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Ponyo

Ponyo is a 2008 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ponyo is a 2008 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows a goldfish-like girl who befriends a five-year-old boy named Sōsuke and wants to become human. It was released in Japan on July 19, 2008, and later became a major international box-office success.

Plot

The film follows Ponyo, a magical fish-like girl who escapes the ocean and is rescued by Sōsuke, a five-year-old boy living near the sea. Their bond drives Ponyo’s wish to become human, while the use of magic causes dangerous upheaval in the world.

Production

Ponyo was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. It was released in Japan by Toho in 2008 and is known for its hand-drawn animation style and fantasy setting.

Reception

The film was a commercial success and earned more than US$204 million worldwide. It is widely recognized as one of the most successful anime feature films ever released.

Release and titles

The film’s Japanese title is Gake no Ue no Ponyo, which translates roughly to "Ponyo on the Cliff." An early English title used for the film was Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

Key facts

  • The film is an original Studio Ghibli production written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
  • Its story centers on Ponyo, a goldfish-like creature who befriends a human boy named Sōsuke.
  • Ponyo wants to become a human girl, and her magic disrupts the balance of the natural world.
  • The film was first released in Japan by Toho on July 19, 2008.
  • It grossed over US$204 million worldwide and became one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time.
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Canadian context

Ponyo has been widely available in Canada through international theatrical, home-video, and streaming releases, and it is commonly discussed as part of Studio Ghibli’s influence on Canadian anime and animation audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ponyo?
Ponyo is a 2008 Japanese animated fantasy film by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli about a fish-like girl who wants to become human.
Who directed Ponyo?
Ponyo was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
When was Ponyo first released?
It was first released in Japan on July 19, 2008.
What is Ponyo about?
It follows Ponyo, a magical goldfish-like creature, and Sōsuke, a young boy who befriends her as she tries to become human.
Was Ponyo successful?
Yes. It grossed over US$204 million worldwide and became one of the highest-grossing anime films.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo
    Supports: Basic film identification, plot premise, Japanese release date, worldwide box office, and title information.
  2. Disney D23 — https://d23.com/a-to-z/ponyo-film/
    Supports: Plot summary, Japanese and U.S. release dates, and key character relationships.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/ponyo
    Supports: Alternative plot summary and film characterization as a Miyazaki adaptation of Little Mermaid themes.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and identification of principal characters.