A Return to the Hand
Studio Ghibli described Ponyo as a deliberate commitment to animation drawn by human hands, moving away from computer-generated expression in favor of an intensely handmade visual language.
Movie
Ponyo
Welcome to a world where anything is possible.
When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.
Why it's in the Vault
Ponyo can be a slightly strange encounter at first. Its deliberately childlike simplicity and loose, almost drifting rhythm make it feel quite different from many of Miyazaki's grander adventures, and the first viewing may leave the impression that it runs a little longer than its story needs. But a second visit can completely change the relationship with the film. Once its singular rhythm clicks, its overflowing imagination, warmth and extraordinary hand-drawn world become irresistible. A Ghibli that initially seemed a little apart ultimately becomes lovable precisely because it is.
— Matty, Curator of the Vault*
Atmosphere
Joyful, aquatic, tender, dreamlike, playful
Childlike wonder
Aquatic energy
Tenderness
Peril
Contains mild peril involving storms, flooding and children in potentially dangerous situations, presented within a gentle fantasy adventure.
Dans les coulisses
Ce qu'on ne voit pas à l'écran
An Ocean of Drawings
Ghibli's production diary records individual cuts requiring hundreds or even more than a thousand animation drawings, particularly for the film's extraordinarily complex water sequences.
1,138 Shots on Paper
Miyazaki completed the film's storyboards in January 2008, with the production diary recording a total of 1,138 shots.
A Song Born from Miyazaki's Notes
Joe Hisaishi developed the famous theme song from notes Miyazaki had written while requesting the film's image album. Animation director Katsuya Kondo wrote the lyrics, with additional lyrics by Miyazaki.
A Child's Voice Won Them Over
Nozomi Ohashi was initially brought in to record a demo of the theme song. Miyazaki and Hisaishi liked the natural quality of her young voice so much that the demo singer became part of the final performance.
Palette
Les couleurs du film
Ponyo Red#E85B4F
Ocean Blue#3F87A6
Seafoam Turquoise#71B9B1
Sunlit Cream#F0DCA5
Grass Green#78965D
Storm Navy#3F5365
Images
