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Ponyo on the Cliff (Gake no ue no Ponyo)

  • Currently 5/5 Stars.

Cinema Release Date 12 Feb 2010
DVD Release Date Coming Soon
91% of raters want to see this
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White
Writer(s): Hayao Miyazaki, Melissa Mathison,
Producer(s): Toshio Suzuki, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steve Alpert,
Director(s): Hayao Miyazaki, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis, Peter Sohn


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So, what's it all about?

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, is a new animated film from the Japanese anime studio Studio Ghibli, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is Miyazaki's ninth film for Ghibli. The plot centers on a baby fish/mermaid in the sea named Ponyo who becomes a human girl. In pursuing her goal, she befriends a five-year-old human boy, Sosuke.

Movies.ie Review

Miyazaki was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid when writing this tale of the eponymous young fish-girl who breaks away from her father's underwater aquarium in order to explore the world a little more. Ponyo is soon stranded near a small fishing village, where she is rescued - and named - by a young boy, Sosuke. Her father sends his wave spirits to recapture his daughter, but she has now fallen in love with Sosuke, and wants to live life as a human...

THE VERDICT: Given just how many wonderful animated features have been released in the last 12 months, it's perhaps none too surprising that the great Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki's latest offering was overlooked at the Oscars this year. It's still a crying shame though, because it's undoubtedly one of the 79-year old animation icon's sweetest offerings.

There's a childlike simplicity about Ponyo that's far removed from the magical mystery tours of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, and even more innocent in its storytelling and its animation than Kiki's Delivery Service. Perhaps it's that lack of psychedelic swirl that failed to impress the Oscar voters, but its that childlike simplicity and the naive charm of Ponyo that proves its real strength.

Rating : 5/5

Review by Paul Byrne

Member Reviews

clivebb
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 Just Brilliant
ssconnolly
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 Ponyo is the first film in six years for critically acclaimed animated director Hayao Miyazaki who continues to show that the hand drawn era of animation isn't dead in the water just yet. And Ponyo is one of his best projects to date. Not the plot is quite ridiculous and I have tried and failed to describe it without making it sound entirely absurd but now I've another chance to do so, and here it goes. The plot centers on a little fish in the sea named Ponyo who is tired of life under the sea with her wizard father and the absence of her sea goddess mother. So she escapes her underwater home and comes ashore where she meets young boy Sosuke. He takes her as a pet but her father comes to reclaim her. She then realises she is in love with the young boy and so turns into a little girl and comes back on shore to be with him. And the film, believe it or not gets more preposterous after this point, and I'm not going to even start to try explain it. But despite the ridiculous story this still managed to be an extremely enjoyable film. It was a truly surreal experience when I saw the film. It is visually wonderful and awe inspiring. The eye to detail is outstanding. It is impossible not to respect the amount of work that was put into getting this film made. Every scene, even every shot is drenched in perfection. There are some utterly breathtaking scenes which provide some of the most vivid and magnificent cinema of the year. If ever there was a project to prove that hand drawn animation still has a place then it is this. The film is a blatant promotion for healthier seas though and its ecological agenda is seen everywhere. Liam Neesons David Bowie look-a-like sea wizard spends most of his screen time cursing humans for ruining the seas. Out of all the animated films released this year this is the one which best appeals to both the innocence of children and adults. I mean Up did this, Princess and the Frog did this but they all swayed too much towards adults or kids but Ponyo gets the perfect balance between the two. For fans of anime, animation, Ghibli or Miyazaki this is unmissable. It was by far the most pleasant, easy to watch and outright lovable film of this year. I would highly recommend it as watching it is quite simply a treat.
tails2
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 Unfortunately I missed to first 5-10 minutes. Other than that I can say that if you are a fan of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, then you are sure to love this movie too. I am a fan of their style and story telling and can never get enough of the feel good sense the movies give out. With great animation and a bit of a cute story, it is a must see.
WildRose86
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 Beautiful. If you don't fall in love with the characters, the animation, the story, you have no soul!!
gmiskelly
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 The animation was hugely impressive as usual, but the story didnt really catch the imagination quite as much as some of the other studio ghibli offerings (e.g. spirited away)...oh yeah "ham!"
alanhorkan
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 A charming and beautiful fairytale. As with other Ghibli films it is very much for children but there is still a lot to enjoy in such a well crafted animation.
ArrggghhhhJOHN
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 A great movie for all the family. Not quite to the same level as Miyazaki's earlier stuff but such a great piece of animation. You will istantly fall in Love with the Main characters and they will keep your attention the whole way through
rugbynomad11
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 This is my favourite movie of recent times. Amazing animation and story and up there with the best of anything that Miyazaki has done in the past.