Whenever a new Hayao Miyazaki film arrives, you really must make an effort to go and see it. I discovered his films a little late, first seeing Princess Mononoke on VHS (yes, VHS), but I have been able to see Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and now Ponyo on the big screen. There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the greatest living animators, alongside the likes of John Lasseter and Henry Selick. So, I implore you, go and see this movie, rent/buy his older films, you will not be disappointed. Yes, I know this sounds more like a closing to a review than an opening, but the more I think back on the theater experience, the more highly I think of it.
Ponyo is a movie that works on many levels and can entertain just about any audience. As I think back upon it the layers begin to peel away, and while I do not get all that is going on under the surface, I suspect we are not meant to, otherwise we would have been given more. Sometimes it is best to be left with questions — that can still be a satisfying experience.
The tale told in Ponyo is a simple one, although I guess I should say I have not read the book from which this is adapted. The short description would be "Ponyo is a tale of a boy and his fish." I know, too simple, right? All right, let me see if I can adequately expand on the story at work.
As I sit and ponder my ability to tell the story, I am finding it a difficult task. Yes, I can tell you what happens, or at least give you an idea of the arc it takes. The problem is there is no way I can convey the magic, the fantasy, the sheer poeticism of what is barely contained on the screen. It is art in motion, a tale of great importance to the world at large told through the eyes of the innocent, completely unaware of the implications of their actions.
The film opens with a colorful sequence devoid of dialogue. It is beneath the waters, all manner of fish and other sea critters swim, sway, and dance through the blue. It is quite beautiful to watch. We then see a man, encased in a bubble of air, standing amidst the pastel colors, using a large eye-dropper to place drops of liquid into the water around him. The purpose of this is never completely explained, but by allusion, it is necessary to maintain an ecological balance between the sea and the land.
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