Ponyo Reviewed by an Autist

If you're someone who has a family with young children and wants to have a fun movie night with them, then Ponyo may be the choice for you. Ponyo is strikingly beautiful in its animation style, which is sure to please young children and anyone who appreciates animation. The storyline about the titular character is familiar to the one from The Little Mermaid but is more lighthearted and innocent without the danger of an evil villain, so it is safe enough for really young kids to enjoy. The movie has no shortage of cute moments that can make young viewers relate to the characters really well.

All that I have to say about this movie is that the elements set it apart from The Little Mermaid, which is about a mermaid wanting to become human. Ponyo is not just the absence of a villain, Ponyo having magical powers, or Mother Nature throwing herself off balance, but also because Ponyo was young and started as a fish when she bonded with a young human boy named Sōsuke, whom she didn't have to win over with a singing voice because he accepted her for who she is. What makes me believe that Ponyo and Sōsuke's chemistry is more hopeful than Ariel and Eric's is that they're more innocent due to their young age, which makes it the perfect start for them being childhood sweethearts with plenty more time to bond after Ponyo decides to become human at the end of the movie. Whereas with Ariel and Eric, they were jumping the gun to marry in the end, which would explain the discussion surrounding their relationship that seemed to be doomed to fail.

Overall, this film is a fun and sweet movie for the whole family where young children and their parents can enjoy and inspire them with nostalgia as they grow older for generations to come. Ponyo is an example of Studio Ghibli movies having more magic than Disney movies. I rate this movie a 9 out of 10.