Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki's latest film is set to be another childhood classic
Hayao Miyazaki is the creative force behind brilliant fantasy films such as Spirited Away (2001) and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984), and his latest animated feature, Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea, is a gentle film with the same kind of heart.
In Ponyo, Sosuke is a thoughtful, five year old boy, living in a cliff top house with his capable mother, both of them perpetually waiting for his sea-faring father to come home. One day, while playing by the sea, Sosuke rescues a magical goldfish and decides she is his new best friend. He names her Ponyo, and a sweet and wonderful journey begins.
Ponyo is clearly aimed at a young audience, and is closer in feel to Miyazaki's whimsical My Neighbour Totoro (1988) than the much darker Princess Monokoke (1997), the latter of which is not suitable for small children unless you're one of those people who took their kids to see Sin City (2005). In Ponyo, the tone is quietly wondrous, the emotional journey very gentle, and the adventures small and full of childlike delight. No epic battles or tough choices, but Ponyo isn't that kind of film.
The characters are vintage Miyazaki. Sosuke is a sensible, supportive boy, who develops a heartfelt devotion to the exuberant, headstrong goldfish girl he rescues. Sosuke's mother, Lisa, is the kind of adult who frequently populates Miyazaki's films, with her matter of fact acceptance of magic in the world, and her understanding of children's need for wonder. Nobody does cute children like Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, and the character designs in Ponyo are adorable – from the energetic Ponyo to the serious Sosuke.
As with all of Miyazaki's films, the environmental themes are prominent. The undersea scenes are magnificent, and the sense of awe at the power and diversity of the ocean is effectively conveyed. Messages about friendship, acceptance, and helping others are also woven lightly through the film.
The animation is old school – hand painted cells rather than computer assisted imagery. The style reminded me of animation from the 1980s, with its simple shapes and colours. While less impressive than the gorgeous animation of Spirited Away or the blow you away Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina (2007), Ponyo's handcrafted feel contributes to the sense of a gentler, simpler time and place.
While not as epic and fantastic as the stories I generally prefer, Ponyo is a sweet and beautiful film that deserves to be an animation classic for small children.
