Ponyo
Movie, 2008, The 2000s, Set in A seaside town
Ponyo is #17 of 25 in release order and #17 of 25 in chronological order in the Studio Ghibli.
The story
When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.
Ponyo recap
Ponyo (2008) follows a goldfish-girl who escapes her sorcerer father, is rescued by a five-year-old boy, and decides to become human. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this seaside story, loosely inspired by The Little Mermaid. Brunhilde (Yuria Nara) floats away from her father Fujimoto (George Tokoro), once a man, and gets stuck in a jar. Sōsuke (Hiroki Doi), who lives on a cliff with his mother Lisa (Tomoko Yamaguchi) while his father Kōichi captains a cargo ship, frees her and names her Ponyo. When she licks blood from his cut finger, she gains the power to change. Fujimoto takes her home, but she spills his magic elixirs, grows legs and runs back to Sōsuke on the backs of giant waves. The flood that follows swamps the town and throws the moon off course. Lisa leaves to check on the old women at the care home where she works.
Ponyo ending explained
Ponyo ends with Sōsuke and Ponyo sailing a toy boat, enlarged by magic, across the flooded town to find Lisa. Ponyo's sea goddess mother Gran Mamare (Yūki Amami) asks Sōsuke whether he loves Ponyo as a fish and as a girl. He says yes, so Ponyo gives up her magic, and when she kisses him she becomes a human girl and the world returns to balance.
Post-credits scenes
No. Ponyo has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Ponyo
Ponyo is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Tales from Earthsea, before The Secret World of Arrietty.
- Chronological order: after Tales from Earthsea, before The Secret World of Arrietty.
Cast
- Yuria Kozuki as Ponyo (voice)
- Hiroki Doi as Sosuke (voice)
- George Tokoro as Fujimoto (voice)
- Tomoko Yamaguchi as Risa (voice)
- Yuki Amami as Gran Mamare (voice)
- Kazushige Nagashima as Koichi (voice)
- Akiko Yano as Ponyo's Sister (voice)
- Shin'ichi Hatori as Anchorman (voice)
- Tokie Hidari as Kayo (voice)
- Rumi Hiiragi as Young Mother (voice)
- Tomoko Naraoka as Yoshie (voice)
- Kazuko Yoshiyuki as Toki (voice)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.