Disney’s John Lasseter releases Miyazaki Japanese animation hit in English on Blu-ray and DVD *** 3 Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

Ponyo, hit Japanese animated feature in English from Disney

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 3/27/2010 – “I’ve been a big advocate at the Disney company of getting the Miyazaki films out there for the DVD releases as well as the theatrical releases,” says Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter. “I believe that once you watch a Miyazaki film you get hooked. You want to see it again. I tried very hard not to change Miyazaki’s vision. His movies are so deep and so unique.”

“I get inspiration from my everyday life,” says Ponyo director Hayao Miyazaki. “I don’t make films to be message films.” Lasseter says that sometimes we may not quite understand, Miyazaki’s films, but that’s how he intended it. Lasseter, who directed the actors for the English soundtrack for Ponyo, says that the actors were cast to feel natural to American ears without changing the intent of the original Japanese-language film.

The film’s voice cast includes Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Cloris Leachman, Betty White, Lily Tomlin and introduces Noah Lindsey Cyrus as Ponyo and Frankie Jonas as Sosuke.

Ponyo is the animated story of Sosuke, a five year old boy who finds a beautiful goldfish trapped in a bottle. He releases the tiny creature and names his new friend Ponyo. She confides in Sosuke that she one of the daughters of the wizard and alchemist Fujimoto (Liam Neeson) and sea goddess Gran Mamare (Cate Blanchett). Ponyo magically transforms herself into a human girl. What will that do the natural balance of things?

Disney presents a Studio Ghibli hand drawn film. Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki creates a bold, imaginative vision of a magical world from a child’s point of view. This is the first film from Miyazaki available on Blu-ray. Miyazaki is the creator of the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and of Howl’s Moving Castle.

Ponyo will appeal to small children. Older children may find the story to fantastical to believe. Ponyo was inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale The Little Mermaid. It incorporates a very contemporary concern for nature. The classic 2D animation is beautiful, but may seem dated to audiences expecting 3D animation. Ponyo was the number one film in Japan in 2008 and the 8th highest grossing film in Japanese history.

Ponyo bonus features include The World of Ghibli, a multi-layered interactive experience in the lands of Ponyo, Kiki, Castle or Totoro. Also included in this feature are: Creating Ponyo, Ponyo & Fujimoto, The Nursery, Behind the Microphone: The Voice of Ponyo,  Producers Perspective: Telling the Story, Scoring Miyazaki, The Scenery in Ghibli, and  Original Japanese Trailer

Ponyo

• Blu-ray $39.99, 2-Disc DVD $29.99
• Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki
• DVD Release Date: 3/2/10
• Written By: Hayao Miyazaki
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Presents A Studio Ghibli Film
• MPAA: G