Ponyo - Hayao Miyazaki

As I have hinted at before, I have tried to get into Japanesse Anime but mostly have come upon a wall of failure. Now I won't claim to have viewed every Anime movie and series worth seeing, but I have come across a few that I like and everything else I have absolutely hated. Besides Cowboy Bebop (I know, liking only this makes me some kind of Anime poser or something) the only Anime I have found worthwhile has been the work of Hayao Miyazaki, and calling his work 'worthwhile' is like saying Jimmy Page is 'pretty good' at guitar.

Miyazaki is pretty prolific, and his multitude of films have included My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. He is often called the 'Walt Disney' of Japan, but to be frank his accomplishments (in the movie world anyway, we're not counting theme parks and overall influence) dwarf those of Walt Disney. Whereas Walt Disney was only the producer on the films accredited to his name, Miyazaki both writes and directs many of his films in addition to doing a fair amount of the animation. He's fully involved in each of his films, and they surely are his product. If the term 'auteur' is to be considered, Miyazaki certainly fits the bill.

The things that really makes Miyazaki stand out (especially compared to his American predecessor) are the unconventional content and themes found throughout his films. His work is filled with themes of feminism, environmentalism and pacifism and there is very much an air of anti-establishment, which is in pretty stark contrast to most films made for kids (excluding Pixar). The protagonist is often a young girl who is independent and adventure seeking. There is rarely the traditional 'bad-guy' that is often found in movies for kids (and most movies for adults), and when such an antagonist exists they are often morally ambiguous or under some sort of curse. His films have a magical realism quality to them in that there are often sorcerers, spirits, or other magical creatures that interact with the young characters. This last aspect might throw off some viewers not used to Japanese cinema or Anime, but I don't think it's much more ridiculous than what's found in American animated films.

As such, Ponyo is a worthy addition to Miyazaki's long catalog and very much a film worth seeing. Ponyo is another attempt to animate Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Really though, after the initial concept of a creature of the sea wanting become human, very little of Ponyo can said to be taken from the story or Disney's previous animated attempt. In Ponyo, it is a 'special fish' that wishes to set out on her own and become human after meeting a small boy on the edge of the water. I'm not really sure how to describe her rather than calling her a 'special fish'. Ponyo has a human like face, which really only disturbs one old lady, and has some magical powers but her classification is really left a mystery. In order to become a human she must escape her protective and moody father, and the boy she meets must show that it is 'true love'.

But really, you're not going to see Ponyo for the plot. The outcome is hardly ever in doubt and even the 'trials' they have to go through are a cakewalk. The reason you would see Ponyo is because of how beautiful it is, and because Miyazaki creates the most pure forms of joy to be found in all of cinema. Watching his beautifully drawn characters interact in their magical world and find joy in almost every aspect of life is intoxicating, and you'll find yourself smiling the entire time. In this way Ponyo is most similar to Totoro, at least compared to his other films. Like Ponyo, Totoro barely has a plot beyond the exploration of a magical realm, and watching the characters explore this world is a blast. Many of his other films are much more serious, but these two are purely enjoyable in every sense of the word.

As with most animation movies, including Miyazaki's other films, the American dubs are done with celebrity voices. In Ponyo you have Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, another Jonas brother, and Miley Cyrus' younger sister. However unlike other animation movies, these names are not at the top of the billing, and the advertisers aren't trying to trick you into going to the movie because 'that lady that plays Sarah Palin is in it'. As in his other movies (and Pixar's films) these big names are not distracting, and often you even forget who's doing the voicing. Disney actually releases his movies in America, and I don't fault them for trying to get celebrities to bring in more viewers, but really it doesn't really add or subtract anything.

If you haven't seen any of Miyazaki's films I would heartily recommend that you do so, especially if you are a fan of the superlative films that Pixar releases every year. Like the Pixar movies his movies are intended for kids, but really they are meant for everyone to enjoy. There is no reason for parents to be watching endless streams of 'talking animal' animations when the works of Miyazaki and Pixar exist. Make no mistake, his films are dramatically different than the Pixar movies, but they are both worth seeing on their own account.

If you wanted a place to start with Miyazaki I might recommend Princess Mononoke for those who want a little more of a plot and conflict, and Totoro for those who like the 'twee' ascetic. However if you make it out to the theaters anytime soon I would have no problem recommending Ponyo as your first Miyazaki experience. Watching his completely hand-drawn images of the sea and it's life in the theater is certainly a treat for the senses.