full effect ( just like many of Miyazaki's works ) . When I first saw this in theaters my initial reaction was well , that was okay , but now that I have the dvd and I've had the chance to watch it a few more times ( and notice some of the more subtle details ) , I must say that it's growing on me .
The plot basically involves a goldfish who leaves her home under the sea and is found by a five-year-old human boy named Souske . He names her Ponyo , and they develop a friendship . However , her father , Fujimoto , is a powerful wizard who attempts to get her back . She later uses her magic to become a human girl , but her powers throw nature out of balance , causing a large storm . Eventually , her father and her mother ( a sea goddess ) devise a test for Souske . He passes and Ponyo is allowed to stay with him as a human . And that is basically the plot in a nutshell .
Like many other Miyazaki films , Ponyo is character-driven rather than plot-driven . The plot itself is pretty simple , and the ending seems too easy compared to other hardships faced by characters in other Miyazaki films , but there is deep and rich characterization present . I especially found the relationship of Souske's mother and father to be interesting , as well as the characterization of the grumpy old woman , Toki . I find it interesting that she's the most cynical , and is also the only one to notice or care about the strange qualities of Ponyo . Fujimoto is the closest thing to an antagonist that this film has , but like all of Miyazaki's antagonists , he is not one-dimensional . Yes , he is a bitter , human-hating individual who is too controlling , but at the same time , he has some good qualities to him - - he genuinely seems to love his daughter and care about her . He even says at the end of the movie , as a sort of apology , try to remember me kindly , if you will .
At first I though this film was rather heavy-handed in it's environmentalist message , but then I realized that the only character in this movie who pushes the message is Fujimoto , and he is clearly bitter . The sea goddess ( the one who should rightly be most angry ) doesn't seem that bitter or angry at all . In fact , she seems to always keep a sense of good humor about her . This is especially evident when Fujimoto is getting all stressed out on the boat and she just tells him to stop worrying so much . In an act of good faith , she even restores some vitality to the seniors at the end of the movie . In the end , everyone ends up happy and in good spirits . Overall , I like how many characters are left morally ambiguous . This is a hallmark of many Miyazaki films , and I love it because it really makes you think .
I also like how Mizaki plays with some of our sensibilities by turning them upside down . For example , he kind of plays with the mind of the viewer by swapping the parent-child dynamic between Souske and his mother , Lisa . He often seems to be the responsible mature one and she often comes across as immature ( but still fun and loving ) . This is especially evident in how she drives like a maniac , leaves him alone during a storm , and in how she throws a tantrum when her husband has to work overtime and can't come home for dinner . Souske's maturity is especially apparent during this latter scene when he has to tell his mother , I know dad doesn't always keep his promises , but he loves us and does his best for us . I also like how fantasy and reality are deftly blended together ; as evidenced by how many of the adults seem not to notice or care about the fantastical elements ( ex . - Toki sees Ponyo's human face and the other seniors aren't alarmed by it , Souske's mom rather quickly accepts the idea that the human Ponyo used to be a fish , etc . ) . None of this is ever explained , and it's all meant to be taken in and accepted in a surreal sort of way . Aside from all the interesting themes , characters , and whatnot , this is a genuinely funny and cute film . There are many funny moments interspersed to keep things light-hearted .
Lastly , this film is graphically and musically beautiful . As everyone is aware by now , Ponyo is entirely hand-drawn , and while this may be a dying art , at least Ponyo is proof that it's going out with a bang ! I especially love the imagery of the living shapeshifting waves . The music is also quite lovely ; the opera singing during the introduction is rather beautiful , and Ponyo's theme song during the credits is funny and cute . Disney has added a remixed version of the theme song in the later credits that I don't really care for , but you don't really have to listen to it anyway since it's in the end credits , so I guess it doesn't really matter .
The last thing to discuss is the technical specifications of the release . First off , I bought the blu-ray / dvd combo pack . The thing you should know about this is that the special features are all located on the blu-ray , so if you only have a dvd player then you might want to get the 2 - disc dvd set instead . The combo pack , however , would make a good set for someone who's transitioning from dvd to blu-ray . As for the special features themselves , they are pretty good . Of note are some interviews with Miyazaki about his inspiration behind Ponyo , a section detailing the locations that inspired the setting of Ponyo , interviews with the voice cast , and a segment on composing music for this and other Miyazaki films . In the past , Miyazaki films often had very little in the way of special features , so the Ponyo release is definitely worth getting if you enjoyed the movie . So , there's my two cents . If you haven't yet seen the movie , rent it first and see if you like it . Enjoy !
006 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Ponyo is an amazing movie .
Our 4 year old daughter loves it . . . mainly because she loves mermaids and this is a mermaid type story . The relationship between the little boy and Ponyo are so sweet . The little boy and his mother have a great relationship . Ponyo's mother ( Mother Goddess Ocean ? ) is beautiful and trusting of her daughter . Ponyo's father is eccentric and strange , but truly cares for his daughter . The little boy has a great relationship with the older women at the retirement center .
Great life lessons and multigenerational interacting . Wonderful story !
009 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
This is an excellent package containing DVD and Blue-ray disks . The Japanese language version is also included for the Miyazaki enthusiasts with the original songs . Translation into English is well done but nothing beats the original in content and meaning .
012 4 Note : I did not purchase this edition , but rather this one with the plush Ponyo toy
Ponyo : ( Two-Disc Special Edition + Plush Toy )
We Saw the Ponyo movie last year during its limited cinema release . With my wife and I , who are in our mid-late 40 ' s , we took our 2 sons who are in their mid 20 ' s & neighbors who are refugees from Burma . Among them were 5 20 + yr olds , a 8yr old , 5yr old , and a baby who was 1yr old & all of us enjoyed this movie , so I am a bit perplexed by those who have claimed it is not suitable for young children .
It is visually stimulating , the story is sweet , imaginative and it has a happy ending .
After we finished watching it my wife promised the 8yr old girl that we would get her the DVD when it was released . . . she asked us over and over since then if it was available and is absolutly delighted now to have a copy of her own .
Buy it , enjoy it .
013 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
This is a beautiful movie . A real work of art in every way . The story line is heart-warming . my 3 1 / 2 year old son sat in ahh watching at the movie theater and asked when we could have it at home . I pre-ordered it on blueray and got it the day it came out . Some of his friends were not as interested in the movie because it is not as fast moving as some of the other movies out there .
015 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Ponyo is a great story for adults and children . I watch it all the time ( because my two-year-old makes me ) . This is one movie that is safe to share with children who like to watch the same thing over and over . Very sweet .
017 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
this movie is great ! ! my children are captivated and i , the parent , enjoy it as well !
019 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Miyazaki's magic comes through again . This is an original and compelling interpretation of the little mermaid story .
021 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
I haven't seen all Miyazaki's films ( I'm in the process of doing it ) but the four I've seen until now are masterpieces . Hayao Miyazaki may be the greatest animator in the world , his films combines beautiful , detailed hand-drawn backgrounds and stories that engage you with excellent stories and great characters . The films that I've seen so far are My Neighbor Totoro , Princess Mononoke , Spirited Away and Ponyo ( all excellent ) .
I've read some reviews that this is a light effort from Miyazaki . I disagree . I think that the master animator divides into two categories : the all innocent , sweet and simple films ( My Neighbor Totoro , Kiki's Delivery Service and Ponyo ) and the much more complex , ambigous ones ( Nausicaa , Castle in the Sky , Porco Rosso , Mononoke , Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle ) . Both categories are excellent in their own right and serve to satisfy people of all ages .
Ponyo is an excellent film . Here in Ecuador unfortunately Disney understandably does not release Studio Ghibli films in theaters . While that's a shame , I understand that this films are not all quite embraced by the public in the West ( although their following is increasing ) , so I have to buy it through Amazon . I was impressed by the beautifullness of the film . From the beginning it takes your breath away by showing you stunning scenes of the sea and the land . The story is really simple but I think that is one of the many strengths of the film . The characters are great and the two children behave properly as five year old should . Miyazaki takes inspiration in The Little Mermaid but give the film his own identity which we all have learn to love .
Ponyo is a sweet , simple , beautiful film that will lift your spirits and will make you smile thoughout it and after it . 5 stars . Totally recommended .
023 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
This is such a charming film . Full of action , but without the frenetic pace of so many cartoons . My kids all love it ( 16 - 6months - Ok , maybe the baby doesn't love it yet ) . Miyazaki films have a wonderful depth to them . We are firm fans .
025 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Ponyo is another great anime from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli . This is a film like all of Miyazaki's works - it makes you feel good and doesn't make you wonder why you took the time to watch it .
027 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
An excellent and cute story . Another great film from Miyazaki-san and Studio Ghibli . Definitely one to add to your movie collection . Yet , it does not hold the same majesty as some of the previous ones like Totoro or Mononoke Hime ( Princess Mononoke ) .
029 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
My kids ( 5 & 3 ) loved it in the movie theater and still enjoy this movie everytime we watch it at home .
031 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
I took my children to see this movie on the big screen and worried that it might not hold the attention of my 7 and 11 year old children . It seems suitable for younger kids , on par with My Neighbor Totoro . It is about a little boy who befriends a sea princess . In Little Mermaid fashion , her desire to stay on land leads to danger and peril . Ultimately there is a happy ending . However both of my girls were entranced and begged me to purchase the DVD , which I did . I sprung for the Blu-Ray because the visuals are gorgeous , especially scenes of the sea - both underwater and churning over the land . This is a worthy addition to the Miyazaki / Studio Ghibli line . Thoroughly enjoyable for children and adults .
033 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
I'm a long time fan of Miyazaki's work , and saw Ponyo in the cinema , so have been waiting for this DVD for some time .
This is the story of a small fish who escapes from the submarine of her father ( a sea-wizard ) and happens to taste a drop of blood from a young boy and becomes human-like for a while . The boy , Sosuke , names her Ponyo , and the main story is all about the friendship and love that develops between the two of them ( and Ponyo's fondness of all things human , like ham sandwiches , of all things ) . But their relationship also disrupts the natural balance between sea and land , and disasters in the form of floods and a typhoon loom to threaten everyone , not just the innocent friends . So the story is not just about a developing friendship , but the responsibilities that come along with that , to the people in the fishing village , to the elderly people in the retirement home ( where Sosuke's mother works ) , to the creatures in the ocean , and beyond that to the planet itself . All , of course , is resolved in the end .
Beyond the story , however , Ponyo has some of the most amazing animation scenes , especially of the raging waves that lash the shore in a typhoon , coming alive into wild creatures of fury . I thought this might not translate so well to a smaller screen , but I was not disappointed . The disc is really a beautiful rendering . You can turn down the sound and still have a fine time simply viewing the animation , one beautiful image after the other .
Some who've seen Miyazaki movies before may get a sense of deja vu - Ponyo seems a lot like Mai from Totoro ,
the Sea Wizard seems a lot like Miyazaki's other long-nosed European-ish characters in Howl's Moving Castle , and there are many other similarities too numerous to mention . But what do you expect - it's the same artists doing the drawing ( and yes , this is hand drawn animation at its best ) , so you'd expect some stylistic similarities . But there is enough new here to surprise and delight , and if you've never seen a Miyazaki movie before , then it will all be new .
The one thing I dislike is the silly English translation of the theme song at the end , so I greatly appreciate that the disc retains the original Japanese soundtrack , where the original is much more appropriate . The extras on the 2nd disc are nice for Miyazaki fans , but it's the movie itself that is the real value here .
036 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Ponyo is an incredibly beautiful movie . You can watch it for the wonderous animation alone , and blu ray is terrific . The details and humor make it an interesting movie for adults to watch , but five year olds go bananas over it . Truly . One of my grandson's friends insisted on being called Ponyo for quite a while ! The story is akin to Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid , but Miyazaki adds his own touch , pulling in many generations - - the women in the elder care facility , two-career parents , and , of course , children . If you have been to Japan , you will recognize the little touches of modern Japanese life , as well as the Japanese appreciation of imagination and nostalgia - - even ecological lessons abound . It is traditional Japanese artistry beautifully brought to a twenty-first century level .
I found the American voices a bit too recognizable for my comfort and thus a bit distracting . Since I enjoy learning about Japanese culture and language , I liked the film even better when I switched rhe settings to Japanese with English subtitles . ( Sorry , Disney marketing ) .
Miyazaki has a magical raport with children that no other director has , and he consistenly turns out movies that have an instant appeal to all ages .
038 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
First off , I would like to say Thank you to Amazon . I got the movie the day it was released and have enjoyed it since . The movie came brand new , untouched and was the perfect gift for my spouse who adores Studio Ghibli movies .
The movie itself has some good bonus features to keep you entertained and the movie is just amazing . It's a pretty touching story , has good animation and voice acting . I recommened this movie for anyone who loves Studio Ghibli movies .
You won't regret it !
040 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
If you've seen a Miyazaki film before , you already know what kind of experience you're in for . Miyazaki's movies are some of the most imaginative , clever works you will ever witness . Ponyo is targeted for a younger audience , but it's still really enjoyable for adults .
In most Japanese to English movies , I almost always prefer the Japanese voice acting . In Ponyo , I like the English voice acting a lot more . This shouldn't really come as much of a surprise with some of the big names in this movie .
042 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Panyo is one of Hayao Miyazaki's best movies to date . It is a testimony to the human spirit of love against all odds . The animation is awesome , as usual . You will not see a better animated film .
045 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Beautiful animation from Miyazaki again .
A pure friendship , fresh colorful sweet and deep .
My son is 7 and loved it .
047 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Ponyo is one of those films that needs to be viewed multiple times to get the full effect ( just like many of Miyazaki's works ) . When I first saw this in theaters my initial reaction was well , that was okay , but now that I have the dvd and I've had the chance to watch it a few more times ( and notice some of the more subtle details ) , I must say that it's growing on me .
The plot basically involves a goldfish who leaves her home under the sea and is found by a five-year-old human boy named Souske . He names her Ponyo , and they develop a friendship . However , her father , Fujimoto , is a powerful wizard who attempts to get her back . She later uses her magic to become a human girl , but her powers throw nature out of balance , causing a large storm . Eventually , her father and her mother ( a sea goddess ) devise a test for Souske . He passes and Ponyo is allowed to stay with him as a human . And that is basically the plot in a nutshell .
Like many other Miyazaki films , Ponyo is character-driven rather than plot-driven . The plot itself is pretty simple , and the ending seems too easy compared to other hardships faced by characters in other Miyazaki films , but there is deep and rich characterization present . I especially found the relationship of Souske's mother and father to be interesting , as well as the characterization of the grumpy old woman , Toki . I find it interesting that she's the most cynical , and is also the only one to notice or care about the strange qualities of Ponyo . Fujimoto is the closest thing to an antagonist that this film has , but like all of Miyazaki's antagonists , he is not one-dimensional . Yes , he is a bitter , human-hating individual who is too controlling , but at the same time , he has some good qualities to him - - he genuinely seems to love his daughter and care about her . He even says at the end of the movie , as a sort of apology , try to remember me kindly , if you will .
At first I though this film was rather heavy-handed in it's environmentalist message , but then I realized that the only character in this movie who pushes the message is Fujimoto , and he is clearly bitter . The sea goddess ( the one who should rightly be most angry ) doesn't seem that bitter or angry at all . In fact , she seems to always keep a sense of good humor about her . This is especially evident when Fujimoto is getting all stressed out on the boat and she just tells him to stop worrying so much . In an act of good faith , she even restores some vitality to the seniors at the end of the movie . In the end , everyone ends up happy and in good spirits . Overall , I like how many characters are left morally ambiguous . This is a hallmark of many Miyazaki films , and I love it because it really makes you think .
I also like how Mizaki plays with some of our sensibilities by turning them upside down . For example , he kind of plays with the mind of the viewer by swapping the parent-child dynamic between Souske and his mother , Lisa . He often seems to be the responsible mature one and she often comes across as immature ( but still fun and loving ) . This is especially evident in how she drives like a maniac , leaves him alone during a storm , and in how she throws a tantrum when her husband has to work overtime and can't come home for dinner . Souske's maturity is especially apparent during this latter scene when he has to tell his mother , I know dad doesn't always keep his promises , but he loves us and does his best for us . I also like how fantasy and reality are deftly blended together ; as evidenced by how many of the adults seem not to notice or care about the fantastical elements ( ex . - Toki sees Ponyo's human face and the other seniors aren't alarmed by it , Souske's mom rather quickly accepts the idea that the human Ponyo used to be a fish , etc . ) . None of this is ever explained , and it's all meant to be taken in and accepted in a surreal sort of way . Aside from all the interesting themes , characters , and whatnot , this is a genuinely funny and cute film . There are many funny moments interspersed to keep things light-hearted .
Lastly , this film is graphically and musically beautiful . As everyone is aware by now , Ponyo is entirely hand-drawn , and while this may be a dying art , at least Ponyo is proof that it's going out with a bang ! I especially love the imagery of the living shapeshifting waves . The music is also quite lovely ; the opera singing during the introduction is rather beautiful , and Ponyo's theme song during the credits is funny and cute . Disney has added a remixed version of the theme song in the later credits that I don't really care for , but you don't really have to listen to it anyway since it's in the end credits , so I guess it doesn't really matter .
The last thing to discuss is the technical specifications of the release . First off , I bought the blu-ray / dvd combo pack . The thing you should know about this is that the special features are all located on the blu-ray , so if you only have a dvd player then you might want to get the 2 - disc dvd set instead . The combo pack , however , would make a good set for someone who's transitioning from dvd to blu-ray . As for the special features themselves , they are pretty good . Of note are some interviews with Miyazaki about his inspiration behind Ponyo , a section detailing the locations that inspired the setting of Ponyo , interviews with the voice cast , and a segment on composing music for this and other Miyazaki films . In the past , Miyazaki films often had very little in the way of special features , so the Ponyo release is definitely worth getting if you enjoyed the movie . So , there's my two cents . If you haven't yet seen the movie , rent it first and see if you like it . Enjoy !
049 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
This movie , though not the best of Miyazaki's , is very interesting . It reminds you of being in a dream . The mother of the boy , Sosuki , is very courageous . Sosuki is a very positive , honest child . They both meet their challenges with enthusiasm .
The story is NOT predictable between the beginning , where Sosuki finds the fish , and the end , where Ponyo and Sosuki accomplish their goal , and is full of some very fantastical surprises . There is only a trace of The Little Mermaid theme to it .
For most of the movie you really don't know whether Ponyo's father is the villain or not . The many other characters in the movie round out this dream quite well , especially the old ladies . Sosuke's father has some charm , too , and Ponyo's mother tops it off amazingly .
All in all Ponyo is a very enjoyable movie for young and old alike .
053 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
My 7 year old daughter loves this movie . I found the imagery to be fantastic ! We also saw this in the theater . I am 57 years old and I enjoy any Miyazaki movie , but this one has special appeal by his treatment of water throughout the movie . This movie is not for older children , unless they appreciate the art . The characters are supposed to be kindergarten age ( the boy goes to a nursery ) although the mother seems to trust the boy to be on his own a great deal of the time . However , Miyazaki always seems to have children ( or characters that appear to be quite young ) doing fantastic things . I think that is the point of all his movies . They all happen in dreamlike worlds in a hard to discern time period . They always stimulate the imagination .
055 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Thank you Miyazaki for another great film . I love Ponyo , she's a real go-getter ! Granted , it's not Miyazaki's greatest movie or my favorite ( Kiki's Delivery Service ) , but still well worth seeing . The transfer is great on the standard version ( I watch on a Sony Bravia with HDMI connection ) . Don't think of it as a Little Mermaid ripoff , because it's not . A wonderful story of acceptance that kids will love , and even those over 50 ( like myself )
059 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
I adored this movie . If you are a true Miyazaki fan , you will too . Its got less of a plot in it than other films such as Howls , but its still amazing . It sucks you in with that true Miyazaki feel . I always get a comforted feeling when Im watching these films , and this one was nothing different . Love love loved it !
064 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
I'm a great appreciator of Studio Ghibli , to the point of having all the output on DVD and visiting the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka ( Japan ) .
This film is very pleasant but not groundbreaking . The transfer is good .
What enrages me though and loses this item 1 star is the decision by the wretched Disney ( the anti-Ghibli in my opinion - oh the irony of it being them who have control of Ghibli's work in the west ) to include an HD audio soundtrack for the ( American ) English dub but only a Dolby Digital 5.1 track for the ( much preferred ) Japanese original audio !
WHY ? ! This defies all logic and is an insult to those people who truly understand how a Ghibli movie should be presented . Disney are the McDonalds of the audio / visual world and treat their customers like nothing more than an income stream . Another case in point is the incredible number of unskippable trailers on Disney disc releases . How insulting to force me to watch the same trailers EVERY time I watch the movie I've paid for . Put the trailers in the extras options guys !
071 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
I'll let my fellow reviewers speak for me with regards to the quality of the movie itself . For myself , I'd like to focus on the quality of this Blu-ray . At first , I was skeptical - - how much benefit could I really expect the Blu-ray format to provide for a hand-drawn film created by a Japanese studio ? As it turns out , Ponyo is an amazingly-beautiful film on Blu-ray , far more so than the standard DVD , and well worth the additional investment if you've got a decent HDTV .
074 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
A cute movie for kids of all ages and kids at heart . There are some parts that may scare really young chidren . My advise would be to rent it and watch it first , if you are considering buying it for a young child .
077 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
The world of Ghibli has astounded its fans for almost 30 years and while the last ten years were not the kindest to this animation studio , Miyazaki himself knew it was time to take the helm once again to remind us what makes his films so great . With that he gives us ' Ponyo ' .
Loosly based on the classic film ' The Little Mermaid ' , Ponyo is a gold fish that knows there is more to a simple life than just staying under water in the care of her sorcerer father ( who strangley enough it not fish like at all ) . With a little intuition she escapes to the surface and takes on a human form . The she finds a little boy names Sosuke , a boy who's favorite thing in the world is to help people . When he comes upon Ponyp he wants to care for her too and they form a very special bond . Now the two of them need to fight and let her father understand that the world of the sea and the world of the surface can live together in peace so long as both worlds understand just how important they are to one another .
This film is such an enjoyable on , because of the fact that it has gone back to the magical roots that make Ghibli films so amazing . The scenes where the water looks like faces crashing onto the last is so creative and all the bright colors and the innocence of the characters make the film more enjoyable . ' Ponyo ' is the very first Ghibli film to be shown on a wide release of U.S . movie theaters . It is about time too . While there haven't been such great films since ' Spirited Away ' , ' Ponyo ' is a sign that hopefully as the studio reaches it's 30th annuversey there will be some new films that are just as magical as the greats that cam before it .
079 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
i am a big Miyasaki fan , but this time around this one is really aimed for a younger audience than is other film ( like spirited away and owl'S moving castle which are my favorites ) though the blu-ray version of ponyo is really amazing , the colors are nice not to punchy . If you are not sure i suggest a rental , but i really appreciated my second viewing of this movie . I glad i bought it though my little niece really digs this movie a lot . recommended
083 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
it took its time in arriving but now its here , it was worth the wait and the grandchildren have made ponyo their no 1 film , at least for the time being . many thanks amazon .
085 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
I will be short and simple , Ponyo indeed is a masterpiece .
The movie have no special computer effects , but the art is amazing .
Miyazaki is always superb , the master gets the history and makes The Art .
I came to perceive that does not matter if the art have computer effects or not ,
some masters make superb art with computer effects , some make art with his
own bare hands ( or pencils to be more exact ) .
The entire work have something that surpass many other animation movies .
In my opinion Ponyo are not the best animation movie from Miyazaki , and
his animation is not above the best from Japanese Anime , but for sure
i think the animation movies from the east are far better from the
ones made in the west .
092 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Everyone can enjoy this film and it is a fantastic movie to watch with that special someone as its super cute yet will make a guy look more sensitive : ) . I loved this film I've seen it twice in the cinema the secound time was through massive effort of the local anime community they brought it over to my small island home local cinema . The first was better in a massive American cinema though .
096 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Great movie , a big improvement over Miyazaki's last two , Howl's Moving Castle and ( ugh ! ) EarthSea . It's apparent that Miyazaki is not a young man anymore , and he wants to make kid's movies , but when they are done as whimsically as this , even adults will be charmed .
Some people have complained about the art style he used in this film , that it's not detailed and slap-dash . These people are stupid . The art is obviously done with meticulous effort to emulate the style of classic art that would have been popular in the time that the original source material , The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen , was written . While the story is updated , the art is classic , beautiful and painterly .
My favorite thing is how Disney packages their Blu-rays with the DVD of the movie ( and just the movie , of course ) . This is enormously convenient , since I have PS3 at home , but don't have a BD drive in my laptop , desktops , or any other portable player . Please , BD industry , take note and follow .
098 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
This is the continuation of the magic that Hayao Miyazaki weaves in that he has the means to capture your childlike self and to take you on an exquisite adventure that leaves you feeling inspired and happy to be alive . This tale is one of friendship and innocence that triumphs against all odds . It talks of loving in the purest sense and also of loving life enough to stand for it against all odds . The magical aspect only lends to the adventure and trust me you will feel as if you are living in a sureral world where all things turn out for the good . A film for young and old to invigorate the mind and inspire the soul . Enjoy it as you romp through the eyes os these two main characters
101 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Be warned , the theme song of this fanciful epic by the renowned Hayao Miyazaki , who won an Best Animated Film Oscar for Spirited Away ( reportedly , even the directors of Lilo and Stitch voted for that film even though their film was in the same competition .
Ponyo , a.k.a . Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea , is perhaps the most innocent and wondrous of Miyazaki's films . It's said to be loosely based on The Little Mermaid ( even the DVD package suggest this ) but it really only bears a passing resemblance to either the Andersen or Disney versions . Like other Miyazaki films , it tells its own story by its own rules and requires that you allow yourself into an almost alternate universe that coexists with a realistic world . Sorry to be so pithy , but it's hard to describe these films adequately . They need to be experienced .
Big name stars perform the dubbed English version and most of them agreed because of their love for the director's previous work .
Among these is Liam Neeson , who appears on camera on one of the bonus features on the two disc set . Tina Fey says she was channeling the movie moms she grew up with . We see the cherished Betty White in recording sessions ( she plays one of three ladies in a nursing facility , the other two voiced by Lily Tomlin and Cloris Leachman ) . Especially remarkable are the performances of young Noah Cyrus ( Miley's sister ) and Frankie Jonas ( the Jonas Brothers ' little brother ) as the two leads . It's difficult enough to match the voices in an overdubbed foreign language film , it's quite another to add emotion and depth .
My children loved this film . It was their first introduction to Miyazaki , which can be an acquired taste for some . If you enjoy and admire the work of Pixar , you can't deny the extreme ( and eagerly credited ) influence of Miyazaki on Pixar character development and storytelling in particular .
The two DVD discs also include a storyboarded version of the film and lots of short features about the music , voices , characters and setting of Ponyo .
My only question - - where was the U.S released soundtrack album , including the Cyrus / Jonas version of the song ?
105 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
It's wonderful to live in an era when one of the all time legends of entertainment is still actively producing works . I imagine that in years to come people will look back with tremendous fondness to the days when Hayao Miyazaki was still directing and it's a blessing to know ( or at least hope ) that more films are yet to come . I had heard after ` Howl's Moving Castle ' that Miyazaki might be retiring from but Ponyo laid that rumor to rest . According to Wikipedia Miyazaki is signed to direct at least two more movies but at 69 years of age you never know .
Ponyo is the story of a tiny mermaid who runs away from home only to end up in the bucket of a young boy who assumes she's a goldfish ( despite her obviously humanlike face ) . Her father , Fujimoto , a human who now shuns humans and lives beneath the ocean tries to retrieve Ponyo using various water based magic at his disposal . Ponyo has other ideas in mind as she uses her own magic to try and become an actual human girl . Unfortunately all of this mucking around has created a rift in reality that threatens to bring complete disaster on everyone .
If you've watched more than a few Miyazaki films you'll notice that like Walt Disney he has a particular artistic style that the animators at Studio Ghibli adhere to . The first thing I noticed about Ponyo was that the art seemed a somewhat different . It's a bit rougher or perhaps more simplistic , particularly with the characters of Ponyo and her father Fujimoto , than what I've seen in previous movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke . The backgrounds by contrast are absolutely lush and gorgeous and retain the dreamlike quality that is a trademark of Miyazaki films . Most of the film takes place in charming little coastal city in Japan based on the actual city of Tomonoura . The rest is underwater and it is positively glorious . It absolutely teams with life and naturally this is all hand drawn animation . It's almost impossible these days to find animation that is 100% hand drawn but unless I am mistaken there is not a CGI frame to be seen in the film . I have to applaud the effort of the animators here in drawing some if the most dynamic , vibrant images ever .
Miyazaki , like Pixar , has never produced a bad or even mediocre film only varying degrees of great . I felt that Howl's Moving Castle was below average on the Miyazaki scale and Ponyo is only somewhat better . My wife , on the other hand , felt that that Ponyo was every bit as good as Miyazaki's very best . For me the weakness was in the story which had a flaw or two . In particular it was hard to draw a distinction between what was supposed to be reality and what was supposed to be fantasy . Let me just say that the town in the movie undergoes a dramatic event , one which would generally be an utter disaster and yet here there seems to be no harm done . It's kind of like when Wily Coyote falls of a cliff and creates that ring of dust only to be up and around in the next scene . Miyazaki is generally pretty consistent in his stories and in this case it was hard to tell the boundaries . I also felt that the animation wasn't as strong as in the previous three Miyazaki films save for the backgrounds which are absolutely top notch . I don't regret for one second adding this film to my personal collection sight unseen and any nitpicking doesn't take away from the fact that this is a great film .
107 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Our 3 YO daughter LOVES Miyazaki's movies . She can watch Totoro ( 1st edition ) & Kiki's delivery over and over . ( She hasn't watched Chihiro and others yet because I find them a bit scary or dark for her age ) .
The beginning was a bit intriguing and scary at times so my daughter had to be in my arms ( I won't complain about it ) but other than that , this movie is just awesome . . . Ponyo is just a cute little fish / girl ( spitting image of Mei from Totoro ) and Sosuke is an adorable 5 YO boy with a big heart . Some characters look familiar = my daughter spotted Satsuki & Mei's father . I'm glad we watched it on bluray at home because I don't know the reaction in the audience if our daughter shouted in the theater Maman look , it's Satsuki's dad ! ! ! !
The animation looks simple but is gorgeous . The background is amazing ( the town , trees , harbor etc ) and kind of made us want to live there , with Sosuke and his mom . The tsunami scene is impressive and the waves look like these old Japanese paintings of storms . . .
Today is Friday , no school tomorrow , I guess tonight we'll be watching Ponyo again = > YEAH ! ! ! !
109 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Some scary parts for a 2 year old , but my little girl wanted to watch it again when it was over . Great story-line . Must watch , if not have .
111 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
This was a very cute movie . I liked and my little cousins and nephew loved it . Good voice acting as usual for disney . All around good story with a cute ending . Really worth watching .
118 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
This movie was pretty scary , my daughter did not want to finish it , ( she is seven ) , and I agreed with her . I never felt the burning desire to know how it ended , so never watched it again .
120 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Wonderful Movie . I didn't see any problems with the DVD and haven't been able to watch the Blu-ray version yet . If your kinda stuck between Media like I am at the moment . Then I think this is the version for you . If you already have a Blu-ray player then I don't see the point in getting the DVD . If you don't plan on getting a Blu-ray player then just buy the DVD .
Hope that helps .
122 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
I was impressed with the price and quality of this product ! Thanks for a wonderful and easy transaction .
124 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
This is yet another genius and instant anime classic to come from Studio Ghibli . Based on the Disney classic Areal , Ponyo follows the same basic storyline but in a different and original way . Like other animes by Hayao Miyazaki this one also contains a strong message about taking care of our planet and keeping balance in the world . The animation was great , the story had depth and value , the soundtrack fit the story and evoked the right emotions at the right time , and the character development was there . This is a great anime for all ages , appealing to children , teens , and even finiky young adults . A definite must have for any anime collection !
126 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Like Miyazaki's other great movies , Ponyo is a vivid and refreshing story . The characters are delightful , energetic , and personnable . The story , which is a play on the Little Mermaid , is a wonderful modern take on a classic tale . . . with Ponyo as the obvious representation of the mermaid .
The animation is just as clear , vibrant , and smooth , as one could expect from a Miyazaki / Ghibli production . One could watch it multiple times and still find something new hidden among the beautiful art . The English voices are provided by acting talents such as Tina Fey , Liam Neeson , Cate Blanchett , Betty White , and many more . . .
All-in-all , it is another instant classic from the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and should find a home in anyone's collection . . . animation fan , or , just a fan of great story telling . The environmental theme is present and contributes to one of the most powerful scenes in the movie . I know not everyone will enjoy it as much as I have , but , I strongly recommend watching it atleast once .
132 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
This is a marvelous film , another magical movie adventure from the genius of Hayao Miyazaki , I would highly recommend it to everyone , so happy that the dvd will be coming out in March , and for the person who wondered if it was the version seen in the theater - yes , note that the studio is Disney , it will be the in English dubbed with Cate Blanchett , Frankie Jonas , Noah Lindsey Cyrus and others , Disney / Buena Vista does the distribution and dubbing for the Miyazaki films released in English , thankfully under the condition that not a iota is changed ~ wonder what the next Miyazaki gift will be . Go see this film , colors are fabulous , story line is thoughtful and fun , a treat for the whole family , you can't go wrong with a Ghibli film ! Check them all out ~
137 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo ) ( Blu-ray )
Earlier today I ordered this Blu-ray . I made the mistake of not checking if the Japanese track was in a lossless format . There was no information about this on this site . The scanned picture of the back cover isn't very good so it isn't easy to ascertain if the Japanese track was lossy of lossless . I went to [ . . . ] and noticed there that the Japanese track is , in fact , only the lossy Dolby Digital . Since amazon is now shipping my item I cannot cancel the order , but I want to warn other people about this . I am sure that the picture quality is great and being a great Miyazaki fan I am sure that the movie is equally great .
Being a great Miyazaki fan I always listen to the original language track , NEVER the dubbed track . I did try and listen to the dubbed track of Kiki's Delivery Service at one time and it was horrid . Changing the music to fit the English language is truly dreadful . I have also discovered on other dubs of Japanese anime that quite often important plot points are distorted or directly incorrect . I have all the other Miyazaki films on DVD and I never listen to the dubbed track . Listening to the Japanese track has it's charms since everything about the movie and the way everything and everyone work to make movie great make sense when listening to the original track . That goes for everything , not just Miyazaki's movies or anime in general .
So if you are a Japanese anime fan and are used to listening to the original track be aware that the Japanese track is in Dolby Digital and not DTS-HD Master Audio . Only the English dub is in DTS-HD Master Audio . I must also say that I am extremely disappointed that Disney made this gigantic mistake when making the Blu-ray . I can only hope that won't do the same mistake when issuing the other Miyazaki movies on Blu-ray . Learn from Pioneer when they issued a truly magnificent release of Akira !
140 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
The art , the charecters , the color are all Miyazaki , the story is kinda Miyazaki , the magic is Disney ( which is to say there is none ) .
I may be wrong but as I understand it , this is a collaborative effort between Miyazaki and Disney . If so , please , please , please NEVER do it again . Admittedly I'm an old coot and not the target audience , but I've loved all the other efforts by Studio Gibli and Miyazaki . Spirited Away is one of my favorite movies . This is not up to that level .
Go watch something done by Disney while Walt was still at the helm and then watch something from after he left . Notice the differance ? No Magic in the newer ones . Thats Ponyo .
I give it 3 stars omly because anything Miyazaki does ( even with Disney interference ) is worth that .
145 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
Poorly written and not altogether easy to follow . Would not recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed others before .
147 4 This review is from :
Ponyo ( Two-Disc Edition ) ( DVD )
We've been patiently waiting for Disney to release the movie on DVD and finally we got it . The movie seems interesting , except neither I or my kids could hear the dialogue . At all . The music is exremely loud and the dialogue is very , very quiet somewhere on the background . We spend the whole 103 min playing with the volume of the remote , trying to hear what the actors were saying . It might be a nice story or might not , we just don't know . Shame on Disney for ruining the experience . I looked through the other reviews and it seems that most of them are based on the theatrical release and not the DVD .
The script in English actually tries to explain - believe it - fairy tale mechanisms .
So , imagine you're watching Snow White . . .
She takes a bite of the apple , and one of the characters says Ah hah , Because of the GENETIC POISON and the dwarf's TIME CONTROL DEVICE , that's why she will GO TO SLEEP . . . Ridiculous !
Of course , newsflash , FAIRY TALES DON'T MAKE SENSE . Crazy things happen in fairy tales , just like in dreams . Pigs build houses of straw , cows jump over the moon , kisses change frogs . . it's a fairy tale .
I feel that this explains the fundamental problem with the english version of Ponyo . The screenwriters in english rather bizarrely try to explain a ( totally phantasmagorical ) fairy tale .
The movie is PRETTY HORRIBLE in english .
It's reminds me of . . . those very awkward orchestral versions of Beatles songs - just doesn't work .
The french version works great , as does the japanese version .
Also , perhaps because the movie is operatic , a stunning interplay of sound-visuals , it just doesnt work unless the voices fit really well .
It's a catastrophe ! We've been watching the french and japanese versions for months ( they were released earlier ) and the english version is very sad !
Most of the people who watch this film will be two years old - consider just flipping it to the french or japanese track when playing the movie for your two year old ! The pacing , feel , everything is then flawless .
As for the movie itself - everything that can be said has already been said . Miyasaki is a visual and conceptual genius on the level of Michelangelo or Homer . The film is one of the most important works of visual art - ever . It is the end of animation , nothing can surpass it - as everyone now knows the film was produced completely manually , on paper and celluloid - just like a movie in the 1960s , no computers at all . It's difficult to believe you are looking at 180,000 individual stunning drawings , each one a masterwork in itself . The feel of water in the movie has never been found in any other art or depiction of water . The epic scenes of Ponyo on the waves and so on are now instantly formed in to human civilisation like the statue of David or the cave paintings in Lascaux . Blah , blah , blah , it's an unlimited masterpiece - there is no doubt !
But , what the heck went wrong with the english screenwriting ! Bummer !
My prediction : within 20 years , someone will produce a different english-language version of Ponyo ( phew ! )
Regarding the Blu-Ray , the production technically is simply as good as it can get , the work of the world's greatest technical geniuses obviously . The miracle of BluRay .
A note for the many overseas buyers who are having the english-language version shipped to them . Don't bother , it's trash , just get the french or japanese version - just joking ! Technical tip - if you have trouble or if it is slow launching the disk in English , launch it in French and simply then change to english-soundtrack . With the endless combinations of firmware versions , etc etc , this may be necessary and fixes your problem .
The new generation ( 6th gen ? ) of blu-ray players just released , eg the LG 350 model ( which is all of 100 bucks ) plays the disk stunningly and loads fast . . . as my children say it's not a dream , it's bluray . . .
030 4 My kids ( 5 & 3 ) loved it in the movie theater and still enjoy this movie everytime we watch it at home .
044 4 God Bless John Lasseter and Disney for labouring to bring Miyasaki movies to the english language !
The english versions of Whisper of the Heart , Kiki , Totoro , and all the rest are superb - real works of art in themselves . Magnificent !
But the english production of PONYO is trash ! What a catastrophe !
What went wrong here ? !
Let's set aside the fact that the kid actors are approximately 250 years too old for the parts they are playing .
I think the primary problem is that the screenwriters in english went wrong :
The script in English actually tries to explain - believe it - fairy tale mechanisms .
So , imagine you're watching Snow White . . .
She takes a bite of the apple , and one of the characters says Ah hah , Because of the GENETIC POISON and the dwarf's TIME CONTROL DEVICE , that's why she will GO TO SLEEP . . . Ridiculous !
Of course , newsflash , FAIRY TALES DON'T MAKE SENSE . Crazy things happen in fairy tales , just like in dreams . Pigs build houses of straw , cows jump over the moon , kisses change frogs . . it's a fairy tale .
I feel that this explains the fundamental problem with the english version of Ponyo . The screenwriters in english rather bizarrely try to explain a ( totally phantasmagorical ) fairy tale .
The movie is PRETTY HORRIBLE in english .
It's reminds me of . . . those very awkward orchestral versions of Beatles songs - just doesn't work .
The french version works great , as does the japanese version .
Also , perhaps because the movie is operatic , a stunning interplay of sound-visuals , it just doesnt work unless the voices fit really well .
It's a catastrophe ! We've been watching the french and japanese versions for months ( they were released earlier ) and the english version is very sad !
Most of the people who watch this film will be two years old - consider just flipping it to the french or japanese track when playing the movie for your two year old ! The pacing , feel , everything is then flawless .
As for the movie itself - everything that can be said has already been said . Miyasaki is a visual and conceptual genius on the level of Michelangelo or Homer . The film is one of the most important works of visual art - ever . It is the end of animation , nothing can surpass it - as everyone now knows the film was produced completely manually , on paper and celluloid - just like a movie in the 1960s , no computers at all . It's difficult to believe you are looking at 180,000 individual stunning drawings , each one a masterwork in itself . The feel of water in the movie has never been found in any other art or depiction of water . The epic scenes of Ponyo on the waves and so on are now instantly formed in to human civilisation like the statue of David or the cave paintings in Lascaux . Blah , blah , blah , it's an unlimited masterpiece - there is no doubt !
But , what the heck went wrong with the english screenwriting ! Bummer !
My prediction : within 20 years , someone will produce a different english-language version of Ponyo ( phew ! )
Regarding the Blu-Ray , the production technically is simply as good as it can get , the work of the world's greatest technical geniuses obviously . The miracle of BluRay .
A note for the many overseas buyers who are having the english-language version shipped to them . Don't bother , it's trash , just get the french or japanese version - just joking ! Technical tip - if you have trouble or if it is slow launching the disk in English , launch it in French and simply then change to english-soundtrack . With the endless combinations of firmware versions , etc etc , this may be necessary and fixes your problem .
The new generation ( 6th gen ? ) of blu-ray players just released , eg the LG 350 model ( which is all of 100 bucks ) plays the disk stunningly and loads fast . . . as my children say it's not a dream , it's bluray . . .
