Reviews

Ponyo is the greatest animated movie of all time. It is the peak of Miyazaki's animation technique and is one of the best stories he has told. On the surface it appears like The Little Mermaid, but it does not focus on a Shakespearean love story, instead choosing to show the friendship of two young children. The friendship between these children is adorable and heartwarming. Ponyo is a movie which is purely positive. Everything is pleasant and uplifting. Even the conflict and the climax are fun. The entire town the movie takes place in is flooded to a Biblical degree, but there is no stress or anxiety caused by this. I love the use of the flood as a narrative device, and there are elements from other legends. The Song of the Nibelungs had a significant influence, especially the Twilight of the Gods. Joe Hisaishi's soundtrack is at its cutest for this movie. The animation is colourful and vibrant and throws away any pretensions of realism.
Ponyo is a magical movie that exists to make you happy. I hope it brings you as much excitement and joy as it did to me.