Ponyo (2008)

Stars	User	Rating
11	Barthalen	80 _81st
I didn't expect my physical self to be able to experience any positivity anymore after the shitstorm that was 2017, but damn if Ponyo didn't tear at my heartstrings and got me all smilin' an' shit. Fantastic animation, colorful, filled with humanistic characters. Sosuke's mom is a badass. I don't know how I feel about using an apocalyptic scenario to sort of force two kids into a relationship, much like my parents trying to get me hitched during the Y2K scare. Nice try, suckers!
10	KasperL	55 _39th
Two things just about ruined this movie for me: For one, like in 'Howl's Moving Castle', there is no real conflict. Secondly, while I loved many a peculiar moment and gorgeous shot on land, the fairy-tale parts taking place at the sea and beneath it I found lacked the magical feel of 'Spirited Away'. Wanting to appeal to smaller kids, Miyazaki settles for silly and whimsical. If these quibbles don't discourage you then, by all means, see it.
8	BeeDub	88 _75th
The story feels slight and simplistic compared to other Miyazaki films (it's obviously intended for very young kids), but the colorful visuals, creative details, and overwhelming sweetness of it all make it well worth watching.
7	Paxton	80 _87th
Now that I've finally gotten around to seeing the original, I have to say, I think Guillermo Del Toro really missed the mark with his interpretation, The Shape of Water.
6	Anselmi86	54 _29th
Sure it looks nice, sure it's heartwarming, but am I the only one who noticed that there is basically no narrative conflict in this movie whatsoever?
6	antitype	86 _85th
I'd ultimately rank this below most other Ghibli films, but in 2009, at a time when I was starving for traditional animation (in the midst of a sea of soulless computer-generated tripe, moe, etc.), this was manna from heaven, vibrant (those colors!) and exuberantly fantastical, lovingly childish as ever. It was so wonderful, I smiled all through it and felt my breath flutter as if I could burst into tears at any moment, out of sheer joy that such a delightful treasure could still be made.
4	MartinTeller	75 _54th
Definitely not as sophisticated as Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. It's more geared towards children, with a classic Disney feel. Kind of like My Neighbor Totoro meets Pinocchio or The Little Mermaid. But it is very, very charming and Ponyo is adorable. Miyazaki's storytelling skills are finely honed, and in this case much tighter than the often messy Howl's Moving Castle. If you go in expecting some fun, escapist entertainment and not a masterpiece, you should be satisfied, and moved.
4	SlrSoapbox	90 _92nd
One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, both visually and aurally. It's charming, cute, sweet, a good twist on the Little Mermaid story, and made with love. However, this suffers from the usual problem of Miyazaki movies in that the ending is rushed...and that song at the end is TERRIBLE. Still, I'll watch anything Miyazaki and it's yet another triumph from the world's greatest animator.
4	Nathan S	4 _74th
Just about the most charming thing in the world. The animation is brilliant. The lines are a little more primitive (or amoebic, as Spunkie cleverly put it), but every frame is packed with vibrant detail. The water looks especially terrific. It may lack the thematic substance of Miyazaki's more notable works (it does contain a little of the typical environmentalist concerns) but his humanism is in overdrive.
4	Zealot185	52 _31st
It could have turned out to be a fun, family-oriented feature in the vein of Kiki's Delivery Service (don't expect the next Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke), but Ponyo fails at explaining any sort of central conflict, and at introducing a variety of eccentric characters that you come to expect from Miyazaki. The surreal imagery is, however, fantastic.
3	veeqdee	80 _88th
I don't know why but this is the first Miyazaki film I really enjoyed. It's incredibly sweet & cute & despite not being a fan of anime, I vastly preferred it over the mainstream western animations of the last decade. But I wasn't a fan of the Goddess of Mercy. Besides looking like she climbed out of Sailor Moon, her appearance negated the humanness of the other characters, erasing their struggles and doubts in a rather uncinematic fashion. Stole the show unfairly.
2	eveelun	72 _48th
The visual style is as well-crafted as any Miyazaki film, but the story isn't quite as deep (most of the film deals with friendship and overprotective fathers). It's fine for younger audiences, but doesn't have the replay value of Spirited Away or Mononoke.
2	emtilt	62 _48th
(English dub) Definitely weak by Miyazaki standards. It skirts the line between whimsical fantasy and nonsense, and at times can fall on either side. This script definitely needed more work, and probably only made it to production in this state because of the name behind it. The animation is inconsistent - at times it is truly inspired, at others it is cheesy. Targeted at a younger audience. The English dub is hit and miss, and what the hell was that song at the end?
2	Jeb	91 _82nd
Ponyo on a Cliff is a sparkling and conversantly animated family film that is redolent and resonant of other Miyazaki fulfilments. Less intricately refined and precocious than say Spirited Away. More cheerful and harmless.
2	Ranald	80 _73rd
Simply plotted, but completely adorable.
2	astrakhan	73 _28th
Possibly the first Ghibli film not to do much for me. I enjoyed the setting, the weather, and fantastical mythological elements. Hated the child characters, especially Ponyo in girl form. Too much of this film is simply taking place on a child's level with nothing of interest for the grown-up. There's nothing more vomit-inducing than seeing the recently potty-trained claiming to be in love with each other. Foreigner sang "I wanna know what love is" and they were 39.
2	naikou	50 _41st
While Miyazaki's trademark overbearing environmentalism and hatred for the human race are fully present, the characters are at least more believable than in Mononoke or Nausicaa. The story is dull - there is absolutely no tension or conflict - but this might be alright for very young children. Imaginative animation and a solid soundtrack bring this one up from a 30 to a 50.
2	Efrye	80 _74th
Don't let the trailers and the awful theme song fool you: Ponyo may be targeted at an even younger audience than Miyazakis other works, but he still knows how to entertain viewers of all ages, and how to make them accept a world where waves have eyes and fish grow legs without a second thought.
2	Okkervil	90 _96th
"Ponyo" is basically animated perfection. Certainly aimed at a younger audience, more so that many of Miyazaki's other works, in many ways it is reminiscent of "My Neighbour Totoro". That however should not put off adults & doesn't prevent "Ponyo" from being one of Miyazaki's very finest works. "Ponyo" is genuinely funny, moving & sweet, and full of lovely animation and several beautifully judged scenes. Not Miyazaki's deepest work, but perhaps his most endearing.
2	OzGrenouille	75 _37th
Childish. i loved it.
2	TarantinOle	85 _90th
So cute. Not since Totoro have Miyazaki created such charming and innocent characters. The master himself really captures the beauty of a child.
2	Jimmy Suede	82 _77th
A very cute movie, with wonderful animation. However, it's tempting to rate it lower due to the almost inexplicable world-threatening crisis and Ponyo's role in thwarting it. The kids' innocent affection was endearing enough that the fate of the world didn't need to hinge on their true love. But the film really was charming, such that I didn't take it too seriously. Just a quibble, but the movie poster makes it look like there's CGI involved. There is none, nor does it need any.
1	willofgaia	65 _15th
Serious misfire from Miyazaki.
1	DMCrimson	73 _20th
One of the strangest Miyazaki movies considering it's unusual world and head-scratching "where-is-this-even-going" plotline. This didn't resonate with me as much as his other works, which are also explore unfamiliar child-wonder lands but with better execution, characters, and ideas. I agree with other reviews that wish this script underwent more revisions. Try this after watching his other classics.
1	Moribunny	65 _65th
The Little Mermaid done right.
1	cruelclown	65 _44th
One of Miyazaki's lesser works.
1	pilgermann	70 _52nd
I loved the gentle and somehwat meandering quality (though there are moments of excitement) of the film, and the artwork is like a beautiful storybook, but I didn't feel fully absorbed in it. I did like that the musical score wasn't modern in any way, and it was rather lovely. Well worth your time.
1	Ytadel	8 _93rd
I somehow had it in my mind before watching that this was going to be low-stakes, zero-action Miyazaki - Totoro with a goldfish girl instead of a giant catbear, basically - so I was kind of delightfully shocked by the spectacle of wizards and goddesses and flooding towns and car chases against tsunamis that unfolded before me. Yet the emotional impact was still clear and impactful. The children aren't as convincingly childlike as some other Ghibli films, but I really enjoyed it a whole lot.
1	ozymandius10	70 _55th
The animation is amazing, but the story wraps up far too quickly. The ending comes very easily, and it seems like the main characters don't have to overcome many challenges at all.
1	angrypierre	81 _76th
Beautiful, touching, but above all cute. If you don't like your anime saccharine, then this will not be for you. Coincidentally watched this as the third of a triptych with Grave of the Fireflies and Pom Poko. Quite the progression there and no mistake.
1	PeaceAnarchy	84 _77th
Cute and pretty, it's a very enjoyable children's tale. The story's simple but expertly crafted, with never a dull moments.
1	weirdyoda	93 _91st
It has been a year since I saw this movie in Japan without any subtitles, and now I finally know what they were saying! Beautiful, heartfelt, magical, elegant, original, and a bit strange, everything we expect fom Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's 2D masterpieces. Major negtive points to Disney for the absurd radio Disney style remix of the theme song at the end though. Solid performances from Liam Neeson and the Bonus Jonas.
1	Spunkie	70 _84th
Ponyo is a real relief after Howl's tissue mismatch. It's hard to describe the level of detail and vibrancy of this animation. The ever ameobaic textures match well with the perception of reality of a child. Being born into new millenia has it's moments. I hope the generation on the rise gets influenced by Miyazaki's permeating message.
1	frederic_g54	8 _77th
One of Miyazaki's best, very much reminiscent of "My Neighbor Totoro". Nice, very nice...
1	mr rigard	42 _19th
Good Gawd Almighty! Ponyo (the character) was supposed to be cute and adorable?? She's fucking loud and obnoxious!
1	muutanet	72 _68th
Awesome mermaid variation. Beautifully done and cheerful and harmless. The story was a bit narrow and imagination was not as free as in the other Miyazaki films.
1	NathanDarko	90 _79th
Ponyo, Miyazaki's neweest masterstroke is full of brilliant and cute scenes. He's spreading his magic charme from North to South, and created a wonderful movie for the whole family. Maybe this one is a bit more for the younger generation compared to chihiro or howl's moving castle but it's an awesome movie in any way!!
1	moraesfelipe	75 _80th
Ponyo is not Miyazaki' greatest, but must be certainly one of his cutest.
1	BurstBubble	95 _80th
very fun movie, not my favorite of Miyazaki's films, but still it's awesome.
1	omgfridge	7 _65th
Stunning animation and an impressive list of voice actors made this a good movie. Held back by a choppy narrative which prevented the adventure to unfold and after 100 minutes it all felt a bit empty.
1	Evan Waters	94 _90th
A real triumph for Ghibli, yet again. Visually it's amazing, and the story actually balances disaster, bravery, family bonding, and silliness quite well. The ecological angle fits well into a story of a world uprooted.
1	kurenai	80 _29th
Charming and with impressive visuals but with a meandering and unfocused story. While Miyazaki's intentions are clear and his imagination is as fruitful as ever, he should consider external input on his screenplays.
1	filmfreak88	75 _66th
Not one of Miyazaki's best. But even his lesser works are better than most.
1	misterlizard	80 _86th
Simple story, beautifully told. It's a simple retelling of the little mermaid story with buckets of Miyazaki charm thrown on top, combined with dramatic elements that play upon the Japanese cultural fear of tsunamis and the power of the ocean.
1	dunbar	70 _44th
It's sort of hrrrr, mmmm, errrr, gaaah in it's effects on me (sorry for the lack of elegance, I cannot articulate that into any standard language). Of course the animation is beautiful, polished, gorgeous studio Ghbli stuff, but that's where our little tale ends really. Aside from the pretty pictures you're dropped into a pretty empty pool, swimming about in some vast body of water, with no coherent thread or story to latch on to. It's almost Miyazaki doing mediocre Disney fairy tale.
1	wrexsol	83 _34th
The English dubbing was very well done, even though I've been told that to get the most out of anime you have to watch it with subtitles or original dubbing. My question to this is "Why?" If I'm sitting there watching subtitles then I can't pay as much attention to the emotions the artists spent painstaking hours on making convincing. I enjoyed how expressive the movie was through art and fantastic direction. If the dubbing took me out of the experience, I cannot remember when it happened.
1	mauldin8302	65 _12th
Very surreal, though I guess I should expect that from Miyazaki. It was not a masterpiece. It was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen classic, "The Little Mermaid," but it came across to me like something manufactured to be watched while taking hallucinogenic drugs. It had beautiful and vivid animation, but the story was bland and lacking in any type of conflict or challenge to overcome. The tremendously talented voice dubbing actors pull only enough weight to turn this minnow into a guppy.
1	goremeat	60 _43rd
Soft and dreamy story about childhood responsibility and growth - Ponyo lets its children explore adult responsibilities without losing an eye for the imaginative world - but without really settling into its own ideas as well as Totoro. Not the best Ghibli but not bad.
1	Leonardis	87 _55th
This was never my favorite Miyazaki movie. Five-year-olds falling in love seems a little hard to believe when you think about it, and the film also has a bit of drag in the middle. I don't typically go romance films, but this was still told beautifully well and the animation is some of best I've probably ever seen. Someone give Sôsuke's mother a mom of the year award. Her scenes had my constantly dying of laughter. Not Ghibli's strongest film narratively, but still very much worth seein
1	Amadeus	60 _10th
Miyazaki's weakest link. Disappointment.
1	lex	85 _67th
Miyazaki has reached his peak in terms of animation with Ponyo. Less serious than his other more recent works, so what it has going for it instead is all charm and heart, and it's nothing short of beautiful.
1	TheEscapist	59 _17th
Really boring to be honest, this might have worked as a short film but not as a standard feature. Ponyo is a really annoying character and almost nothing happens in the plot. Visually it's nice at times but not nearly enough to make this worth watching. Probably fun for kids but clearly not made for me.
1	VengefulKBM	80 _75th
I really enjoy Ponyo. Though at times it threatens to be a little too cutesy for its own good, it never quite crosses that threshold, and the sheer Miyazaki-an creativity is on a wonderful overload.
1	Corbad	75 _67th
Neither the world-ending stakes nor Fujimoto's character are ever properly established, somewhat marring the finale, but the kids are adorable and easily innocent enough to smooth over the "she needs a man to become human" angle. Ponyo's pattering feet and enormous grin as she runs with the tsunami and Lisa's sensitive parenting and reckless driving are the highlights here, and they're delightfully memorable.
1	jacobclark12	77 _69th
I feel like its pacing is very, very strange, but besides that Ponyo is a delightful animated film that says a lot even while being geared towards kids more than other Ghibli films. It has a lush environment both in its animation and its score to the point that it at times just sucks me into its world. The pro-environmentalism themes are appreciated yet subtle, but by the conclusion they are largely abandoned for a simpler message which helps the film feel more focused and true to itself.
1	cairosmith	20 _12th
Honestly really bad.
1	SuperSui	91 _98th
There is a fish. Magic happens. Now she is human. More magic happens. Disastrous Water action. Magic strikes again. Everything is fine. And everybody is ok with it? Nice
1	gyrro7	72 _29th
too cutesy-poo
1	mwestcott	92 _78th
Hayao Miyazaki has created a piece of work here that is nothing short of art. Each frame is so carefully realized that they could all appear in museums and still be considered beautiful. The story is cute and even white knuckle intense in some parts. As well as flawed and perhaps a touch to long. Nothing comes close to how astoundingly gorgeous the film is as a whole. Possibly Studio Ghibli's best looking film.
1	shinySinger	87 _68th
PONYO PONYO-PON UHHHH I FORGOT HOW THE SONG GOES,,,,

Average Percentile 61.42% from 3453 Ratings