

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.
Score
Joe Hisaishi's 'Mother Sea' will live in your head rent-free.
Production
Miyazaki's love letter to his own son's childhood drawings.

Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Miyazaki demanded the waves be drawn like living creatures, not water—animators nearly revolted.
Ponyo's design was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's original Little Mermaid ending (she dies), but Miyazaki said 'absolutely not' and wrote pure joy instead.