DVD Review: Ponyo

Posted Mar 5, 2010 by Kevin Walker

Updated Mar 5, 2010 at 03:17 PM

Ponyo
Stars: Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Tina Fey, Matt Damon
Director: Hayao Miyazaki (“My Neighbor Totoro”)
The plot: Ponyo (Cyrus), an underwater princess, falls in love with a human boy, Sosuke (Jonas) and uses magic to become human. Unfortunately, it causes a major flood, putting Sosuke; his mother, Lisa (Fey); and his ship captain father, Koichi (Damon), in danger.
Bottom line: My 8-year-old was riveted not by the story (which is simplistic) but by the animation, which is gorgeous. Blu-ray was made for this sort of movie. Disney also is releasing DVDs and Blu-rays of several other films from Miyazuki’s Studio Ghibli: “Castle in the Sky,” “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” I can safely say that if you are an animation fan, you pretty much have to see these movies. Miyazaki is that good and influential.
Extras: Loaded. Interviews with Miyazaki and others, scenes from other films, inside scoop on how the animation was made.
Quote: “Ponyo wants ham!”
101 minutes (PG-13; thematic elements and brief, strong profanity)