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On closer inspection "Ponyo" looks like a beautiful children's picture book full of amusement, drawn with pastel colors, which comes along with a heartwarming story, loving characters and a great message. It literally celebrates the unspoiled, naive and therefore probably purest affection of two children who have sought and found each other. It doesn't matter that both are only five years old; love and friendship knows no age limit.
And of course, before you start to judge the movie too harshly with its peaceful plot, you have to consider that it was really meant for the very youngest. If you consider this aspect, then "Ponyo" is a wonderfully magical movie, that takes you back to your own carefree childhood for a while and shows that sometimes everything just works out fine; the world doesn't always have to be depicted that badly.
Add to that a great reference to the increasing pollution of the seas and you have a movie that will enchant both the little ones and the grown-ups. With this Miyazaki has created his most innocent and childlike movie and Joe Hisaishi's maybe finest score to date, which should be something everyone should grow up with, in order to remember - many years later - the wonderful carefree time we once had as children.
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