Studio Ghibli Thoughts: Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
In what's probably a first, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is the first Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki film to specifically target the young children demographic, and this is represented by the five-year-old age of the two main characters, Ponyo and Sosuke. True to the brilliance of the studio, the movie still speaks to all other demographics despite its focus on children. One aspect of starring such young characters is apparent in the movie’s almost primal nature. Ponyo, the magical fish who causes an environmental catastrophe to become a human and live among them, and Sosuke, the simple boy whose uncorrupted goodness allows him to become fast friends with this magical creature, are not complicated by any other thoughts other than their pure desire. As much as they enjoy the tea that Sosuke’s mom prepares for them, they enjoy each point of life in the same innocent manner. Similarly, the environment around them is showcased with such primal beauty by Miyazaki and his artists, wh...