With heavy Little Mermaid influences and metaphors about ocean pollution and preservation, Ponyo is anything but a kitschy retelling.
Hayao Miyazaki’s tenth film, and eighth directed for Studio Ghibli, follows the story of a goldfish princess who desperately wants to live in the surface world and the five year-old boy she befriends. With heavy Little Mermaid influences and metaphors about ocean pollution and preservation, Ponyo is anything but a kitschy retelling. Featuring Miyazaki’s signature hand drawn animation presented in a vibrant, fluid style, Ponyo is a sweet and enchanting magical adventure.