August 19, 2009 -- When I found out the master of Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke”), had yet another of his films being released in America, I made the trek over the mountains to Cheyenne to see it and was not disappointed. Miyazaki has done it again with another brilliant film, brimming with color and interesting characters. This is the best children's film I have seen in a long time. Although Coraline is better on an adult level, it seems too scary and intense for younger children. No such problem with Ponyo (full title translation is “Ponyo on the cliff by the sea”). It is very gentle and easily understood by children on a basic level.

Ponyo, based on the Little Mermaid fairy tale, is about a magical fish who falls in love with a boy, Sosuke, and she wants to become human. Her transformation is opposed by her father, a powerful wizard who fears that nature will be thrown out of balance by the transformation of Ponyo into a human. As a matter of fact, nature is thrown out of balance. The ocean rises, submerging the small fishing village where Sosuke goes to school and where his mother works at a nursing home. The moon comes close to the earth, causing the tides to swell ever higher. Ponyo's magical mother, a sea goddess, and father arrive on the scene to help put things right. That might require Ponyo to return to the sea. Sosuke must help decide. The story has no real villains, but it does have some heroes. Children play a major role in the plot.

While the story doesn't entirely make sense from a Western viewpoint, it is consistent in its view of magic, nature and mankind. The artwork is very beautiful, full of wonderful creatures and fantastic seascapes. The film is a delightful work of art, and is sure to be a contender for best animated film at next year's Oscar competition, along with Coraline and Up. We must be in some kind of new golden age of animation. Enjoy it while it lasts. In this American release new American voices have replaced the original Japanese voice actors. Among those heard in the American version of the film are Cate Blanchett, Noah Lindsey Cyrus (sister of you-know-who), Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas (a younger Jonas brother to his famous singing siblings), Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White and Marsha Clark (not the O.J. Simpson prosecutor). I consider it a huge waste of money to hire name actors for voice roles in animated films, unless those name actors have come to specialize in voicing cartoons, or they have distinct or unique vocal talents along the lines of Robin Williams or Eddie Murphy. The current fashion of hiring name actors for voice roles makes no sense from either a business or an artistic point of view. This film rates an A.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2009 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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