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Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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Ponyo (Film)

by Alicia Malone | August 25, 2009 09:57 | Edited August 25, 2009 10:04

Miyazaki delivers another incredibly beautiful and very child orientated animation that will enchant audiences.

With a list of voices including Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and a Jonas brother, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Ponyo was just another Hollywood animated movie. Instead, it's the latest offering from Oscar winning Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary Japanese animator behind Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and many others. And like most of Miyazaki's films, Ponyo is a little hard to describe.

 

The story is inspired by The Little Mermaid, and centres on a goldfish named Ponyo (Noah Cyrus), who decides that she wants to become human after meeting five-year-old Sosuke (Frankie Jonas). Her sea wizard father (Liam Neeson), however, will do everything he can to try and stop her.

 

There are no pop culture references or adult jokes here; Ponyo is a children's film in its purest form. While the strange images may confuse adults, children will love the cute characters and sweet story. Hayao Miyazaki has been quoted as saying, "I make movies that can be understood by a five-year-old, and to bring out that purity of heart", and Ponyo is a great example of that.

 

The animation is remarkable in its simplicity. Each frame has been hand drawn and is incredibly detailed, resulting in 170,000 separate images - a record for a Miyazaki film. Whether you're a Miyazaki fan or a parent looking for a children's film, Ponyo will not disappoint. It's reassuring to know that simple, hand drawn animation can still be as effective on screen as Hollywood's computer generated blockbusters.

Incidentally, two versions of Ponyo are being released in cinemas. Die hard Miyazaki fans will enjoy the original Japanese film with subtitles, while the English dubbed version featuring an all-star voice cast is perfect for children.