The Cinematheque

“Heralds a return to the child-like wonder of Miyazaki’s enduring My Neighbour Totoro. And what do you know? It’s another masterpiece.”

Alex Lucas, Empire

This enchanting hand-drawn marvel from Miyazaki Hayao, ​“the greatest of all animators” (Roger Ebert), provides a whimsical meeting of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid with the Japanese nautical folktales of ningyo, literally ​“human fish.” It centres on the friendship between a five-year-old boy named Sosuke, son of a sailor, and a magical goldfish named Ponyo, young daughter of a sorcerer dad and a sea-goddess mom. After their chance encounter, Ponyo yearns to become human. To be expected from Studio Ghibli, Ponyo is awash in pure, unbridled imagination and visual fancy — but it’s the tender love, humour, and devotion exhibited by Ponyo and Sosuke that form the emotional heart of the film.

Note: In consideration of little kiddos in attendance, Ponyo screens in its English dubbed version.