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Ponyo

Play trailer 0:31 Poster for Ponyo G Released Aug 14, 2009 1h 40m Adventure Fantasy Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 174 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
During a forbidden excursion to see the surface world, a goldfish princess encounters a human boy named Sosuke, who gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo longs to become human, and as her friendship with Sosuke grows, she becomes more humanlike. Ponyo's father brings her back to their ocean kingdom, but so strong is Ponyo's wish to live on the surface that she breaks free, and in the process, spills a collection of magical elixirs that endanger Sosuke's village.
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Ponyo

Ponyo

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Critics Consensus

While not Miyazaki's best film, Ponyo is a visually stunning fairy tale that's a sweetly poetic treat for children of all ages.

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Critics Reviews

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Rafer Guzman Newsday Even when the film feels murky, Miyazaki's painterly eye keeps things afloat Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Nick De Semlyen Empire Magazine Miyazaki's back, and still a force of nature. A weird, wonderful aquatic romp, Ponyo is also a meditation on the state of this blue planet. Catch it. Rated: 4/5 Feb 16, 2010 Full Review David Jenkins Time Out We're drawn under the waves of the sea to a hidden enclave of neon-hued aqualife more vibrant, surreal and enchanting than any of the floating 3D whatsits in 'Avatar'. Rated: 4/5 Feb 16, 2010 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine A thing of seemingly unending delight. Rated: 9/10 Sep 28, 2024 Full Review Michael Leader Den of Geek Ponyo, for the most part, is a beautiful, heartwarming piece that should bring a smile to anyone’s face, regardless of age. Rated: 4/5 May 7, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Miyazaki represents the last animator still wholly dedicated to an art form that is slowly dying. Relish animated films like this while you can. Rated: 4/4 Sep 4, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Chris Martin A PONYO Animation/Visuals 91.5% The animation in Ponyo is one of its strongest points. The visuals were vibrant, fluid, and full of life. Every movement, especially during the magical scenes, felt like it had purpose and emotion. The underwater world and the way the ocean was animated stood out to me. It looked magical and playful. The characters were visually well-crafted too, and I felt a genuine connection to them just through how expressive they looked. It is not a perfect animation, but it is definitely among the best I have seen from Ghibli. Characters 89.4% The characters were warm and charming. I really loved Lisa. She accepted Ponyo so naturally without hesitation, and it made her feel like a real mom, caring and strong. Sosuke was also adorable and believable for his age. The addition of the grandmas was a nice touch and added a fun and sweet energy to the story. While the characters were not deeply complex, they were lovable and fit the whimsical tone of the film. Storyline 85.7% The story was not exactly my cup of tea, but I still found it enjoyable. It felt more like a fairy tale or a Disney princess movie, which I did not expect from Ghibli, but it was not a bad thing. I liked the inspiration drawn from The Little Mermaid, and it gave the film a nostalgic charm. Although I was not fully immersed emotionally, I still found it cute and engaging. It reminded me of the wonder of being a child, and that alone gave it extra points in my book. Music 94.3% The music was lovely. The opera piece at the beginning was surprisingly powerful and set a grand tone. The Ponyo theme song was fun, catchy, and perfectly matched the childlike energy of the film. It was playful without being annoying, and I actually found myself humming it afterward. The soundtrack overall complemented the film’s mood and added to the whimsical experience. Total Average 90.2% In Stars 4.5/5 Final Thoughts Ponyo is a lighthearted and magical film that captures the innocence of childhood beautifully. While the story did not fully draw me in, the stunning animation, endearing characters, and sweet music made it a delightful watch. It may not be my favorite Ghibli movie, but it is one I would still recommend, especially for younger audiences or anyone who wants to feel like a kid again. It is charming, gentle, and full of heart. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/23/25 Full Review Lucas O Rating: 80%. This is a good wholesome film. Animation was beautiful. Voice acting (English) and music were very good. The world they created was super interesting and creative. The plot was entertaining and enjoyable. It was very cute and better for kids and families. I enjoyed it, but it didn't stand out to me in terms of emotion, so that's why I'm putting it a little lower than some. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/08/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 2/3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 16th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/25 Full Review Audience Member One of the greatest... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/04/25 Full Review TROY S Ponyo is often praised for its beautiful visuals and heartwarming story, making it a visually stunning and sweetly poetic treat for all ages, not just children. While not Miyazaki's absolute best, it's a charming and magical film with deep charm, especially for its animation and characters. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/18/25 Full Review Audience Member Trash storyline not only for adults, but even for kids. It's really rushed and not enjoyable at all. However, the graphic is pleasing to the eye. Utterly disappointing. Can't believe how this movie is a part of Studio Ghibli. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis During a forbidden excursion to see the surface world, a goldfish princess encounters a human boy named Sosuke, who gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo longs to become human, and as her friendship with Sosuke grows, she becomes more humanlike. Ponyo's father brings her back to their ocean kingdom, but so strong is Ponyo's wish to live on the surface that she breaks free, and in the process, spills a collection of magical elixirs that endanger Sosuke's village.
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Producer
Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter
Melissa Mathison, Hayao Miyazaki
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co
Studio Ghibli, Walt Disney Studios
Rating
G
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 14, 2009, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 3, 2024
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 16, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.1M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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