It should be the aim of animated features to create fantasy worlds that are not achievable in live-action films. Hayao Miyazaki is the master of this kind of fantasy world and "Ponyo" is no exception. In this animated feature from Studio Ghibli we are immersed in a mythic country-side world where the natural world is as dynamic and alive as that of the human world. This is common knowledge but "Ponyo" like previous Miyazaki films, has a natural environment that is so vibrant, colourful, and dazzling, that you will look at nature in a new way after seeing it.
The title character is a fish who, with the help of a drop of blood from a human character, is able to transform herself into a child. The film depicts her voyage from the ocean home to the world of humans where she befriends a small boy. There are moments when they are separated and much of the film concerns their attempts to reunite.
The ocean-side town in which the boy and his mother live is a picturesque place that is beautiful to imagine yourself living in. At one points there is a fierce storm and there is a treacherous drive back home that is exciting and suspenseful.
In the final third of the movie, the town is almost completely immersed in water, and the aquatic world that is created is wondrous and truly imaginative. The boy and Ponyo go on a journey to find his mother in a small boat that Ponyo is magically able to transform from a miniature toy into one just their size.
"Ponyo" like most animated features, is aimed at children but adults, especially fans of anime, will get a kick out of it. The colourful, vibrant imagery will dazzle many viewers and keep them watching until the end.
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