Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli, we’ve been thrilled to watch some favorites on the big screen this summer: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and—yesterday—the film that started it all for our family, Ponyo.
My wife discovered a Ponyo DVD at the Hoboken library back in (I think) 2009. I had never heard of Hayao Miyazaki, wasn’t remotely interested in Japanese animation, and thought, “Meh—whatever.” I had no idea the impact that one film would have on my life.
What grabbed me—beyond the sheer beauty of the hand-drawn animation—was the story’s shape. It felt completely different from the Disney-style narratives I grew up on: weird and delightful detours, a strong current of wonder, and no villain. No evil to defeat—just care, courage, and the natural world as a living presence. We were hooked, and so were our kids. Over the years we’ve watched Ponyo many times (I’m pretty sure we own the DVD) and added more Ghibli films to our regular rotation.
What it’s about (spoiler-light)
A five-year-old boy, Sōsuke, finds a curious little goldfish who longs to be human. Their friendship tips the balance between sea and shore, bringing on a wild storm, worried parents, and a test of whether kindness and trust can set things right.
The Little Mermaid… but reimagined
Ponyo nods to Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, but Miyazaki flips the emphasis. Instead of sacrifice and romance, it’s about choice, play, and the steady love between children and their families. The sea is a character, mothers are anchors, and the film treats nature with reverence and joy.
We don’t sit down for movies together as much as we used to, so seeing these in cinemas has been a gift. The whole family came—my mom included, who hadn’t seen most of them—and it’s been a treat to share them with her, too.
Coming in September: Howl’s Moving Castle. Then in October, Spirited Away (my #1 favorite). I saw it twice at Wayfarer Theaters earlier this summer and will happily go again. After that is The Boy and the Heron—which, frankly, was a bit too weird for me—but the older ones… Ponyo, Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away… absolutely love them.
If you’re curious about screenings near you, the schedule is here:
https://gkids.com/ghiblifest/?gad_source=1#schedule