Film review - Ponyo (2008) - Japan



Figure 1. Movie cover
The film is about a little boy called Sosuke who finds a magical fish that he calls Ponyo. Ponyo's father then captures her and brings her back home. She then manages to turn human and escape, causing a tsunami while trying to find Sosuke again. Throughout the film Ponyo's father, Fujimoto, tries to find Ponyo and bring her home explaining that she is too powerful. After battling with the weather, Sosuke and Ponyo meet again, they wait for the storm to calm and then go to find Sosuke's mother after she had been working all night. This is where they meet Ponyo's mother and father who both explain that as she wants to remain human she will lose her powers but in order to remain human, Sosuke must lover her. Sosuke explains that he does and Ponyo agrees and then kisses Sosuke and the spell is then placed upon her. 

As Ponyo is a Western inspired Japanese film it is sometimes harder for a Western audience to pick up on some of the references within the film. This is as they do not relate to their culture, making it so they either do not notice the references or do not understand them. One of the main links that a Western audience would understand is that the film is strongly related to The Little Mermaid. Examples of this are shown throughout the film such as the fact that Sosuke has fallen in love with a fish/human character and how Ponyo sacrifices her powers in order to remain human.
Figure 2. Ponyo and Sosuke


As said by Jolin, 'Miyazaki’s spin on The Little Mermaid hoves close to My Neighbour Totoro, unapologetically aiming at his youngest audience since 1988. But with its luxuriant hand-drawn style it has a warmth and palpability that makes it feel unique among modern animated features.' (Jolin, 2019) 

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio that started in 1985 and is one of the leaders in Japanese animation. 'Though its most iconic films, Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro, are shining examples of the studio’s storytelling and creativity, Ghibli’s wider filmography contains some of the most endearing and powerful animation of the last 40 years.' (Butler, 2018)

Hayao Miyazaki is the director of Ponyo. He is also one of the most renown Japanese film directors. He has created many films, most of which have been very successful. Due to the popularity of his characters and films, Miyazaki has been nicknamed 'The Japanese Walt Disney'.


Bibliography:

 Butler, W. (2018). Every Studio Ghibli film ranked in order of greatness - NME. [online] NME. Available at: https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/films-of-studio-ghibli-ranked-2365718 [Accessed 31 Jan. 2019].

 Jolin, D. (2019). Miyazaki On Miyazaki: The Animation Genius On His Movies. [online] Empire Online. Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/hayao-miyazaki/ [Accessed 31 Jan. 2019].
Illustrations list:

Figure 1. (2008) Movie cover. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-ponyo-noah-cyrus/15105075

Figure 2. (2008) Ponyo and Sosuke. https://www.npr.org/2009/08/17/111952948/a-world-in-crisis-and-only-love-can-save-the-day?t=1548941306611


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