8/8/2009

in

Miyazaki's award-winning film is headed for the U.S.

Lindsey Weedston

Ponyo is an animated film by the award-winning creator of "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving Castle." It has already won an award in Japan, and it is set to hit U.S. theaters on Aug. 14.  
  
Hayao Miyazaki's new film scored several big-name celebrities for the voice acting of the U.S. version, writes the Wall Street Journal. These include Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, Betty White, and Tina Fey. Some of the children will be voiced by young actors like Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas.  
  
According to MTV.com, "Ponyo" is about a boy who meets a goldfish that decides it wants to be a little girl. The film is partly a commentary on the abuse of the environment, which is a recurring theme in Miyazaki's work. Having grown up during World War II, his films also tend to comment on the futility of conflict.  
  
Katsuya Kondo, animation supervisor for "Ponyo," said in an interview with Animation World Magazine that the film is aimed at young children, and due to this, Miyazaki was "much more emotional than usual" during its production. He also said, "Our job is to put Mr. Miyazaki's perspective of the world into shape. . . . Mr. Miyazaki is always the base of everything."