Disney’s Ponyo, a G-rated kids movie created by Japan’s animated film master Hayao Miyazaki, opens today in theatres nationwide.  American audiences may remember Mayazaki’s Spirited Away, an Oscar-winning animated film.  Ponyo, already a huge success in Japan, is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale The Little Mermaid.

After seeing the Ponyo movie trailer, I decided to take my daughter to see the movie this weekend.  I like to take my kids on movie dates one at a time.  It gives me some quality time with each of my kids and, truth be told, it is easier and less expensive than taking all of the kids to see every new movie.  This will be a great movie for my youngest because it shows what little siblings can do – the voice of Ponyo is Noah Lindsey Cyrus (Miley’s little sister) and the voice of her pal Sosuke is Frankie Jonas (little brother to the Jonas trio.)

The reviews have been excellent so far.

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.  Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

With its ever-shifting world and palpable sense of magic, Ponyo captures the wonder of being a child.  It also presents an impassioned environmental message without lessening the entertainment value of the visually dazzling animated tale created by Hayao Miyazaki. USA Today | Claudia Puig 

To watch the image of a young girl burbling with laughter as she runs atop cresting waves in Ponyo is to be reminded of how infrequently the movies seem to express joy now, how rarely they sweep us up in ecstatic reverie. The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

Take your kids to see Ponyo and let us know what you think.

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