Posted: 05/21/2010
 

Ponyo

(2009)

by Jessica Machen



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Young children will love watching Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, the story is about a young boy, Sosuke, who finds, saves and befriends a goldfish princess named Ponyo. Ponyo’s father, a powerful sorcerer, dampens the friendship between the two when he brings Ponyo back to her sea home.

But Ponyo, with a taste for human food and the companionship of Sosuke, breaks out of her home, unleashes some powerful magic of her father’s and reunites with her friend, but this time, transformed into human form. The powerful magic that was unleashed upsets the balance of the sea and brings a severe storm to land. Sosuke’s mother leaves to help take care of the elderly at her workplace, while Sosuke and Ponyo are left behind. Scared and worried, they go on an adventure to find Sosuke’s mother.

This magical tale is enchanting and will leave children wanting more. The DVD/Blu-ray combo contains tons of extras, including the making of the movie, meet the characters and more.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released Ponyo on DVD and Blu-ray on March 2.

Jessica Machen is a writer and filmmaker currently living in Chicago.



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