Ponyo

[Midori]

Thanks to rocklobster for reviewing this:
http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=311

[Atria35]

It's a nice review, but I would have liked to hear some more about it- it's too short to get a good idea about what's in it/what it's about! Isn't this where Ghibli went back to hand-drawn animation, from the computerized Spirited Away?

What about the characters? Who are the main players?

What are the big differences between this and the original story?

[rocklobster]

Uh, I thought Ghibli always did hand-drawn.

[Atria35]

Uh, I thought Ghibli always did hand-drawn.

Nope. They moved away from it with some of their later films, which you can see in Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away- the art/animation quality is much smoother and streamlined that you get with hand-drawn. Miyzaki went back to hand-drawn with Ponyo. It was pretty big anime news, since very few animators do that.

[rocklobster]

Huh. Learn something new every day. I didn't know that at the time, or I would've certainly commented on it. That's why I love Studio Ghibli--they're just so pretty to watch!

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Atria, not quite true. Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away were mostly hand-drawn but had some computer assistance. Ponyo was a return to completely hand-drawn animation and a more child-like story.

[primetech]

I was never disappointed with the work that went into any of Miyazaki's anime, though. Even Howl's Moving Castle was mostly hand-drawn, with CG only in places it would be impossible to replicate the effect of what they wanted with hand-drawn animation and still retain quality.

In my opinion, the water in Ponyo was a little unusual... it seemed to have a more plastic and lifelike look to it than I expected, but on the other hand using CG water probably would have been even worse. And the lifelike look seemed to be implied by the plot of the entire movie too.

[Atria35]

It was a startling change for me when I first saw it, since before I had only seen Spirited Away and Howl's, which didn't use so much hand-art.

I was disappointed by the story, though. The end seemed rushed, and it had more of a feeling that it was for children, which most definitely isn't how it is for some of his films (Howl's and Nausicaa, I wouldn't show to anyone under 10).

[TWWK]

I agree with Atria - but even though it was meant for children, it didn't have nearly the tight plotting that either Kiki or My Neighbor Totoro have, for instance. It was a bit messy. I loved the animation, but I think Ponyo may be his worst film, and after giving him a pass for Howl's (which I enjoyed, but felt was uninspired, for Miyazaki at least), I'm starting to think that Miyazaki may have peaked.

[Atria35]

THe plotting! Yeah, that wasn't as good either. I think you may be right, and I hate saying that.