Ponyo [G]

One morning near his seaside home, 5 year-old Sosuke discovers a goldfish. Rescuing her from a tight jam jar, he names her Ponyo and the two promise to be friends forever. But when Ponyo’s father, a powerful underwater sorcerer forces back to the depths of the ocean, Ponyo becomes determined to return to Sosuke and become human. But when she escapes from her father, she upsets the balance of nature and now Sosuke has to prove his love so that the world can be put right. 

This is another anime classic from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, the genius who brought us Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away. This underwater classic is a visually stunning treat for the whole family. 

One morning near his seaside home, 5 year-old Sosuke discovers a goldfish that has washed up on shore with her head caught in a jam jar. After rescuing her, he names her Ponyo and the two promise to become friends forever. But when her father, a powerful underwater sorcerer, forces her to return to the depths of the ocean, Ponyo becomes determined to return to Sosuke and become human. But when she escapes from her father, she upsets the balance of nature and now Sosuke has to prove his love so that the world can be put right. 

The films of Hayao Miyazaki are rare gems, each and every one of them. They are original stories, some of which can be a little cheesy, but they keep you intrigued nonetheless. 

And the animation is positively enchanting. There is never a dull moment and certainly no dull colours whenever there’s a Hayao Miyazaki film on your screen. 

What makes Ponyo different from any of Miyazaki’s other films is that it is set underwater and therefore, it’s a whole other world to be visually interpreted. Akin to the Disney’s style with The Little Mermaid, the underwater world is bright and beautiful rather than murky and gloomy as most underwater tales tend to be. Then there are the wonderful magical characters that come straight from the imagination, making this film just visually stunning. 

Featuring the voice talents of Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin, and Betty White, Ponyo a mesmerising family film that will have you sighing, giggling, and just warm all over. It’s a truly beautiful film. I heart it.