Ponyo

The main protagonist of Ponyo is a little mermaid; a really tiny, five-year-old mermaid. The creature is found on a beach by a preschooler who immediately becomes fond of her. Ponyo is without a doubt one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most cheerful stories. Here, the classic theme of a friendship between a child and an animal is not at all sentimental and the motifs from Andersen’s fairytale culminate in an optimistic ending. At the same time, it is a great technical achievement. The film was drawn the traditional way, by hand. Watching the vividly colourful bottom of the sea is a pleasure in itself. Jellyfish carried by the current, octopus and water bubbles all take part in a fantastic dance. The port town where the boy and the mermaid grow closer is picturesque as well. It makes us want to go there on a carefree holiday or even spend our whole childhood in this town by the sea.

Karolina Kostyra

Hayao Miyazaki (b. 1941) is a Japanese director, animator and manga artist. Shortly after completing his studies in Economics and Political Science at Gakushuin University, he was employed as an animator. That was also when he met Isao Takahata, with whom he founded Studio Ghibli in 1985. His work is recognized and acclaimed all around the world, as evidenced by the Oscar for his animated film Spirited Away (2001).