Welcome to a world where anything is possible.|Jul. 19, 2008|Japan, United States|100 Min.|G
Genre: Animation;Family
Description: In the 2008 animated film “Ponyo,” Fujimoto, a former human turned wizard and scientist, lives underwater with his daughter Brunhilde and her many younger sisters. During an outing in his four-flippered submarine, Brunhilde wanders off, riding a jellyfish until she is caught in a fishing trawler’s net. Trapped in a glass jar, she drifts ashore, where she is rescued by a young boy named Sōsuke. After freeing her, Sōsuke accidentally cuts his finger, which Brunhilde heals by licking the wound. He names her Ponyo and vows to protect her. Meanwhile, Fujimoto, believing his daughter has been kidnapped, frantically searches for her, summoning wave spirits to retrieve her, leaving Sōsuke devastated.
Ponyo and Fujimoto later argue, with Ponyo insisting she be called by her new name and expressing her desire to become human. Using magic, she begins transforming into a human due to the human blood she consumed from Sōsuke’s wound. Concerned, Fujimoto forces her back into her original form and seeks help from Ponyo’s mother, Gran Mamare. However, Ponyo escapes with her sisters and accidentally uses her father’s magic to fully become human. This act disrupts the balance of nature, causing a tsunami and stranding ships at sea.
Ponyo returns to Sōsuke, who is thrilled to see her. His mother, Lisa, allows Ponyo to stay with them as they wait out the storm. Lisa, however, leaves to check on residents at the nursing home where she works, promising to return. Gran Mamare arrives at Fujimoto’s submarine and explains that the world’s imbalance can be fixed if Sōsuke passes a test. If he succeeds, Ponyo can remain human, but if he fails, she will turn into sea foam. Fujimoto remains worried as the moon appears to fall out of orbit, signaling the severity of the disruption.
Cast director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast actor: Hiroki Doi, Yuria Nara, George Tokoro, Tomoko Yamaguchi, Yuki Amami, Kazushige Nagashima, Akiko Yano, Shinichi Hatori, Tokie Hidari, Rumi Hiiragi
Original name: 崖の上のポニョ