Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo sakana no ko



A catchy tune isn't it?

I haven't seen Studio Ghibli's Ponyo in over a month now, so I won't be going too in depth with the film. But if I may say, Miyazaki has done another great job at bringing a Ghibli title to life.

In the film we follow a young boy named Sasuke, and by chance he comes across a goldfish and names it Ponyo. Later the goldfish magically turns into a girl where Sasuke and Ponyo are quick to become friends and build a simple relationship.


Miyazaki stated that he wanted to create a movie for his grand children, and I believe he did just that. The true magic lies within the fact that adults can enjoy the film as well. Whether you are 5 or 50, the themes and messages that the film conveys about friendship and the environment have the ability to resonate within the hearts of Ponyo's viewers.

There's a handful of nifty extras that comes along with the 2-disc release of Ponyo from Walt Disney Pictures, but one of the most interesting is a short look into the heaviest of inspirations for Ponyo. It turns out that Miyazaki had taken some time for himself and stayed in a rural coastal town in Japan not affected by big industry or contemporary culture. It's almost as if the small town is frozen in a tableau of time. Overall it provides a great influence for a wonderful setting in Ponyo.

The following is a piece of artwork featuring Sasuke and Ponyo when they have grown older. Whomever made this did a fantastic job.


So if you haven't seen Ponyo yet, I would highly recommend you try it out as soon as possible. It's not only great for children, but it's entertaining and has messages for adults as well. It's beautifully animated and is slightly adapted from the little mermaid. Go on! And don't be embarrassed if you get the children's song stuck in your head. It's too good not to.

-Jared C.

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