Ponyo: My Childhood Rediscovered

Do remember when your childhood years, a time in which you believed magic was real, and the world seemed amazing and a bright place? Ponyo is one of those rare films that charm both children and adults. For children, it amazes them with the creativity of the entire film and its characters. For adults, it reminds them of an era long past, a time when taxes and loans were not issues. Ponyo is simply magical due to the efforts of master Hayao Miyazaki. In particular, his artistry and imagination stands above the rest of the animation world, and are the main reason why the film was so enchanting.

 One of the best scenes was the opening scene. The film opens with a spellbinding, amazing sequence beneath the sea, in which portrayed floating jellyfish and scampering bottom-dwellers. The pastels of this scene make Ponyo one of the very rare movies that made my jaw drop in wonder, in awe. This is more than “artistry.” It is art in its purest form. The film had multiple moments, which were jaw dropping. The primary reason why the artistry is so great is that the intricateness and quality of the scenes are superb.

 Secondly, the imagination of the film was truly refreshing. Miyazaki turns a clichéd and unoriginal theme and makes it his own. From the toy boat that Ponyo magically enlarges to the dreamlike journey among flooded treetops in search of Sasuke’s mother, Miyazaki proves that his imagination is still bustling with such creative juices that rivals that of child’s.

 Miyazaki also seems to add some of his ideals about the environment and the wastefulness of humans. This is seen in the keeper of ocean’s suspicion of humans and Ponyo’s journey to Sasuke. Throughout the entire film, the keeper has expressed his dislike of the human race due to their wasteful nature, and has expressed his desire for their downfall. Also, the wastefulness of humans is depicted in Ponyo’s journey to Sasuke. The garbage that is piling up in the ocean is disgusting. It has reached a point that Ponyo almost died due to the waste. These reasons show Miyazaki’s hidden position on the environment.

 Ponyo is a magical film due to the artistry and imagination of Hayao Miyazaki, which also shows his positions on the environment.