- Sensibility: The magical nature of the film allows it to get away with a lot, but the powers of the two sisters and a bit about Haku's name feel a bit inconsistent.
- Cinematography: The character design, production design, artistry, music, and framing are all masterful. Every character exudes a unique style and liveliness that makes everything unforgettable.
- Energy: The constant introduction of new elements of the mystical world keep things moving, but a bit around train travel feels a bit slow.
- Narrative: The character's are all unique and thoroughly designed, with idiosyncracies that make the world feel real. The spiritual elements of the film, around family, fear,
perseverance, knowledge, and love are all deep enough to make the film's message profound and meaningful. The film's metaphor for the girl's life is the cherry on top that makes the story unforgettable.
- T-Points: The film received five bonus points: one for a brilliant scene going down a frightening staircase, one for the unbelievable imagery in the backgrounds and set-designs (particularly Baba's room), one for a dragon spreading blood all over a bedroom after a bunch of paper cuts,
one for a scene of a girl crying by a bush eating some food, and one for a scene where a dragon is made to swallow a bit of food.
While I'm partial to Ponyo, there's no doubt that this film stands as Miyazaki's and Studio Ghibli's seminal work. The film has a numinous quality that gives all the beautiful film-making a profound
meaning. This film is a shining example of how animation can be used to tell unique stories that could not be told otherwise.
Number of Watches: 5+
