Ponyo

Ponyo tells the enchanting story of a goldfish princess named Brunhilde who, during a forbidden excursion to the surface world, meets a five-year-old human boy named Sosuke. After he rescues her from a glass jar and names her Ponyo, she develops a profound desire to become human to stay with him. This wish, fueled by her powerful magic, upsets the delicate balance of nature, triggering a massive storm and tsunami that floods Sosuke's seaside town.

As the ocean rises and ancient sea life returns, Ponyo transforms into a little girl and reunites with Sosuke. Together, they embark on a journey across the flooded landscape to find Sosuke's mother, Lisa. The film culminates in a test of Sosuke's love, overseen by Ponyo's sorcerer father Fujimoto and her sea-goddess mother Gran Mamare, to determine if Ponyo can remain human without throwing the world into chaos.

At its heart, Ponyo is a celebration of the unconditional acceptance found in childhood love and the vital balance between humanity and nature. Miyazaki illustrates that love requires responsibility and that humans must learn to coexist with the natural world rather than dominate it. The film suggests that the purity of a child's promise has the power to bridge worlds and restore harmony.

The Afterlife Theory: A widely discussed interpretation suggests that everyone in the town died in the tsunami. Proponents point to the fact that the town is underwater yet the water is crystal clear and breathable for the elderly residents, who can suddenly walk again (shedding their mortal ailments). The tunnel Sosuke and Ponyo travel through is seen as the passage to the afterlife (the Sanzu River). The final scene is thus a reunion of souls in a heaven-like realm. Miyazaki has not confirmed this, but the dreamlike, painless nature of the flood supports this reading.

The Environmental Warning: While cute, the film can be read as a apocalyptic warning. Ponyo's magic disrupts the moon's gravity, causing satellites to fall and tides to rise. It suggests that nature's power is indifferent to humanity and that we exist at its mercy, surviving only through adaptation and respect.

Ponyo was a massive commercial success, becoming the 4th highest-grossing film in Japan's history upon release. Culturally, it marked a return to pure hand-drawn animation for Studio Ghibli after they experimented with CGI in previous films. It resonated globally for its accessible, child-friendly narrative that still carried weighty environmental themes.

Critics praised its visual splendor, particularly the 'liquid' animation style of the waves, which has become iconic in animation history. The film helped cement Miyazaki's reputation in the West not just as a creator of complex epics (like Spirited Away) but also as a master of capturing the essence of childhood. It also sparked discussions about the representation of modern families, with Lisa being praised as a realistic, flawed, and strong single-mother figure.

Ponyo is overwhelmingly loved for its visuals and charm, holding a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Praised aspects include the breathtaking animation of the water, the adorability of Ponyo, and the heartwarming relationship between the children. Criticism often focuses on the plot being 'too simple' or 'nonsense' compared to the complexity of Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. Some western viewers initially found the dub voice of Ponyo (Noah Cyrus) slightly annoying, though it is generally accepted now. The verdict is that it is a masterpiece of visual art and a perfect entry point for younger children into Ghibli's world.