Studio Ghibli Fest is a yearly event where several classic Ghibli films return to theaters for a limited time. This year's event started with one of Hayao Miyazaki's most overlooked films returning to the silver screen. Ponyo, despite being well-reviewed, rarely gets the attention or the focus that Miyazaki's other movies get. But why is this film so criminally overlooked, despite being a worthy entry into the Studio Ghibli catalog?

Ponyo isn't just overlooked at Studio Ghibli Fest. The film is rarely mentioned in general. While Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro get stage plays and pop-up stores based on them, Ponyo rarely gets noted. Even in retrospectives of Miyazaki and Ghibli, Ponyo is seldom given anything more than a passing mention acting almost as a footnote to Miyazaki's legendary career. Even internet memes and discussions overlook Ponyo despite other Miyazaki films being omnipresent.

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Ponyo

Released in 2008, Ponyo was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film follows Brunhilde, a young fish who is the son of magical wizard Fujimoto. However, when Brunhilde floats away, she is rescued by a young boy called Sōsuke, who names her Ponyo. This gives Brunhilde the desire to become a human, wanting to take the name Ponyo. However, Fujimoto disagrees, and this sets off a chain of events that will take Ponyo on a massive adventure and cause those living by the water to experience some strange events.

One reason for this film being overlooked is its age. 2008 was a weird time for Studio Ghibli in America. While the studio was becoming more popular in America, they were still not a household name. Thus, the movie got a limited release and was overlooked at the box office due to several other blockbusters launching around the same time. Additionally, the film being newer than Spirited Away means it hasn't had as long to cement itself as a nostalgic childhood film. However, this will likely change in the coming years as those who grew up with the film's home releases grow up and gain a more prominent cultural platform.

Ponyo is a beautiful film, packed full of stunning moments and stunningly realized sequences. But at the same time, it isn't as visually distinctive as other Ghibli films, meaning that it isn't as instantly recognizable as many of their other works. At the time of its release, American audiences were becoming more familiar with anime and its visual language by 2008, meaning that Ponyo didn't stand out as much as other Ghibli films making it feel less unique. Also, the film lacks a strange but instantly recognizable character in the vein of Totoro or No-Face. While this is not essential for a Ghibli film, the lack of one means that Ponyo gets less merchandise than its Ghibli counterparts. So it's in people's minds less often, leading to it simply getting less attention than the other films.

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Ponyo 2

When Ponyo arrived in America, many reviews argued that the plot was more straightforward than previous Miyazaki offerings, with some reviewers arguing that the pacing was slightly off. And it's easy to see why, as Ponyo is structured like a traditional fairytale and has a more dream-like narrative. Thus, older viewers might find Ponyo a little too simple. This means they'll be less keen to re-watch the film or talk about it online. Also, while the film's environmental subtext is excellent, it is more instantly noticeable than in other similar films. This may lead to some finding the story less enjoyable or having less desire to re-watch the movie.

Ponyo is a stunning theatrical achievement and a worthy entry into the Studio Ghibli canon. However, it is easy to see why the film often gets lost in the shuffle, overshadowed by many other Studio Ghibli movies. None of these reasons are the fault of the movie itself though. Instead, they are more a symptom of how and when the film was released in America. However, for those who want a pure slice of Ghibli joy, Ponyo is worth seeking out, and maybe, in time, the film will reach the level of popularity and fame that the studio's other movies have reached.