Hayao Miyazaki, a prominent filmmaker of many popular Japan animated feature films, is back with his new animation hits, "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" (Gake no Ue no Ponyo). It is Miyazaki's ninth film for Ghibli. The plot centers on a baby fish/mermaid in the sea named Ponyo who becomes a human girl. In pursuing her goal, she befriends a five-year-old human boy, SÅsuke. The film was released by Toho on July 19, 2008, in theatres across Japan on 481 screens—a record for a domestic film. The film's distributor Toho announced that, by 3pm, the first day box office earnings had already reached 83% of the opening day figure for "Spirited Away," which went on to gross a record-breaking ¥30.4 billion (US$284 million). In final result, "Ponyo" grossed ¥10 billion ($91 million) in its first month of release, and surpassed ten million viewers in its first 41 days, compared to 31 days for "Spirited Away," 44 days for "Howl's Moving Castle," and 66 days for "Princess Mononoke." Now, the animation film is ready for all home cinema collectors, the Japan version DVD with English sub is available for purchase at YESASIA.
Plot: Five year-old Sosuke lives high on a cliff overlooking the Inland Sea. One morning, while playing on the rocky beach below his house, he discovers a goldfish named Ponyo, her head stuck fast in a jam jar. Sosuke rescues her and keeps her in a green plastic pail.
Ponyo is fascinated by Sosuke. Sosuke feels the same about Ponyo. He tells her, Dont worry, Ill protect you and take care of you. But Ponyos father Fujimoto once human, now a sorcerer who lives deep under the sea forces her to return with him to the ocean depths.
I want to be human! Ponyo declares, and determined to become a little girl and make her way back to Sosuke, Ponyo escapes. But before she does, she empties the Water of Life, Fujimotos precious store of magical elixir, into the ocean.
The sea waters rise. Ponyos sisters are transformed into enormous fish-shaped tidal waves that climb as high as Sosukes house on the cliff. The chaos of the ocean world envelops Sosukes little town and it sinks beneath the waves.
A little girl and a little boy. Love and responsibility. The sea and life itself. In an age of nervous anxiety and uncertainty, "PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA" is Hayao Miyazakis unreserved depiction of the story of a mother and her child.
The Japan Times gave the film four out of five stars, and praised the film's simple thematic elements and its visual scheme, and compared the film to Miyazaki's classic animation "My Neighbor Totoro."
Critics at the Venice International Film Festival generally had high praise. Wendy Ide on Times Online said Ponyo "is as chaotic and exuberant as a story told by a hyperactive toddler," and gave it 4 stars out of 5.
The movie was also rated #2 on Dentsu's list of "2008 Hit Products in Japan", after the Wii console.
BUY "PONYO ON THE CLIFF" ON YESASIA
ALSO AVAILABLE:
- Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (DVD) (Special Edition) (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)
- Ponyo was produced like this - Hayao Miyazaki's Thinking Process (Making) (Blu-ray) (Japan Version)
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Plot: Five year-old Sosuke lives high on a cliff overlooking the Inland Sea. One morning, while playing on the rocky beach below his house, he discovers a goldfish named Ponyo, her head stuck fast in a jam jar. Sosuke rescues her and keeps her in a green plastic pail.
Ponyo is fascinated by Sosuke. Sosuke feels the same about Ponyo. He tells her, Dont worry, Ill protect you and take care of you. But Ponyos father Fujimoto once human, now a sorcerer who lives deep under the sea forces her to return with him to the ocean depths.
I want to be human! Ponyo declares, and determined to become a little girl and make her way back to Sosuke, Ponyo escapes. But before she does, she empties the Water of Life, Fujimotos precious store of magical elixir, into the ocean.
The sea waters rise. Ponyos sisters are transformed into enormous fish-shaped tidal waves that climb as high as Sosukes house on the cliff. The chaos of the ocean world envelops Sosukes little town and it sinks beneath the waves.
A little girl and a little boy. Love and responsibility. The sea and life itself. In an age of nervous anxiety and uncertainty, "PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA" is Hayao Miyazakis unreserved depiction of the story of a mother and her child.
The Japan Times gave the film four out of five stars, and praised the film's simple thematic elements and its visual scheme, and compared the film to Miyazaki's classic animation "My Neighbor Totoro."
Critics at the Venice International Film Festival generally had high praise. Wendy Ide on Times Online said Ponyo "is as chaotic and exuberant as a story told by a hyperactive toddler," and gave it 4 stars out of 5.
The movie was also rated #2 on Dentsu's list of "2008 Hit Products in Japan", after the Wii console.
BUY "PONYO ON THE CLIFF" ON YESASIA
ALSO AVAILABLE:
- Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (DVD) (Special Edition) (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)
- Ponyo was produced like this - Hayao Miyazaki's Thinking Process (Making) (Blu-ray) (Japan Version)
