Gake no Ue no Ponyo

A goldfish sneaks away from home and floats off on the back of a jellyfish. After getting stuck in a glass jar, she drifts to the shore where she is freed by Sousuke, a five-year-old boy who lives with his mother Lisa in a house by the sea while his father Koichi works on a fishing boat. After healing a cut on Sousuke's finger by licking it, the goldfish is named Ponyo by her new friend.

Unknown to Sousuke, Ponyo already has a name and a family. Her father Fujimoto, a sorcerer who forsook his humanity to live underwater, searches frantically for his daughter Brunhilde. When found and captured, Ponyo rejects her birth name and declares that she wants to become a human. Using the power received from Sousuke's blood, she grows arms and legs and escapes to the surface once more. But the magic released into the ocean causes an imbalance in nature, causing the Moon to start falling out of orbit and the tides to grow dangerously stronger. Reunited with Ponyo, Sousuke must pass an ancient test to restore order in the world and let his companion live on as a human.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Ponyo Main

Kouzuki, Yuria Japanese

Sousuke Main

Doi, Hiroki Japanese

Fujimoto Supporting

Tokoro, George Japanese

Lisa Supporting

Yamaguchi, Tomoko Japanese

Granmammare Supporting

Amami, Yuuki Japanese

Yoshie Supporting

Naraoka, Tomoko Japanese

Kumiko Supporting

Hiraoka, Eimi Japanese

Toki Supporting

Yoshiyuki, Kazuko Japanese

Koichi Supporting

Suzuki, Toshio Producer

Miyazaki, Hayao Director, Script, Animation Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer

Kimura, Eriko Sound Director

Hisaishi, Joe Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement, Music

Reviews

Sep 21, 2025

elumizu

Recommended

Ponyo is both chaotic in logic yet enchanting in spirit. The story is simple at first glance, a magical retelling of The Little Mermaid through the eyes of children, but it carries a warmth that elevates its simplicity into something deeply emotional. Plot-wise, it unfolds like a dream, with Ponyo’s transformation and her bond with Sosuke driving the narrative forward in a way that prioritizes feeling over structured logic, which can at times make events feel spontaneous rather than tightly woven. Yet, this looseness in complexity is also what gives it charm, as the film leans into childlike wonder and sincerity rather than intellectual precision. ... The main characters embody innocence and devotion. Sosuke’s kindness and resolve ground the fantastical, while Ponyo’s wild, curious energy injects the film with life, though their development is more thematic than deeply psychological. Side characters like Lisa, whose resilience and warmth stand out, or Ponyo’s mystical parents, who embody the forces of human and natural balance, provide texture but are more symbolic than fully fleshed. The worldbuilding is richly imaginative, blending the gentle rhythms of a coastal town with surreal underwater realms, creating a setting that feels both familiar and mythic. Internal logic often bends under the weight of fantasy, rising seas and magical transformations are presented without much explanation but the emotional truth of the story, centered on love, trust, and harmony with nature, remains consistent. Thematically, it celebrates innocence, environmental interconnectedness, and the purity of unconditional bonds, offering a moral core that, while simple, resonates universally. On a technical level, the animation is stunning. The hand-drawn with soft yet vibrant palettes, giving waves, storms, and creatures an organic liveliness that feels almost tactile. The visuals lean into a storybook aesthetic, playful yet grand, perfectly paired with Joe Hisaishi’s sweeping, whimsical score that shifts from tender lullabies to dramatic orchestral surges. Voice acting adds another layer, capturing both the earnestness of Sosuke and the chaotic joy of Ponyo, while side performances infuse warmth and authority. In the end, Ponyo thrives on emotional authenticity and visual splendor, a film that may puzzle those seeking strict narrative logic but captivates anyone willing to embrace its dreamlike rhythm and childlike heart.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jul 6, 2020

magikype

Mixed Feelings

Ponyo Review

Story:3/10
It was a fun rewatch but the movie was very direct. It never lets the audience interpret the right things. The Story was whimsical but straightforward. It had good characters but no real development. It's a fun watch but not a very deep one. I enjoyed the Mom the best out of the characters she seemed the most rounded out of all of them. The magical side of the film needed some development it way too simple The story could be described in a few minutes, but they stretched it into an Hour.

Art:7/10
The animation was beautiful and worked nicely with the tone of the ... movie. The ocean scenes are beautiful hand by hand animation. However, none of the scenes stuck with you, I never felt anything except near the end but it was a short wave of emotion. This animation could've been a lot better with a sadder tone near the end and a happy final scene.

Sound:5/10
It was quite nice the soundtrack worked well with the movie and helped set the tone. No complaints but not anything to really brag about.

Enjoyment:6/10
It was a peaceful movie and I liked it for the most part though plot holes were in the back of head.

Overall:5/10
A good watch but not one that sticks with you. If you enjoy slice of life and nice feel good stories I recommend this or just a break from action heavy stuff.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Feb 10, 2025

dzzthink

Not Recommended

It's quite confusing and altogether unsatisfying. Its premise seems really interesting and provides a view into a brother-sister dynamic during a flooding event, but the fact that Miyazaki doesn't usually rely on thought-out scripts and mostly on storyboards really led to the downfall of this movie as it resulted in a boring middle section and really bland ending. This problem is usually not so bad in many Ghibli movies as it is offset by actually interesting characters and plot but there just wasn't enough going for this movie to actually make it interesting. Animation is still really great, which apparently was mostly hand-drawn, making the ... sea really beautiful, and is what sort of redeems the movie.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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