Liam Neeson is one of the silver screen's most recognizable faces, remaining a fixture in Hollywood for over 40 years. His dynamic career has featured the leading man tackling unforgettable roles in hits like Schindler's List, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, and Love, Actually. In 2008, Neeson shifted from a primarily dramatic actor to an action star with his standout role in the thriller Taken.
While the blockbuster brought Neeson back into the spotlight and led to more action films, Taken was not his best movie that year. Hayao Miyazaki's spellbinding anime film Ponyo also made its spectacular debut in 2008, and like all Studio Ghibli projects, it dominated the box office and attracted universal acclaim from moviegoers. Neeson starred in the English-language version as the wizard Fujimoto, which further helped the animated fantasy reach new fans. Let's revisit the beloved Studio Ghibli hit.
Neeson Joins a Star-Studded Voice Cast for the Animated Fantasy 'Ponyo'
Toho
The beloved Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli has been captivating audiences with its wondrous storytelling, vibrant visuals, and unforgettable characters since its inception in 1985. The trailblazing studio is the genius behind cinematic masterpieces like Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Howl's Moving Castle. In 2008, they continued to dominate the silver screen with the animated fantasy Ponyo, which tells the tale of the titular goldfish princess who yearns to become a human girl after meeting a five-year-old boy named Sōsuke, whom she washes up on the shore of his small fishing village.
As Ponyo (Noah Cyrus) spends more time with Sōsuke (Frankie Jonas), she begins to develop more human-like features as the two start to fall in love. However, their blossoming relationship comes to a screeching halt when Ponyo's wizard father Fujimoto (Liam Neeson) uses his wave spirits to bring her home. In an effort to defy her father and use his magic to make herself human once again, Ponyo accidentally messes with the balance of nature and the ocean and must find a way to save Sōsuke and his village from a devastating tsunami before it's too late.
Other famous movie stars who provided their voices for the English dub of Ponyo include Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, and Betty White, with Neeson's wizard character Fujimoto dwelling deep in an ocean city below the waves with Ponyo and her sisters while harboring a passionate disdain for humans, whom he believes cause pollution and destruction to the natural world. Ponyo
'Ponyo' Becomes Another Global Sensation for Studio Ghibli
Toho
Ponyo was screened at the Venice International Film Festival, where it garnered widespread praise from critics for its breathtaking visuals and immersive storytelling, as well as for providing a charming modern take on the Hans Christian Andersen classic fairy tale. The animated fantasy earned adoration from critics and audiences, receiving a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score. It grossed over $205 million at the box office, temporarily ranking as the eighth-highest-grossing anime film of all time (currently ranked number 10), joining fellow Studio Ghibli classics Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron, and Howl's Moving Castle.
The English version of Ponyo was also specifically praised and raved about due to the quality of the translation and retention of its overall uplifting message and moments. Famed critic Roger Ebert was also blown away by the finished product of the English dub and its undeniable success on the screen, as he awarded the animated film four out of four stars and wrote:
"There is a word to describe Ponyo, and that word is magical. This poetic, visually breathtaking work by the greatest of all animators has such deep charm that adults and children will both be touched. It's wonderful and never even seems to try: It unfolds fantastically."
Although Neeson's other 2008 blockbuster, Taken, undeniably helped alter his career trajectory and redefine him as a bona fide action superstar, Ponyo remains a revered piece of animation that continues to reach new audiences of all ages and is yet another fantastic entry in Studio Ghibli's illustrious catalog. Miyazaki made some seriously spectacular movie magic with Ponyo, and its overwhelming popularity proves that his and the studio's storytelling can transcend language and cultural barriers, making for a truly unforgettable viewing experience for fans. Ponyo is streaming on HBO Max.
