This Japanese anime feature from famed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki follows the adventures of a 5-year-old boy, Sosuke, and his burgeoning friendship with Ponyo, a goldfish princess who desperately wants to become human. After running away from and then being recaptured by her strict father, Ponyo — with some help from Sosuke — becomes more determined than ever to make her dreams come true. But will her wishes throw the entire earth off balance? | Add to Queue

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genres: Children & Family Movies, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Movies for ages 5 to 7, Movies for ages 8 to 10, Movies for ages 11 to 12,Animal Tales, Movies based on children’s books, Family Features, Japanese Movies, Fantasy, Family Feature Animation
INSTAFLICKA INDEX: (3)  |  REVIEWERS: Jonny (3), Craig (3), Phil (3)  |  PODCAST: S2E38

JONNY: “This is a wonderfully imaginative and highly stylized film. You can understand why it won so many Asian cinema awards. Every part of the ocean shoreline comes to life and the relationship between a boy and his pet goldfish feels innocent and pure.  The strange part is that this goldfish has a human head and is the daughter of an underwater bubble man and from what I could discern, Mother Earth. I think kids will enjoy this one, but the crazy and abstract plot and animation may throw American adult audiences for a loop.”

CRAIG: “Children may be fascinated by this visual adventure, but adults will likely lose their patience with this movie.”

PHIL: “ If Disney was a Japanese animation company, this is the sort of thing our kids would have grown up watching. Instead, they localized a Studio Ghibli joint and all of the visual splendor that comes along with that. The story is silly and the addition of the star power behind the voice acting did little to make it appealing to adults. Children, however, will fall in love with this film. Share it with a child you love/like/halfway give a crap about as soon as possible.”