Ponyo
2008 · Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- fantasy
- family
The story
When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn watercolour washes give this film a soft, almost wet-paper texture, with the sea rendered in shifting greens, blues and foam-white that look painted rather than polished. Much of it unfolds in bright daylight and warm evening light on a clifftop house, with rain and storm clouds arriving as dramatic, swirling spectacle, and the camera often holds on loose, open frames of waves and sky. The score, by Joe Hisaishi, is buoyant and orchestral, with light piano and wind-like swells that lift the wonder without overwhelming it. The vibe is sunny, whimsical and tender, a bright fairy tale with a warm, good-natured pulse, best suited to a lazy weekend afternoon, a family viewing, or a comfort rewatch. Pacing is unhurried and playful, with the emotional arc centred on a small boy and a headstrong little fish-girl learning what it means to care for one another. The threat is gentle: a sorcerer father's pursuit and some storm-driven peril, with no real gore, sexual content or cruelty, and only brief moments of fear. It suits families, young children, and adults who want something gentle, hopeful and visually lush.
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