Ponyo (2008) Gake no ue no Ponyo (original title)

Director:

Hayao Miyazaki

Writer:

Hayao Miyazaki (written by)

Release Date:

14 August 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Welcome To A World Where Anything Is Possible.

Plot:

An animated adventure centered on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a goldfish princess who longs to become human.

Plot Keywords:

Sea | Moon | Love | Ocean | Sea Goddess

Awards:

6 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Tomoko Yamaguchi	...	Risa (voice)
Kazushige Nagashima	...	Kôichi (voice)
Yûki Amami	...	Granmamare (voice)
Jôji Tokoro	...	Fujimoto (voice) (as George Tokoro)
Yuria Nara	...	Ponyo (voice)
Hiroki Doi	...	Sôsuke (voice)
Rumi Hiiragi	...	Fujin (voice)
Akiko Yano	...	Ponyo no imôto-tachi (voice)
Kazuko Yoshiyuki	...	Toki (voice)
Tomoko Naraoka	...	Yoshie (voice)
Shin'ichi Hatori	...	The Newscaster (voice)
Tokie Hidari	...	Noriko (voice)
Eimi Hiraoka	...	Kumiko (voice)
Nozomi Ôhashi	...	Karen (voice)
Akihiko Ishizumi	...	(voice)
Eiko Kanazawa	...	(voice)
Tomie Kataoka	...	(voice)
Shiro Saito	...	(voice)
Mutsumi Sasaki	...	(voice)
Akiko Takeguchi	...	(voice)
Yusuke Tezuka	...	(voice)
Keiko Tsukamoto	...	(voice)
Ikuko Yamamoto	...	(voice)
Michiko Yamamoto	...	(voice)
Yoshie Yamamoto	...	(voice)
Cate Blanchett	...	Granmamare (voice: English version)
Noah Lindsey Cyrus	...	Ponyo (voice: English version) (as Noah Cyrus)
Matt Damon	...	Kôichi (voice: English version)
Tina Fey	...	Lisa (voice: English version)
Frankie Jonas	...	Sôsuke (voice: English version)
Kurt Knutsson	...	The Newscaster (voice: English Version)
Cloris Leachman	...	Noriko (voice: English version)
Liam Neeson	...	Fujimoto (voice: English version)
Jennessa Rose	...	Kumiko (voice: English Version)
Lily Tomlin	...	Toki (voice: English version)
Betty White	...	Yoshie (voice: English version)
Carlos Alazraqui	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Bob Bergen	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Johanna Braddy	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Marsha Clark	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
John Cygan	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Jennifer Darling	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Madison Davenport	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Courtnee Draper	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Crispin Freeman	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Jess Harnell	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Ella Dale Lewis	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Sherry Lynn	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Danny Mann	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Mona Marshall	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Mickie McGowan	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Laraine Newman	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Colleen O'Shaughnessey	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Jan Rabson	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Katelin C. Holloway	...	Old Woman on Boat (voice: English version) (uncredited)

Directed by
Hayao Miyazaki

Writing credits
Hayao Miyazaki		(written by)

Produced by
Steve Alpert	....	producer (english version)
Naoya Fujimaki	....	co-executive producer
Ryoichi Fukuyama	....	co-executive producer
Koji Hoshino	....	executive producer (as Kôji Hoshino)
Kathleen Kennedy	....	producer (english version)
John Lasseter	....	executive producer (english version)
Frank Marshall	....	producer (english version)
Hayao Miyazaki	....	executive producer
Seiji Okuda	....	co-executive producer
Toshio Suzuki	....	producer

Original Music by
Joe Hisaishi		(as Jô Hisaishi)

Cinematography by
Atsushi Okui		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hayao Miyazaki
Takeshi Seyama

Art Direction by
Noboru Yoshida

Sound Department
Koji Kasamatsu	....	sound effects (as Kôji Kasamatsu)
Eriko Kimura	....	recording director
Mika Yamaguchi	....	foley artist

Animation Department
Kaichi Fukudome	....	background artist
Sayaka Hirahara	....	background artist
Takeshi Imamura	....	assistant animation director
Ryouko Ina	....	background artist
Megumi Kagawa	....	assistant animation director (as Ai Kagawa)
Katsuya Kondô	....	animation director
Kitaro Kosaka	....	assistant animation director
Akane Kumakura	....	assistant color designer
Osamu Masuyama	....	background artist
Masako Nagata	....	background artist
Youichi Nishikawa	....	background artist
Kazuo Oga	....	background artist
Shiho Sato	....	background artist
Yohei Takamatsu	....	background artist
Yukie Tamura	....	assistant color designer
Atsuko Tanaka	....	key animator
Youichi Watanabe	....	background artist
Kazuko Yamada	....	assistant color designer
Akihiko Yamashita	....	assistant animation director
Kikuyo Yano	....	background artist
Michiyo Yasuda	....	chief color designer
Hiromasa Yonebayashi	....	key animator
Mitsuo Yoshino	....	background artist

Casting Department
Natalie Lyon	....	casting

Editorial Department
Mathieu Reid	....	color timer
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Naoya Fujimaki	....	musician (as FujiokaFujimaki)
Takaaki Fujioka	....	musician (as FujiokaFujimaki)
Masako Hayashi	....	musician: soprano
Joe Hisaishi	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Melissa Mathison	....	storyline consultant: English dubbed version

Thanks
Evan Golden	....	thanks
Katelin C. Holloway	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Studio Ghibli
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (as Nihon terebi)
• Dentsu (as Dentsû)
• Hakuhodo DY Media Partners (as Hakuhôdô DYMP)
• Walt Disney Company (as Disney)
• Mitsubishi (as Mitsubishi shôji)
• Toho Company (as Tôhô)
• Taikei Office (as Teikei sakuhin)
• Asahi Soft Drinks Company (in associacion with) (as Asahi inryô)
• Lawson (additional support)
• Yomiuri Shimbun, The (additional support) (as Yomiuri shimbun)

Distributors

• Castello Lopes Multimedia (2009) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Gkids (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pachamama Cine (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Pan Vision (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Toho Company (2008) (Japan) (theatrical) (as Tôhô)
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Cinema Mondo (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (2009) (Austria) (all media)
• Encore Films (2009) (Singapore) (all media)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Golden Village Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (all media)
• Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK) (2009) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Intercontinental Video (2009) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Intercontinental Video (2010) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Lucky Red (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Optimum Releasing (2010) (UK) (all media)
• Orlando Films (2009) (Israel) (all media)
• Pan Vision (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)
• PlayArte Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Pony Canyon (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Pony Canyon (2009) (Japan) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2010) (Germany) (all media)
• Walt Disney Company, The (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Walt Disney Company, The (2009) (USA) (all media)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2009) (France) (all media)

Other Companies

• Anime Torotoro  animation cooperation
• Asahi Soft Drinks Company  special thanks
• Brains Base  animation cooperation
• Continental Far East  Dolby consultant
• Digital Circus  foley design
• Dogakobo  animation cooperation
• Gonzo  animation cooperation
• Headquarters  post-production facilities (US version)
• Imagica  digital film recording
• Imagica  prints
• Nakamura Production  animation cooperation
• New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• Pug Point  casting coordination
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services (US version)
• Studio Cockpit  animation cooperation
• Studio Khara Digital-bu  animation cooperation
• Studio Takuranke  animation cooperation
• Sumida Triphony Hall  music score recorded at
• Tatsunoko Productions Company  animation cooperation
• Technicolor  release printing
• Tokyo TV Center  sound recording studio
• Yamaha Music Communications  theme song

Also Known As:

"Gake no ue no Ponyo" - Japan (original title)
"Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" - Hong Kong (English title) (imdb display title), Japan (English title) (imdb display title), Singapore (English title) (imdb display title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX (as Dolby Digital Surround EX) | DTS-ES (6.1 channels) | Dolby Digital (English-language version)

Certification:

South Korea:All | Hong Kong:I | Singapore:G | Taiwan:GP | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:AL | Belgium:KT | USA:G (certificate #45429) | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/4 (dubbed version) | Portugal:M/6 (subtitled version) | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Australia:G | Mexico:A | New Zealand:G | Sweden:7 | Ireland:G | UK:U | Denmark:7 | Brazil:Livre | Malaysia:U | Germany:o.Al.

Company:

Studio Ghibli

Trivia:

The opening 12 seconds, involving vast schools of fish and undersea creatures, required 1613 pages of conceptual sketches to develop.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the storm, when Sosuke, Ponyo and Lisa are preparing noodles, Lisa brings a plate to the table with ham on it after Sosuke and Ponyo have closed their eyes. In the next wide shot, the white plate has vanished.

Quotes:

Lisa:So what's your Mother like, then?
Ponyo:She's big and beautiful, but she can be very scary!
Sosuke:Just like my Mom.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Nostalgia Critic: Ponyo (#5.8)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Gake no ue no Ponyo

All the Enthusiasm of Finger Paints

Gake no Ue no Ponyo is like something you might get if you mashed My Neighbour Totoro into The Little Mermaid, then put the entire project in the hands of a five-year-old animation prodigy. The film is simultaneously stunning in its beauty and endearing in its simplicity, unrestrained enthusiasm walking the edge between inspired brilliance and mind-addling delirium.

In the opening sequences, literally thousands of individually animated fish swirl across the screen—a task Western animators wouldn't touch without a room full of computers. And yet the film's omnipresent water is defined by hard lines that seem to have been drawn in with crayons and coloured by pastels. In style and content, this is clearly a children's fantasy, and yet it isn't.

Remarkably, Miyazaki has yet again achieved what he created in Totoro: a film that draws the viewer indelibly into the world of children, reminding us of the time when every discovery was unique, every possession precious, and the agony of loss crouched behind every well-meaning mistake. Perhaps this is why the film has appealed more to adults than to children in Japan: children still live in this world. They need no such reminders.

Sousuke, a five-year-old who retrieves the eponymous Ponyo from the ocean, is not another Pinocchio-like screen caricature. He is a real boy. He is intelligent yet careless, deeply conscientious but distracted by impulse. He grounds us in a world that wavers between the real and the surreal.

Wide-eyed wizard Fujimoto, voiced with narcoleptic mania by comedian Tokoro Joji, is by far the most rational of the film's fantastical creations. He's an oddball, but he makes sense. But when waves begin to lap at the doorstep to Sousuke's hilltop home and the townsfolk jovially pile into rowboats to scud over a swollen sea of prehistoric fish, we begin to wonder whether this is the real world or some beatific daydream. Miyazaki draws no clear distinction.

Gake no Ue no Ponyo is a children's love story, driven with monomaniacal ferocity by Ponyo and Sousuke's pure mutual affection. Composer Joe Hisaishi underscores this intensity, calling up mighty swells of strings to accompany Ponyo's first ascent to the surface, and later evoking Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries in a stunning sequence where Ponyo chases down a speeding car while running atop a cascading tsunami of gigantic fish.

While the film loses much of its energy—though none of its eccentricity—in the final act, Miyazaki has nonetheless succeeded in creating yet another modern fairy tale. It is a simple, pure vision, guilelessly washed across with a devoted kindergartener's finger paints.