Ponyo

Ponyo is a children’s movie, but it is also fit for adults. For while the story itself is fairly simplistic and does not attempt to reach beyond that of a simple love story, the simplicity itself allows us to trust its in innocence and be absorbed in the beautiful artwork. Thus it is also a fairytale, but it is a fairytale that none of us have heard before. If I imagine that I have never watched The Little Mermaid (which Ponyo adapts from) , and did so just now for the first time, then it probably would be the same experience I got when I watched Ponyo- a film that is too young for my age but something that I can still appreciate. Ponyo sheds many themes contained in Miyazaki’s previous works- environment, technology, coming-of-age, culture clash etc.- and focus solely on the magical childhood. This is what makes it a perfect children’s movie; the whole premise is focused on the stretching of the imagination and avoids the need for any heavy interpretation. The use of adorable characters who are untroubled by problems at large also add to the atmosphere of fun and charm. For adults, there is not a lot to draw from in terms of the plot. Especially for anyone who has seen other Miyazaki films, there probably will not be any surprises in terms of the narrative. But again, the visual elements of Ponyo are, for me, simply stunning. The sights of the water raging to swallow the small island where Sosuke lives and the appearance of the golden fishes are exemplary of the kind of eye-opening animation that Miyazaki is known for. And, I think in a slight reference to Totoro, Sosuke resembles Kanta whens he dons the seaman hat.