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Noah Cyrus, Yuria Nara, Frankie Jonas, Hiroki Doi, Tina Fey ... see more see more... , Tomoko Yamaguchi , Matt Damon , Kazushige Nagashima , Cate Blanchett , Yuki Amami , Liam Neeson , George Tokoro , Cloris Leachman , Betty White , Lily Tomlin , Kurt Knutsson , Jenessa Rose

Acclaimed anime master Hayao Miyazaki returns for his ninth animated feature with Ponyo, which deals with a friendship between a five-year-old boy and a goldfish princess who yearns to be human. The d... read more read more...aughter of the king of the ocean, Ponyo is no ordinary goldfish -- she has all the magic of the sea at her disposal. But when five-year-old Sosuke befriends the spunky little fish near the seaside home he shares with his mother and father, a special connection sparks between the two children, and Ponyo becomes determined to become human. Transforming into a little girl, Ponyo shows up at Sosuke's doorstep, delighted to make herself at home with her new land-dwelling family. But having a magical fish princess walking around on dry land begins setting the mystical balance of the world off kilter, and even though the innocent love Ponyo feels for her dear friend is strong, it will take some help from the greatest powers in the ocean to make things right again. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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80% liked it

88,730 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

155 critics

G, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Release Date: August 14, 2009

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DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010

Stats: 6,725 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,725)

  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    For American animated movies, the forefront of this genre is obviously Pixar. The studio manages to attract children and adults with its great storytelling, gorgeous and fluid animation, and memorable characters... Hayao Miyazaki is arguably on the same caliber as Pixar.

    If "Po... read morenyo" were a well of imagination, it would be shooting up water all over the place. It's overflowing with very diverse, strange, and unique imaginative settings, effects, and characters. See, the thing about Pixar is how they take stories that have occurred to adults and place them upon cute animals, children, or children-friendly protagonists. The journey these characters take are tweaked to appeal to children but "Ponyo"... wow, everything is created from the imaginative vision and mind of a child.
    There's creepy imagery and strange concepts going on, but "Ponyo" is entertaining throughout. The transition from the Japanese voice actors to the American? Almost flawless. Great move to get professional A-list actors to substitute for the original voice actors -- I wouldn't even know if the Japanese version or American is better. The only problem I had with this movie is that though it is visually spectacular, it could've been MORE entertaining but other then that, "Ponyo" is one of those animated movies that any child and adult will willingly invest their attention to.
  • flixsterman
    March 3, 2012
    flixsterman
    Beautiful, imaginative and utterly adorable.
  • blkbomb
    September 22, 2011
    blkbomb
    Sosuke: Mom! Ponyo came back, and she's a little girl now!

    "Welcome To A World Where Anything Is Possible."

    Ponyo, simply put, is one of the best animated films I have seen. It's a beautiful and overall delightful movie that is just a joy to watch. It kind of makes you fee... read morel like your five years old again. It sucks you in and you can't take your eyes off it. It is like watching another, better world. The film does what a lot of animated movies don't, in that it is as engrossing plot wise as it is visually. And that's saying a lot because visually this is a masterpiece.

    The story starts with a five year old boy, Sosuke, finding a gold fish in the ocean. He names it Ponyo and spends the say with it only to lose it at sea and that's when the real magic starts. The American version has a superb voice cast including Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon and Tina Fey. The film has enormous heart which is shown through the love of Sosuke and Ponyo.

    It isn't as confusing as I had expected, but it does have some elements of, "So what is going on?" I would expect kids to be infatuated with this movie though, purely because of the spectacle. Little kids don't need to understand every little detail of the plot, they just need something beautiful to look at and this is it. For adults, it has a lot of substance and makes for an extremely enjoyable hundred minutes. Family films don't come much better than this.
  • theunknownhobo
    August 24, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    I thought this movie was incredible and so did my two year old daughter. Original, heart felt and a little creepy at times as all good childrens films should be, Ponyo is a definite favourite in my house that is watched at least once a week. Even out goldfish bears her name.
  • aquateen2
    August 16, 2011
    aquateen2
    Ponyo is one of Hayao Miyazaki's more gentle and cute films. However it still somehow manages to find a way to engage a connection with adults also. Audiences who witness Ponyo will not leave feeling bored, it is brilliantly animated, it is absolutely adorable and is another piec... read moree of Miyazaki poetry. However, a lot goes on in this film and it might confuse younger viewers. It all depeneds on who your taking to see Ponyo.
  • thmtsang
    April 23, 2011
    thmtsang
    Japanese anime based on the little mermaid. A goldfish is rescued by a boy. The goldfish wants to become human to be with him. Voiced by Liam Neeson, Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett.
  • webalina
    March 16, 2011
    webalina
    I"m a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's work, but this just didn't grab me like my favorite SPIRITED AWAY did. Not to say that it was bad -- not at all. The art was of course terrific, the characters were engaging, but the story was confusing, and Liam Neeson voice is way too familiar ... read moreto me to believe his character. A good but not great try.
  • animegirlaya
    March 14, 2011
    animegirlaya
    Well it really does nothing but puts Disney's the Little Mermaid to shame, I liked it but oh my god is this just better and more creatively trippy. Miyazaki is a living legend in all sense all well as Studio Ghibli and their films (Minus Tales from Earthsea), There just talented... read more people who know how to make amazing movies, and I saw Ponyo twice first me and my best friend and second with my youngest sister. And I was likely the best thing I saw that year. Again many would say it's not Miyazaki's best but personally I thought it was Spirited Away that was his worst by far. This hits my top 5.

    The son of a sailor, 5-year old Sosuke lives a quiet life on an oceanside cliff with his mother Lisa. One fateful day, he finds a beautiful goldfish trapped in a bottle on the beach and upon rescuing her, names her Ponyo. But she is no ordinary goldfish. The daughter of a masterful wizard and a sea goddess, Ponyo uses her father's magic to transform herself into a young girl and quickly falls in love with Sosuke, but the use of such powerful sorcery causes a dangerous imbalance in the world. As the moon steadily draws nearer to the earth and Ponyo's father sends the ocean's mighty waves to find his daughter, the two children embark on an adventure of a lifetime to save the world and fulfill Ponyo's dreams of becoming human.

    Again I think it's better than Disney's version this just put's it to shame but this is Miyazaki he makes everything amazing, Nomatter how simply a project could be to him...So far my favourite is Howls Moving Castle, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and My neighbour Totoro (Lol I still have my Totoro doll since I was young). I think that's it.

    [IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/zvejo7.jpg[/IMG]

    95% for story: it's all but near perfect, It's wired as hell, Funny, Sad, really strange like but awesome to look at and listen too. It's all but the simplest of things. And it's likely one of his best because of how simple and amazing it is.

    90% for voice acting: I haven't heard the American dub yet...It's on my DVD next time I will give it a go, But till then the voice dubbing is pretty good I liked the actors a lot and them so yeah okay.

    90% for characters: Wow Ponyo is there best in a while that's just me though, I an would have given it an 80% for this but after watching it again 90% easy. A little more development on them and it would have been perfect. The deigns are just amazing and nothing short of it.

    100% for Animation: Holy shit that is just stunning, I haven't seen anything better in a while, But then again this is what traditional is all about; The opening was just stunning with all the fish, Wow I have never seen better I tell you that.

    95% for everything else: Nice music, Epic scenery, Great pace, It's really nothing short of near perfect, Despite some peoples acclaims. Epic use of Colors too so bright and beautifully.

    By the end Ponyo is different and Magical and it is indeed Miyazaki's finest work in a while.

    Keiko's score 92-100.
  • skeletonking101
    October 20, 2010
    skeletonking101
    another of miyazakis best films in the visual department, acting, character personalities, and actor choices
  • TomBowler
    September 30, 2010
    TomBowler
    Brain scramblingly confusing? You bet. But don't even try taking your eyes away from the screen for one second. Full review later.

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Critic Reviews

Rafer Guzman
July 6, 2010
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

Even when the film feels murky, Miyazaki's painterly eye keeps things afloat Full Review

Joe Baltake
September 4, 2009
Joe Baltake, Passionate Moviegoer

Bliss Made Simple: Hayao Miyazaki's shimmering 'Ponyo' ('Gake no Ue no Ponyo') Full Review

Ruth Hessey
August 27, 2009
Ruth Hessey, MovieTime, ABC Radio National

Children will love this. It's classic Miyazaki. Full Review

Andrea Gronvall
August 20, 2009
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

One of the anime master's weaker efforts. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
August 19, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Ponyo hasn't changed my mind about Miyazaki. But I'm willing to accept and enjoy this little window into the dream life of fish. Full Review

Ben Lyons
August 17, 2009
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

I liked that it wasn't bound by the conventions of normal storytelling and I loved seeing a film that is just hand drawn animation. Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz
August 17, 2009
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

I was, I'm afraid, a little lost at times. Full Review

Joe Neumaier
August 14, 2009
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

Trippy in the right way, and wholly enchanting. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
August 14, 2009
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

This exquisite pastel-colored, eye-popping example of hand-drawn animation is still very Japanese, aimed most specifically at children around the world -- but with a storytelling sophistication that a... Full Review

Stephen Whitty
August 14, 2009
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Miyazaki's artwork can be lovely -- and the delicate, watery colors of Ponyo are particularly well done -- but he's still a slave to the genre's peculiar traditions. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Ponyo (English Version): [Holding out sandwiches to woman on boat] Here, take these!
    • Sosuke: She already ate all the ham out of those.
    • Lisa (English Version): [Looking over shoulder at tsunami] Wow, that wave is really after us.
    • Lisa (English Version): I say we start with dessert and go backwards. It's been a backwards kind of day!
    • Lisa (English Version): So, Ponyo, what's your Dad like?
    • Ponyo: He hates humans! He keeps me in a bubble, so I swam away from home.
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