Ponyo
G
Some movies really make you think about how your life might have turned out if you had fallen in love as a child with a magical fish girl that desperately wanted to be human. "Ponyo" is one of those movies.
The Story
Starting with Hans Christian Anderson's classic story "The Little Mermaid," Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki fits it very loosely into a wild, magical world of his own making.
Sosuke (voiced by Frankie Jonas) lives seaside with his parents, Lisa (Tina Fey) and ship captain Koichi (Matt Damon). While playing in the water one day, he finds a strange human-faced "goldfish" trapped in a jar. After freeing it, he feels an instant connection with the fish and names her Ponyo (Noah Lindsey Cyrus).
Ponyo is no ordinary fish, though. She is the daughter of some magical creatures from under the sea. Her father, Fujimoto (Liam Neeson), is a former human and sorcerer now tasked with the duty of "maintaining the balance of the ocean" with special potions. Her mother is the mysterious and beautiful sea goddess (Cate Blanchette). And though Fujimoto succeeds in capturing Ponyo from Sosuke and returning her to the ocean, Ponyo has begun to realize she has some magical abilities of her own.
The willful little fish-girl begins to transform into a human so she can return to land and live with the boy she loves. In her escape, she unleashes devastating magic that threatens to destroy all human life on earth and return the sea to its ancient glory days.
As the oceans rises higher and higher -- and the moon is pulled dangerously close to the earth -- Ponyo and Sosuke form a deep and meaningful bond that must pass a cosmic test to determine whether they will be allowed to remain together and grow up as normal human children.
The Verdict
What we thought of the movie on its own terms
What Works: Miyazaki's animation is stunning. Especially when compared to the now-standard digital animation we've grown accustomed to, his shapes and colors and characters feel organic, nostalgic, and retro. The scenes of the ocean chasing the humans on land, of the underwater world swarming over Sosuke's flooded town, and even of Sosuke and Ponyo playing together in his house are mesmerizing and joyful to see.
They also serve a pretty good story. It's one we know, but it's told with a new boldness. Sosuke and his mom, especially, feel authentic and brave, especially in their early scenes together. The voice actors for the American version deliver quick, punchy dialogue that fits the style of the Japanese animation without being too distracting.
What Doesn't Work: "Ponyo" is very much intended as a kid's movie, so there's not as much challenging stuff going on under the surface, so to speak, as there is in some of Miyazaki's other films. Also, I was able to just go with all the weird, magical, other worldly stuff for most of the film, but by the end it kind of fell apart for me.
Don't get me wrong; the animation and story retain a certain magical feeling -- in a good sense -- all the way through. But the weirdness of it all kind of piles up and topples over in the last 20 minutes or so, especially when it slows down enough that you start thinking about what's "really" going on -- two five year olds making a lifelong love commitment to each other with all of their parents agreeing and wishing them well. Hmmm.
Content: "Ponyo" is rated G, though some parents of little kids will be concerned about "scary parts" (like the rushing flood and the children being left alone and crying for Mom). Others might be concerned about the spiritual implications of all the magic and Eastern religious influences.
Worldview
How the film's take on life compares to a biblical perspective
The world of "Ponyo" is built on ancient, Eastern religious philosophies, including the worship or influence of multiple gods and the reality of dangerous, powerful supernatural magic. Coming from Miyazaki, the magic feels a little more religious than the sometimes secularized version of magic that shows up in most Disney kids' movies.
From a biblical perspective, we understand supernatural power to come only from God or, as God allows, from His enemy the devil. The Bible includes examples of God, especially, but also the one He calls the Liar, using that power in impressive ways. Having said that, magic is a common device in storytelling that lets us look at old truths in news ways.
Although it feels a little weird for two five year olds to be swearing their undying devotion to each other in the name of love -- with one leaving behind her whole world and her family -- the film does seem to be making a point about love, marriage, and commitment.
Ponyo never once wavers in her intention to commit herself wholly to being human and being with Sosuke. She is ready and willing to forsake all the power of her family and her past to be with Him. He loves her, too, pledging to take care of her (with his mom's help, of course).
That kind of committed love is powerful and beautiful to see. It's a commitment people of every belief and background make in the name of love, to forsake what made them unique as an individual to become united to another person. The sacrifice is what gives the love so much weight.
We see a similar picture in what Jesus did for us, of course. He left behind the power and majesty of a throne in heaven to become human. He sacrificed who He was -- making Himself nothing, according to Philippians 2 -- out of obedience to His Father and love for us. And the Father gave the Son to make it possible for us to be with Him forever.
But it's possible to make such a sacrifice poorly, as well. In the name of love -- and not always genuine love -- we sometimes are willing to give ourselves, body and soul, to someone or something unwisely. We can be too eager to walk away from our past and the power that comes with belong to a loving family because we think we've found "once in a lifetime" love. We can be so ready to leap that we don't take the time to really look at what we're getting in to.
We need wisdom to know what to do with our hearts. Jeremiah warned that our hearts can lie to us. (See Jeremiah 17:9.) And Solomon urged us to guard our hearts, the wellspring of life. (See Proverbs 4:23)
True wisdom, we're told -- the kind that knows when to leap for love and when to wait for it -- comes from committing with everything we have to our love relationship with God. With Him, we never have to fear committing too much of ourselves, leaving too much of the world behind.
Questions
- Are you a fan of any of Miyazaki's other films? If so, which is your favorite?
- What surprised you about "Ponyo"? Did you think the ending lived up to the beginning?
- Do you think little kids are likely to enjoy this film? Why or why not?
- Did the religious and magical content of the film bother you? How do know when to be okay with magic in a story and when to challenge it as a false worldview element? Should you ever accept it? Ever challenge it? Is there a difference?
- Do you think Ponyo made the right choice? Do you think she'll regret it one day?
- Is it weird at all to have this kind of a love story between a couple of five year olds, even though everything is presented very innocently?
- More animated features come out every year. What's your most recent top 5? Which new ones are you looking forward to ?
