The Endearing Magic of Ponyo
Written By Margaret Licup
Released on the 27th of August, 2009, Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo remains one of the most enduring and heartwarming tales the 21st Century has to offer. Ponyo’s charm distinguishes itself from the master filmmaker’s other well-known works such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, by riding its wave on the power of its simplicity and outright wholesomeness whilst failing to lose the layered profoundness that is found in all Studio Ghibli films.
Synopsis: Upon making a daring escape from her father’s underwater home, a goldfish named Ponyo has a chance to meet with the film’s other main protagonist — Sousuke. A human boy with a penchant for responsibility and courage, Ponyo instantly falls in love with Sosuke and longs to become human-like in order to stay with Sosuke and his mother against the wishes of her father. Ponyo’s wish grows so exceptionally strong that she breaks out again, accidentally upsetting the balance between land and sea, hence endangering Sousuke’s town.
[Warning: SPOILERS BELOW]
A large facet of Ponyo’s charm lies in the simplicity and candour of its plot. Miyazaki has credited the familiar story of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid as part of Ponyo’s inspiration. Though lacking in the NTRing and excruciating sea-princess pain that The Little Mermaid contains, it is ultimately recognisable by the premise of ‘fish falls in love with a human and wishes to become like him. Perhaps this familiarity is one of the major facets that make Ponyo so enjoyable to watch.
Familiarity in Ponyo, however, doesn’t just stop at its reimagined The Little Mermaid plotline. It’s in the little things too. From the reminiscent joy of a warm bowl of soup your parents made, late-night honeyed milk, or heart-melting hugs you may have received as a child, Ponyo reaches deep into our psyche and brings out feelings buried deep within our minds by the debris of growing up. Magic, Miyazaki seems to say, is found in the small, seemingly insignificant moments in life. You just have to find it.
Ponyo’s protagonists are young. So young that it’s a wonder they turned out so well. I remember being five. I had just moved to the US. I thought I was hot shit. I thought I was smart. But was I responsible? Was I a good sweet summer child? Absolutely not. Yet, the preppies that lead the storyline of Ponyo are anything but immature brats. They carry around an air of maturity that makes them oh-so-endearing.
Gigachad Sosuke, for example, who promises to protect Ponyo upon first meeting her, is able to interpret his father’s Wabun code to send messages to him at sea. Additionally, he has the ability to push a boat with a human being on it to shore whilst swimming. On the other hand, we have Ponyo, who whilst is less responsible than Sosuke, has balls of steel to rival Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ponyo breaks out of her house, leads her siblings to freedom, accidentally causes a tsunami Armageddon (less mature but still cool), and is a cooperative teammate to Sosuke upon setting out to try to find his mother, making her undoubtedly part of the superior Alpha species.
Nonetheless, Ponyo and Sosuke’s empathetic capabilities and thoughtfulness are ultimately the qualities that make them so loveable. They aren’t free of faults but they have their morals and beliefs set so deep-set in their souls — something that even some adults struggle with — and have the wills to follow it through.
The story wouldn’t have happened if Sosuke didn’t value his new friend so deeply and that he placed the empty green bucket used to contain Ponyo on his fence gates in hopes she could find him again. When their worlds are submerged by the tsunami, Ponyo and Sosuke hop on Sosuke’s magically enlarged boat and encounter a husband and wife and their baby. Ponyo doesn’t spare a single thought before agreeing to donate their food and supplies in order to feed the infant, and though childishly getting irritated by the mother drinking the soup, she quickly understands that the mother needs it in order to feed her child and selflessly donates more of her treasured ham sandwiches.
That sequence in particular reminded me of how easy it was to be good. In the chaotic world we live in, it can be hard to look at others and give up the things that we think we should hoard. Political leaders around the globe relentlessly fight tooth and nail for power, becoming blind to the needs of their people when the challenge of giving aid purely for the sake of helping people was so easily overcome by this five-year-old goldfish. It suffices to say that while international political affairs and a donated sandwich are two entirely different playgrounds, we could all stand to be a little more human.
What sets Ponyo apart from other works of fiction in which preschoolers live in disaster-stricken worlds, is that it allows kids to be kids. From childishly believing in every promise made, begging to be brought along on an adults-only excursion, or crying for your mother upon getting lost, they aren’t penalised for it. It is accepted that in times of crisis, it is okay to cry. It is okay to feel awful. And as cheesy it may sound, it is okay to not be okay. And as Ponyo comforts a crying Sosuke, it’s also not too bad to rely on your friends when you need it.
Ponyo isn’t just made up of mature kids. Its adults are comprised of human beings trying their best for what they deem best for their children. In fact, the entire story lacks a ‘villain’. An antagonist, yes, but a villain? Definitely not. Fujimoto, Ponyo’s father, is simply a sorcerer who finds it in himself to keep the natural balance between land and sea who loves her and wishes to protect her from the ugliness of mankind. Miyazaki affirms the authenticity of Fujimoto’s worries in displaying the onslaught of pollution that humanity can cause in many shots throughout the film. The conflict stems from the misunderstanding between two well-meaning parties. “I hope you’ll forgive me,” says Fujimoto to both Sosuke and Ponyo.
The validation of vulnerability at any age is in part what makes Ponyo so comforting to watch. Time and time again the adult characters doubt themselves and their situation and simply admit to their faults. Lisa, before leaving for the senior centre, concedes that there are ‘lots of things happening’ that she ‘doesn’t understand’, but stresses the importance of staying calm and trusts in her child to keep things running. Gran Mamare, Ponyo’s mother, sets a trial for Sosuke and Ponyo to reset the natural balance of the world at the risk of her daughter turning into seafoam. One could call this rather irresponsible parenting, however, upon considering Ponyo’s resolve to be with Sosuke, it is instead a healthy way to let go of her child.
Ponyo delves deep into the complications of interpersonal relationships between not only parent-and-child, but the relationship parents have with each other. Adulthood comes at a price where one has to accept that their partner might not always be there as promised, however, this doesn’t mean it keeps them down for long. Displays of self-compromise such as the scene where Lisa gets angered by her husband being kept at sea and quickly picks herself back up for Sosuke aren’t uncommon. Fujimoto seeks his partner Gran Mamare for counsel and comfort, agreeing to let the children follow their own path despite his reservations.
Besides being realistic in their portrayal of people, Ponyo does a fantastic job of creating visual magic and wonder. Its vibrant colour palette and imaginative sea-life illustrations bring the whole universe to life making it impossible to call dull. Miyazaki’s vision encapsulates the spirit of a child’s imagination, whimsical and beguiling, yet so utterly cute.
The soundtrack is also one to behold. Joe Hisaishi worked his compositional magic once again and the result is something similar to 1998s My Neighbor Totoro, both of which are centred around a children’s march. However, it differentiates where Ponyo’s soundtrack is accentuated with Olympian chorus, made do with a full orchestra (and choir), and driven with the ultimate power of cuteness. There are also many special solos for the violin and piano that tug at the audience’s heartstrings in its unrestrained, oceanic course.
Ponyo is a childhood classic and one that we will continue to enjoy for the years to come. Its simplicity and wholesomeness are sure to warm you up on the darkest of days, and might even bring a few tears to your eyes. Whether it be for its lovable characters, simple premise, or visual splendour, we can all agree it to be one of the most iconic Ghibli films of all time. What are you waiting for? Go rewatch Ponyo and brighten your spring day with the help of an energetic five-year-old goldfish. You won’t regret it.
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