崖の上のポニョ Ponyo on the Cliff Review

Note: Due to the fact that the film has only been released in Japan I will not be giving away any of the story.

So far very few companies in the film industry have a track record that can match that of Studio Ghibli. Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli has released a number critically acclaimed films that are adored by animation and film lovers all around the world. Just as with Pixar whenever a Ghibli film is released I always find myself crossing my fingers and hoping that the film will live up to the pedigree set by previous works. Well, I finally had the opportunity to see Ponyo and I was met once again with that apprehension, but after the opening credits those feelings began to dissipate.

Ponyo’s story is not as deep as some of Miyazaki’s other films like “Spirited Away” or “Princess Mononoke”. It is very simple and a great portion of the beginning of the film lacks a lot of dialog, but just like Pixar’s “Wall-E” this allows the film’s incredible animation to shine forth even stronger, and what incredible animation it is!

Miyazaki brings so much heart into this film that it just radiates through the characters onscreen. Just like his previous works Miyazaki reminds us adults of what it is like to be a kid again. It still amazes me that a man in his 70’s has been able to hold on to some of those memories and feelings and then express them in such a poignant way.

Instead of going for a hyper realistic animation style for the water effects Miyazaki delivers a beautiful and swaying world that makes you just want to dive into the screen. Some of the scenes are just breathtakingly fantastic and very dreamlike in their execution. The water comes alive and flows intelligently like paint on a canvas. But it’s the subtleties in the character’s movements and expressions that really bring the story to life like only Miyazaki and his team can do. One of the aspects that really compliments the on screen animation is of course Joe Hisaishi’s musical score.

I like to refer to Joe Hisaishi as Japan’s answer to John Williams, but in reality this is an unfair comparison for both of them especially considering that both have completely different ways of communicating through music. Mr. Hisaishi really brings a fantastic and unique style that just fits perfectly with Miyazaki’s films. The syncing of music, emotions and animation are spot on and doesn’t just compliment the film but rolls two different mediums into one beautiful package. From the angelic chorus, to the piano pieces and then the catchy theme song interwoven throughout the film, Joe has created another memorable score.

For a film that could very well be his last, Mr. Miyazaki has gone back to his light hearted and whimsical style

with a story about a boy and a fish. Much like the story of a young girl on a broom, or two sisters and their dad in the country side, this is a story that will live in the hearts of children and allow adults to reminisce about their own childhoods. Ponyo doesn’t have a US release date yet but according to an interview with the film’s producer Toshio Suzuki, it seems that Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy have been selected as the film’s US producers. So we can speculate on seeing the English version here in the states in about a year or so.

95/100

-Dane Gustafson