I have to say I totally loved PONYO

[AsahinaKimi]

PONYO (Gake no ue no Ponyo)

From the Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki comes PONYO, a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.” ..

Hayao Miyazaki is the most innovative animator since Walt Disney in part because he appeals to children and adults alike. After the thematic complexities of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, he delivers a decidedly simpler piece in Ponyo: evoking earlier works like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service aimed primarily at younger children.

A new version of The Little Mermaid, with a magical girl who just wants to be human and various forces trying to stop her. But Miyazaki retains a much sweeter tone than Hans Christian Andersen. Ponyo's father wishes to return her to his ocean home, eventually resulting in a calamitous merging of the sea and surface worlds. But he doesn't act out of malice--merely a father's protectiveness--and while things go wrong, they produce more wonder and awe than actual danger.

Having seen this film yesterday I was totally touched by this animated film, to the point of leaving the theatre in tears. I really love Miyazaki's work, and this, to me is one of his best. I loved Disney's version of the Little Mermaid too, but this was on a whole different level. The imagination and talent involved here was..fantastic. I saw the English version but plan on seeing the Japanese version soon (Just different voice artists) Here is the cast:

* Noah Cyrus - Ponyo (English Version)
* Yuria Nara - Ponyo
* Frankie Jonas - Sosuke (English Version)
* Hiroki Doi - Sosuke
* Tina Fey - Lisa (English Version)
* Tomoko Yamaguchi - Lisa
* Matt Damon - Koichi (English Version)
* Kazushige Nagashima - Koichi
* Cate Blanchett - Gran Mamare (English Version)
* Yuki Amami - Granmammare
* Liam Neeson - Fujimoto (English Version)
* George Tokoro - Fujimoto
* Betty White - Yoshie (English Version)
* Lily Tomlin - Toki (English Version)
* Cloris Leachman - Noriko (English Version)
* Kurt Knutsson - The Newscaster (English Version)
* Jenessa Rose - Kumiko (English Version)


Crew

* Hayao Miyazaki - Director, Screenwriter
* Toshio Suzuki - Producer
* Frank Marshall - Executive Producer
* John Lasseter - Executive Producer, Voice Director
* Kathleen Kennedy - Executive Producer
* Koji Hoshino - Executive Producer
* Brad Lewis - Voice Director
* Jim Hubbert - Translator
* Joe Hisaishi - Composer (Music Score)
* Katsuya Kondo - Animator
* Kevin Reher - Associate Producer
* Melissa Mathison - Screen Story
* Natalie Lyon - Casting
* Noburo Yoshida - Background Artist
* Paul Cichocki - Associate Producer
* Peter Sohn - Voice Director
* Shuji Inoue - Sound/Sound Designer
* Takeshi Seyama - Editor

Here is the Japanese theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogw0bwQOKZI&feature=related

MOVIE TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BfNtYF94cQ&feature=fvw]

[On the Road]

1. I Loved It, Too

Didn't even bring a small child along (g). It's wonderful.

It is simple enough for kids, but has so much for adults: the personality of the mother, the geography of the coastal village, the way of life (eg, hauling out the antenna to talk to the ship), the old folks' home. Miyazaki takes such care with the animation that it's beautiful even when it depicts nothing -- Sosuke climbing through the fence or Ponyo popping a dry noodle into her mouth.

People were complaining about using Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas for the voices, but they both really nailed their parts. Great job.

I hope Miyazaki does another one.

[secondwind]

2. am glad to see this post......will be visiting my granddaughter next weekend and....

I hope it will still be in the theatre!!


:thumbsup:

[wellstone dem]

3. I went with my college aged daughter and her friend.

We all loved it. Wonderful movie. Wonderful animation.