Ponyo

So the little man and I went to see Ponyo recently.  It was the first time I took him to the movies alone and I was nervous that he wouldn't pay attention and we'd have to leave.  But I wanted to see Ponyo and he has liked all the Miyazaki movies that we've watched.  So off we went and I have to say it was a most enjoyable movie.  The boy watched the whole thing and wasn't bored once although he did try to have a conversation about the movie with the boy in the row in front.  The animation looked a little different than his other movies, rougher in places, more fluid in others.  The storyline is a take on "The Little Mermaid."   Ponyo is a little goldfish who falls in love with Sōsuke, a five year old boy.  Defying her father, she goes to Sōsuke and tries to stay with him.  But her father, a sorcerer, does not wish for her to be human so he enlists her mother, a sea goddess, to get Ponyo back.

It was such a sweet movie with a nice message about saving sea life.  Like I said, the animation seemed rougher/sharper in some places like for the sorcerer, but was very fluid and soft for Ponyo and the water scenes.  It was a nice choice since it showed the character of each scene.

I was also impressed with Noah Cyrus (Ponyo) and Frankie Jonas (Sōsuke).  Both did a great job on the voices.  I was afraid because sometimes the voice over actors are awful (Castle in the Sky), but everyone did a fine job.  Other voices include Tina Fey (Sōsuke's mom), Matt Damon (Sōsuke's dad), Liam Nelson (Ponyo's dad), Cate Blanchett (Ponyo's mom) and as the old ladies in the nursing home: Lily Tomlin, Cloris Leachman & Betty White.  It is such an amazing cast!

It was definitely worth our time to see Ponyo and I'm glad we got to see it in the theaters.  And it was enjoyed by both the under 5 and the over 25.