ehalcomb: Ponyo Review || Anime Movie Review

Some of my favorite Studio Ghibli films are the ones that have the audacity to stop. In the world of high-octane action thrillers it's sometimes nice to see a movie, or really all of Ghibli's movies, that want to reflect on itself as the film goes. Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea is a great film that does this very well. I honestly don't know why I haven't seen much on this movie in the past five years that it's been out. I find this odd because this movie is, abbreviated, beautiful. Not in the Spirited Away "filled with magic" sense, though this film still has that, but in a "let's relax for a little bit" sense. There's no fights and the animation isn't used for fast-paced action, but that's not a bad thing. One of the most beautiful scenes in the entire movie is right at the beginning where the "antagonist" Fujimoto is dropping some sort of elixir into the water at the bottom of the ocean. The fish swirl around him and rub against the air bubble that he has enclosed himself in. It feels almost as if he's conducting the sea. In the scenes with a heavy emphasis on water, the animation is absolutely stunning with dark to light blues serving as a compliment for the colorful and diverse fish. Even when the scenes get a little bit intense, like on a certain stormy night, the viewer still has a clear understanding of what's going on. Honestly, the directing of this film in particular is some of Miyazaki's best work. Miyazaki can't take all the credit. Joe Hisashi, the man who has composed for every one of Miyazaki's films, shows off some of his best work in Ponyo. The fluttering melodies show the listener images of adventure and magic but also have a subdued "under the surface" feel that fits the theme of water so well. Unfortunately, this film doesn't have many problems. One that did bother me, however, was that some of the character's reactions to the mere existence of the creature known as Ponyo. Some might chalk it up to the character simply not believing it at all. It is really up to speculation. One sad thing about this film is that it's only great. The music is fantastic, the visuals are mind-blowing, and the story, though simplistic, is heartwarming all the same but I believe that it could have been even better.

Ponyo is simply wonderful.