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Based
on Hans Christian
Anderson's
The
Little Mermaid
and from Studio
Ghibli,
Ponyo
tells the story of a
magical fish named
Ponyo who wants to
be human and the
friend and little
boy she establishes
a close connection
with in Sosuke.
Sosuke finds Ponyo
washed up on the
beach stuck in a
glass bottle. He
rescues the fish and
the two become
friends. They
establish a deep
connection until
Ponyo's father, the
sorcerer Fujimoto
takes her from
Sosuke and back into
the ocean. Ponyo and
her father squabble
and fight with the
ultimate result
being Ponyo turning
into a human little
girl and finding
Sosuke. The two then
go on an adventure
together to find
Sosuke's mother
which turns into
just the beginning
of a very large
adventure for Sosuke
and Ponyo.
As
with most Studio
Ghibli releases the
animation is great
but the stories told
and the magic that's
happening on screen
is what the movie is
about. The stories
are huge in Japan
and although they're
not 100% universal
they are extremely
close. The story
that the movie tells
and the animation in
Ponyo
is breathtaking. The
cast of voices used
in the film is
stellar as well with
Liam Neeson, Cate
Blanchett, Tina Fay,
Lilly Tomlin and
Betty White leading
the way.
Ponyo
has
some decent special
features. There is
an optional
introduction to the
movie that is fun.
The bonus feature
not to miss though
is The World of
Ghibli. In the
feature you get an
interactive map that
allows you to
explore the
creations of Ghibli
including Ponyo,
Kiki's Delivery
Service, My Neighbor
Toturo, and Castle
in the Sky. There's
also some interviews
and behind the
scenes looks at how
Ghibli creates these
animated
masterpieces.
Ponyo
isn't 100% relatable
to all kids here in
the U.S. Just like
kids in Japan don't
get some of our
entertainment that
gets imported over
there. Kids in
America are the same
as kids in Japan but
there are certain
complexities to both
cultures that the
other is going to
struggle to grasp. A
lot of what we see
as eccentricity in
Ponyo is magical to
kids in Japan. Some
things are universal
and most things are
to kids but there
are going to be a
few moments in the
movie that your
children will see as
strange. That's why
Ponyo is a good
movie to watch with
your children to
expose them to a
different culture.
Ponyo
is a movie that your
children will love
and embrace.
Especially if
they're under the
age of six. The
movie's animation
and the magic in the
story will keep them
entertained. They'll
also like the music.
Ponyo
is a
magical tale from
Studio Ghibli and it
will fit in as a
unique release in
your home video
collection.
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