From the breathtaking opening images of a fantastical ocean world of undulating jellyfish, sea anemones and candy-colored sea creatures, “Ponyo” transports us into a realm of hypnotic beauty and magic where anything is possible. Inspired loosely by “The Little Mermaid”, the story is about the friendship between a young boy (Sosuke) and a goldfish princess (Ponyo) who longs to be human. As with his earlier work “My Neighbor Totoro”, director Hayao Miyazaki brings a warm and whimsical feeling to a “goldfish out of water” tale, capturing perfectly the behavior and mannerisms of exuberant young children growing up and learning to take responsibility in an adult world.
While the narrative of “Ponyo” is more meandering and less defined than in previous Miyazaki films, the main highlights are the charming characters and stunning visuals. Ponyo, like Mei in “My Neighbor Totoro”, is an adventurous and stubborn girl who revels in all the delights of the human world while Sosuke exudes a wiseness beyond his years and a quiet, grounding calmness of spirit. Even the adult characters are well-realized: I especially liked Sosuke’s mother Lisa - a spunky gal with a bit of an impulsive streak as evidenced by her Speed Racer driving style, and Ponyo’s father Fujimoto - a curmudgeonly wizard who wants only to protect her from the evil humans who have damaged the ocean with their wasteful ways.
The ocean itself is a character in the story and Miyazaki’s imagination and animation skills bring to life a magical world of enchantment and mystery that is unlike any other. From a visual standpoint, the sheer creativity and attention to detail is awe-inspiring. Each of the sea creatures is unique and artfully detailed. The colors are gorgeous and complement the environments – bright and vivid for the ocean, soft and warm in the land of humans.
Overall, “Ponyo” is a lovely and touching film and its themes of friendship, female empowerment and respect for the natural world will resonate with both children and adults.
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