There has been a growing willingness in recent years for Hollywood to embrace a few Asian works and bring them to, or adapt them for, a North American audience. The most recent example of this is the animated film Ponyo (which looks just gorgeous by the way). The first Ponyo poster has been released. Check it out:
About the film:
Ponyo centers on a five-year-old boy’s friendship with a “girl-fish” who wants to be human and ventures out of her underwater world. The plot echoes elements from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid fairy tale, as well as traditional Japanese folklore, and boy’s character is based on Miyazaki’s own son, Goro. Miyazaki was reportedly directly involved in many aspects of the animation himself, preferring to draw the sea and waves himself. The movie debuted in Japan on July 19 and opened to roughly $17 million.
Here’s the Japanese trailer for it if you’re interested:
Ah, the massively overrated Miyazaki. This film looks like it’ll be good for the beginning and then meander in the middle with a completely tacked-on ending. Just like all his films.
the trailer colouration makes it look so 80’s, love it
I know that John Lasserter loves Miyakazi and that he’s got Disney/Pixar to seriously push the film.
but.. doesn’t anyone think that the poster looks a little TOO much like the ones for Finding Nemo? Even the logo design reminds me of it…
The U.S. poster does anything for me, but am looking forward to this film, as I do with all of the Ghibli movies.
*nothing*, not “anything”
Looks like a return to Totoro / Kiki teritory… a simple story, beautifully told. I much prefer Miyazaki’s personal stories over his fantasy epics (Spirited Away being the exception to the rule).
But who at Disney decided Matt Damon would be a good voice actor? He was crap in Team America!
…yes, I know that wasn’t him. But it’s all I can think of when I see him on screen :)
Not sure what to make of it, but I’ve liked all of Miyazaki’s movies, so I will definetly see this too. I just wish I had the option of seeing the Japanese version with subs in the theater instead of waiting for DVD.
And I just watched an old Thunderbirds movie on TCM for the first time. I kept on thinking of Team America and the Matt Damon puppet. I need to watch that movie again.
looks cool
I am willing to give anything this guy does a chance.
Can’t wait to see this. I absolutely loved Spirited Away, though I didn’t love Howl’s Moving Castle. But I’ll for sure be seeing this.
And according to Box Office Mojo, the movie has grossed already 176 million outside the US, damn! Miyazaki is like Asia’s Pixar!