Movie Review: Ponyo
There is currently no greater name in animation than Hayao Miyazaki. While American animators continue to hone an incredible level of technical (and computer-generated) expertise, Miyazaki’s films are lovingly hand-crafted and with a mythic quality lacking from, say, HOODWINKED. PONYO falls in the grand tradition of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO or SPIRITED AWAY, in which the everyday world of a child is touched by deep and ancient magic. Ultimately, while more reflective and personal than either of those, it is also far more simplistic, making PONYO the most child-accessible of Miyazaki’s films.
PONYO is little more than a child’s fable; a tiny goldfish, the daughter of a wizard and a sea-queen, longs to see dry land; rescued by a little boy named Sosuke, she falls in love and determines to become human. Tapping into her father’s magic well, Ponyo throws the world out of balance, and so the childrens’ love is tested as a whole seaside community hangs in the balance. Really there is not much more to the film in terms of plot complexity — PONYO is a simple tale. It is also told simply; backgrounds are often impressionistic sketches done in pastels, and Miyazaki takes his time with each scene, often taking long moments to savor a seascape or the outline of trees on the horizon. It’s a meditative movie, far more than his past work, and perhaps reflective of a 5-year-old’s view of the world.
Coming from the complex themes of PRINCESS MONONOKE or the dizzying inventions of HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE, some Miyazaki fans might be disappointed that PONYO is so basic and straightforward a work. There is deceiving complexity at play here, between the rebirth of a “Devonian Age of the seas” and the destruction/preservation of the seas by humans. The adults of PONYO are similarly complicated creatures, whether the former-human wizard who now longs to wash away humanity, or Sosuke’s mother, tending to her son and her job while her husband is away at sea. However, the heart of the movie — childlike love and exploration of pure imagination — is unadulterated by plot machinations.
The animation and the music are matched to this theme of a child’s heart. Vivid, glowing colors fill the deep ocean, and the whole of it has an otherworldly quality that suits it well. PONYO may not be the most technically accomplished or imaginatively complicated of Miyazaki’s works, but it is nonetheless a wonderful fairy tale that has real power to enchant and delight a child (and your average open-minded adult). Such is a rare and wondrous thing.
Posted on August 11, 2009, in Pop Culture. Bookmark the permalink. 16 Comments.
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The one thing I haven’t liked about the english Miyazaki adaptations is the voice actors they choose. (Billy Crystal in Howl’s Moving Castle made me hate him forever)
Are the voices any better in this version, with its Jonas Brother, its Cyrus, and its assorted A-Listers?
The voices are so-so. Tina Fey does a good job. Liam Neeson, as ever, overdoes it. And the Cyrus/jonases are fine as kids, I suppose, but certainly aren’t as good as some prior adaptations of Miyazaki’s work. I didn’t find it very distracting, with the exception of Neeson (view the trailer to get a sense of what he’s like).
Is it appropriate for a 3 year old?
I really love the book Howl’s Moving Castle and I was unhappy with the changes he made to the plot. But I did enjoy Spirited Away.
I had Spirited Away and thought I better watch it before showing it to my kids. I’m glad I did. I think they’d have had nightmares for weeks had I shown it. Holy cow. I keep forgetting how much more intense Japanese cartoons are from American. A black blob that eats everyone? Ugh.
BTW – when will the studios realize real voice actors do a better job than the typical “big name” actor. There are exceptions (I think Pixar has done marvelously directing actors and it’s rare that I think they fail). But it really is a different genre – one many actors struggle to adapt to.
Dan, yes.
I think that US studios are afraid of marketing a film on its own merits, without the aid of big names. This frequently leads to terrible (or at best distracting) voice work.
My kids were totally and completely creeped out by Spirited Away.
I liked Castle in the Sky though (despite the voices being grating and the whole thing being too long)
Forget the kids, I was creeped out by Spirited Away
Well I love Spirited Away!! And Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Nausicaa, and other Studio Ghibli movies like Grave of the Fireflies and Whisper of the Heart. My kids both LOVE them too.
We were planning on seeing Ponyo this Friday, so thanks for the review. I think we’ll really enjoy it!
Spirited Away was amazing. I tried to start watching it with my 3 year old and I realized fairly quickly which parts were not watchable so I think I switched over to Wall-E or something. I’ll wait until she is eight or so before introducing her to Spirited Away. And 12 or so before introducing her to Princess Mononoke.
I’m glad to hear that Miyazaki is returning to a simpler storytelling format. Totoro is one of my all-time favorites, and I think Howl’s Moving Castle, while visually impressive, was a disappointment.
Any Miyazaki movie is a must-see. Thanks for the review.
My son was also terrified by Spirited Away. Unlike you Yanks, though, I thought this was a GOOD thing. The best kids’ tales have always been creepy.
As for Ponyo, no UK release until 2010! Rubbish.
Spoken like someone who isn’t the one getting up when they wake up at 2 in the morning with nightmares. I’ll have my good night’s rest, thank you.
Can you get me into a film anyone? i’m the same age as noah cyrus (9) and i really want to be a actress (now) anyone no anyone?
I didnt think ponyo was that good isaw the trailer and it looked rubbish.