Ponyo

Three stars (out of four)
Rated G
Who’s going to like it: Every who loves animated films – only not immediately after viewing it. After thinking about it for a while, you’ll grow to love it more and more.

Hayao Miyazaki = the Walt Disney of Japan

For years, Hayao Miyazaki has wowed Japan with his marvelous hand-drawn animated films. In America, his films have stayed on the down low, becoming cult fan favorites – even after his 2001 film Spirited Away won an Oscar. Finally, Walt Disney has decided to combine forces with this successful international filmmaker to give Miyazaki’s films nationwide distribution – the first of them is Ponyo.

Ponyo is a strange and unique, yet stunning and beautiful film about a magical sea creature named Ponyo. After making friends with Sosuke, a human boy, there’s nothing she wants more than to become a human girl. Making this decision throws off the balance of Earth and nature, causing Ponyo and Sosuke to make decisions that will affect them and their families forever.

If you’ve seen the trailers or TV spots for Ponyo, you’ve seen Miyazaki’s original animated depiction of the world we live in. He paints the world as if you’re seeing it through the wide eyes of curious, naive and imaginative child. At the same time, he quietly interjects his own opinions on some of the problems we might be facing in our world. It’s nice to have someone’s message be told in a tasteful manner and not shoved in your face.

Along with giving Ponyo a domestic release, Walt Disney has also cast for the English dubbed version of the film. Noah Cyrus (daughter of Billy Ray and sister of Miley) lends her voice as Ponyo, with Liam Neeson (Taken) and Cate Blanchette (Lord of the Rings) as her parents. Frankie Jonas (youngest of the Jonas Brothers) voices Sosuke, with Tina Fey (30 Rock) and Matt Damon (the Bourne trilogy) as his parents. Cloris Leachman (The Women), Lily Tomlin (I Heart Huckabees) and Betty White (The Proposal) also give great voiced performances.

Ponyo isn’t an animated film you’re going to rave about upon exiting the theater, but after giving it some thought – maybe talking it over with other people – you’ll begin to love it more and more. Nearly a week after screening it, it’s one that I can’t get out of my mind. I’m even considering going to see it again next week. It’s cute, charming and easy to fall in love with.

Photo credit: Walt Disney

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