Ponyo is sweet, elegant, and innocent. With probably the best animation in Miyazaki's career. Ponyo has so much heart and a rich story. You have to think who would hate it. I give this movie 94%.

Somehow, the word "charming" just doesn't say it. Unbearably cute and sweet, but also deeply beautiful at times. And, interestingly enough, while watching this I stumbled upon some of the most subtle, unexpected and delightfully out-of-place humor that I've ever had the pleasure of encountering in all my years of watching movies. And that factor of surprise makes these slipped in little jokes all the more funny. I would even go so far as to say that there are some moments in Ponyo that are hilarious. Also, one thing I love about Hayao Miyazaki is that, no matter how unrealistic or fantastic his stories get, he never explains any of it. None of the fable-like creatures or enchanted play lands are rationalized or given credibility. They simply exist, and I find that wonderful. I'm glad that he approaches his animation that way, and I'm glad that he made no exception in Ponyo. It's kind. It's warm. And it is a treasure.… Expand

Our family, mom, dad and three little girls (7,4, and 2) went to see this in the theater and loved it! Since then, my husband downloaded the Japanese language subtitled version and we have probably watched it at least a dozen times again and my kids sit through the ENTIRE thing enthralled. AND, we as parents actually enjoy sitting through it time after time. I think we like the subtitled version even more than the English version. It is really thought provoking for adults. I find myself thinking about its subtle messages during the day. My girls are drawn to it as well because the characters are funny and cute - but it's more than that - there is a magical quality that is missing from most kids movies today that it possesses. Go see it and give it a chance!… Expand

A simply delightful and charming film. I'm a late-comer to Miyazaki's magic and I'll admit that his work took a little getting used to, especially the fluid nature of some of his characters, such as the Great Forest Spirit in 'Princess Mononoke, but once I was able to let go and ride with the story I was hooked. I've seen 'Ponyo' 6 times at the theatre and by far the largest proportion of the audience were in their young twenties, followed by older adults and the smallest segment were young children, and the majority of them seemed slightly more than amused. In my opinion, this movie really is aimed at the adults who remember the magical world of the young, the intensity of friendship and are well aware of our impact on this planet. 'Ponyo' is another treasure from studio ghibli.… Expand

Pretty good - but do be aware Ponyo is aimed at a somewhat younger audience than previous Miyazaki opuses. I would say it is aimed at 7-8 year olds, where as Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle were probably more suitable for 12-15 year olds. But, as might be expected from this stellar animation genius, some of the sequences are still absolutely magical in the atmosphere they invoke. The storm sequence where Ponyo rides the waves, and the underwater sequences generally are as good as anything you will see. And the supporting characters in the old folk's home are beautifully realised, and there is a lot of emotional resonance and family sentiment. But it is nevertheless pretty slow, with a simple story, and it is primarily designed to be cute and engaging for little kids. So all credit to Miyazaki, who hasn't fallen into the Pixar/Dreamworks/Disney trap of continually ramping up the scale and graphics and humour to capture every demographic and maximise the financial returns. Definitely worth seeing, but a gentle delight, rather than a blockbuster. Little kids will still be loving this movie in 50 years, long after most of the contemprary cartoons have faded away.… Expand

I knew Disney was going to ruin this film by having voice actors that are related to those who we want to forget (e.g. Miley Cirus and the Jonas Brothers, I really hate these four idiotic dopes). Miyazaki, what were you thinking? Do you know that Disney is horrible now? Other than that, Ponyo is an okay film.

A really cute, humble film with a wonderful color palette.

Fantastic. A new great film for kids. Just as magical as Totoro.

Another classic by the greatest film-maker on the planet. Best the film of 09.

I think that this is one of the best films of the summer. I also think that Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonus were fantastic and Miaszaki was awesome!

I'm a pretty big Miyazaki fan so maybe I'm biased, but I had a huge grin on my face the whole time I watched it and enjoyed every moment of it.

Miyazaki once again proves that he's not just "the Japanese Walt Disney," he's the one and only true heir to the Disney crown: THE pre-eminent animator of the 21st Century. "Ponyo (On a Cliff By the Sea)" is easily a masterpiece. The story is very loosely based on (Hans Christian Andersen's) The Little Mermaid, but unlike the Disney (Corp.) semi-animated abomination of that name, Ponyo is never predictable, always light, exotic, stimulating, romantic, touching and breathtakingly beautiful. North Americans not familiar with Miyazaki's unique approach may find the story disconcerting at first. I hope that many will persevere, and allow Ponyo to forever raise their expectations of what animated features should be.… Expand

Do not believe the hype on this movie. It is a terrible, ugly, boring work by someone coasting on reputation. I give this movie 6 yawns.

A great disappointment from Ghibli. Ponyo seems to pander to younger, dumber audiences. The film looks promising, but if you've seen the trailer you've seen the whole movie. It has a serious lack of depth, both in plot and message. It was surprising compared to his other masterpieces, in its score (whose final song featuring the disney teeney boppers rapping,) its plot, and even its overall message. The only positive side of this film is the artwork.… Expand

What??? You have got to be kidding me. This gets an 89? What??? A cartoon movie with that high of a score you expect to be funny and/or very moving with a great story line and good animation. No. This is some kind of psychotic whacked out fantasy that only may be halfway cute if someone is stoned. Even then they will say it was bad. People, what is going on with ratings??? Where are the truly good movies? I mean really.... did they just quit being made years ago? We left the theater early as you would guess, but we were not the first ones to do so.… Expand

I love the directors previous films, but I have a problem with his repetitive work. Also, it had a poorly chosen English voice cast that doesn't compare to the Japanese version. Sadly, Ponyo didn't feel as fresh as Howl's Moving Castle or Spirited away, instead it felt like a spin off of Totoro.

I have always loved Miyazaki films and I was slightly hesitant going into "Ponyo". What I came out with was a euphoria beyond words. This movie represents all that is great in a masterpiece. Perfect characters are only followed by perfect dubbing and animation... not to mention the beautiful music that made it all come together. Let's be honest... there are a lot of crap movies coming out these days (Transformers 2, every "horror movie", every "spoof/mockumentary"), but it is films like "Ponyo" that make one believe in movies and humanity all over again. Love and possibility linger after this experience.… Expand

Boring! Lovely visuals only take you so far. At some point you need a story. Or good music. Or something.

One of the most magical films you will ever see.

A masterful work of art done my a master artist.

My husband and I walked into the theatre prepared to love this and did something we almost ever do: left after 45 minutes. We were bored. In spite of the reviews, there did not seem anything new or even special about this film.

Visually beautiful, light on story, and about as adorable as kittens in a basket. Ponyo is great for kids and rewarding for anyone looking for a fantasy land unlike anything you have ever seen. Expect to be cramped from smiling too much.

Hayao Miyazaki the director of ponyo has created his most kiddish movie yet. I am a big fan of Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle when I heard that the same director was making a film and it was coming to my theater I wanted to see it once it was friday. Well I failed I saw it on Sunday but I still saw it. I was a little upset but still a good film I wasn't expecting it to be so childish. But it still gave me laughs more chuckles though. To add on to that I think they picked the perfect cast for the movie. Tina Fey was a superb decision. Overall I think it's worth the cash.… Expand

Ponyo should run with the following disclaimer: Warning! Do NOT go to this movie expecting another Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away! If you are going to see Ponyo, note that this film is firmly targeted to the pre-tween audience. I am an ardent fan of Miyazaki's work, but Ponyo is the weakest film of his that I have ever seen. Yes, the visuals are stunning, but the story lacks the depth we have come to expect from him. Even Miyazaki's earlier works that are mainly targeted towards children (such as My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service) easily best Ponyo in plot and character development. If Pixar has taught us anything, it is that you can have all the beauty and all the technology in the world thrown up on the screen, but in the end, it comes down to the power of the story that makes a film great. The overzealous voice acting by the American actors further tarnishes Ponyo. Before Miyazaki was "discovered" by Disney, the less star-powered cast of voice talents used in the US versions of his films did a much better job of avoiding too much verve in favor of subtlety and color. Miyazaki is truly one of the all-time great masters of animation. It is a terrible shame that Ponyo may be his final work.… Expand

Of all the Miyazaki films that I have seen, this was the least interesting. I did not get a sense of wonder and awe that I had seen in his previous films. Ponyo did not do anything special that made me want to care about her. The mother character was terrible. Maybe it is time for Mr. Miyazaki to quit while he is ahead. DVD only!

A weaker Miyazaki film that suffers from too light narrative reasoning, and an ending that I found to make little sense or emotional impact. But the journey, visuals and characters are amazing and extraordinarily lovable. I just wish more and exciting things had happened with them.

The government isn't after the fish. This almost Henry Darger-like mermaid(because all the fish are curiously female) poses no threat to national security. Nobody wants to dissect this Vivian siren. That's the cliche of most American movies whenever there's a non-human creature on the loose. For instance, Ron Howard's "Splash", in which authorities track down the otherworldly entity with the intent to kill. "Ponyo" gets around this banality by making the mermaid's pursuer a benevolent one. As a result, the film is lacking in suspense, which may put off a western audience, largely used to shopworn tropes such as FBI agents in black coats and shades, and a chase of some sort. Starting with the mother, the incongruous sight of a fish equipped with a human girl's face, never alarms like it would, or should, in most filmic cases. If the fish-face did, Ponyo's notoriety would eventually get the law's attention with predictable results. Sophisticated as all Pixar films are, the collected works of this filmmaker truly diverges from animation's preordained roots as strictly a children's genre. "Ponyo" distinguishes itself through its naturalistic domestic scenes, which are virtually indistinguishable from the human interaction you'd find in a live-action film. A good deal of time is spent on establishing the relationships within a family unit, which may some find boring, as the mother tends to her son and his new playmate with great deliberation. The bar is raised, quietly, as these seemingly uneventful moments that establish character are more exciting than the gorgeous depictions of the girl's underwater world, and the subsequent hurricane above, because such lifelike simulacrum helps make the case for animation as being the equal of your so-called "serious" films. (NOTE: Dubbing is a necessary evil to attract larger audiences, but some of the dialogue, notably towards the end, is truly hideous.)… Expand

I usually love Miyazaki's stuff, but this was definitely one of his weaker films. It's got some good moments, but mostly I was left puzzled, bored, sometimes grossed out and kind of embarrassed by it. Some visuals were really great, but overall it feels like the scripted needed a lot more work than it got, and from there it's just downhill.