Ponyo: BD Review
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Page 1 of 3 Buena Vista / 2009 / 103 Minutes / Rated G / Street Date: March 2, 2010
“Mom, Ponyo came back and she’s a little girl now.”
I think this quote from the English version sums up the film perfectly. Is it a little simplistic? Yes. But at the same time it tells you the kind of magical experience held within this children’s film. As Miyazaki admits in one of the interviews he made this film for 5-year-olds - his youngest target audience. The film is all together a great success, if not a disappointment for his older fans. His artistry and creativity shine through, but for those wanting a more adult storyline, this film is far from Princess Mononoke territory.
 Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” Ponyo differs GREATLY from Disney’s own The Little Mermaid. This film is for a younger audience, but the beautiful animation and design is something anyone of any age can appreciate. My advice is to just give yourself over to the film and enjoy the beauty of the art and magic. From the opening sequence below the ocean surface with all sorts of jellyfish and many other marine animals and the colors this film is an incredible piece of art.
Since Totoro is my favorite Miyazaki film and I had high expectations for Ponyo seeing as how it was also made for children. In the end I was disappointed, but could still appreciate the great talent involved in making this film. I think Miyazaki’s least successful films are still better than the average animated film and whatever one’s opinion of the film itself lies, you can’t deny that this film succeeds in finding its target audience and introducing them to a beautiful world.
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