Miyazaki's Latest Film

If you've never heard of Hayao Miyazaki or seen one of his classics of animation, you are truly missing out on the work of an amazing auteur director. His films, including Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro, are some of the most imaginative and inspiring of any genre. His works seem to transcend the medium of animation while also highlighting the amazing breadth and scope traditional animation encompasses. He has been dubbed the "Japanese Disney," but this comparison belittles Miyazaki's originality and artistry. Miyazaki eschews the modern approach to animation, such as 3-D computer technology, focusing on hand-drawn, traditional animation and draws the majority of the cells himself. I find his approach refreshing, although it is looking backward to animation's earlier days.

His newest film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, has been released in Japan and will be coming to the United States this August. It's about a fish girl/mermaid named Ponyo and the young boy who finds her, and the movie traces their adventures together. I am truly excited for this, as it promises a heart-warming, simple tale with a good message. With the voice talents of such Hollywood notables as Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, and Liam Neeson, the American dubbing is sure to entertain, although I usually prefer the original Japanese with subtitles.

New images and a poster have surfaced and I thought I would share them. I hope this film finds a large American audience.



Source: Cinema Blend