PONYO: STANDARD EDITION (Disney, 2008) D: Hayao Miyazaki, w/ Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus. Rating: NNNN DVD package: N Rating: NNNN
The story is simpler than some of the writer/director’s other outings, but Ponyo will charm viewers of all ages with Hayao Miyazaki’s unique imagination, beautiful visuals and graceful hand-drawn animation.
[rssbreak]
Ponyo, the human-faced goldfish daughter of a powerful and cranky sea wizard, gets rescued from a jar by five-year-old Sosuke. She falls in love and decides to become human. This leads to disaster and a brilliant centrepiece with Sosuke and his mom in flight from a terrible storm with Ponyo in pursuit. It’s at once scary and a joyful celebration of the small girl as unstoppable force of nature.
Hit the pause button to check out the flowing shapes and muted pastels in the underwater scenes, and some creative play with bubbles later on when the goddess shows up.
Noah Cyrus, Miley’s little sister, voices Ponyo, and Frankie Jonas of the Jonas Brothers does Sosuke. Liam Neeson and Lily Tomlin show up in the supporting cast. Everyone gives lively, convincing performances.
Kathleen Kennedy, exec producer on the English-language version, talks us through an unimpressive three-minute introduction to Miyazaki and the movie. If you want the extras – and Disney has done a good job on other Miyazaki titles – there’s a two-disc edition available.
EXTRAS Introduction. Widescreen. Japanese, English, French audio. English, French, Spanish subtitles.
