Ponyo poster

Ponyo

2008101 minutesG
4.9
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
7.6IMDb
🍅 91%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 86/100Metacritic
🎬 7.8TMDb
📊 6.6Popularity
🏆12 wins & 20 nominations total
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Written by: Hayao Miyazaki
The son of a sailor, 5-year-old Sosuke lives a quiet life on an oceanside cliff with his mother Lisa. One fateful day, he finds a beautiful goldfish trapped in a bottle on the beach and upon rescuing her, names her Ponyo. But she is no ordinary goldfish. The daughter of a masterful wizard and a sea goddess, Ponyo uses her father's magic to transform herself into a young girl and quickly falls in love with Sosuke, but the use of such powerful sorcery causes a dangerous imbalance in the world. As the moon steadily draws nearer to the earth and Ponyo's father sends the ocean's mighty waves to find his daughter, the two children embark on an adventure of a lifetime to save the world and fulfill Ponyo's dreams of becoming human.

Box Office

Budget:$34.0M
Revenue:$202.4M
Profit:$168.4M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision6.6/10
Emotional Arc Impact1/10
Thematic Consistency7/10
Overall Score4.9/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Ponyo Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
5 min
3
Set-Up
10 min
4
Catalyst
15 min
5
Debate
25 min
6
Break Into Two
30 min
7
B Story
40 min
8
Fun and Games
50 min
9
Midpoint
70 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
85 min
11
All Is Lost
87 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
90 min
13
Break Into Three
93 min
14
Finale
97 min
15
Final Image
100 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Brunhilde, a magical goldfish, is curious and playful in the ocean. Her world is carefree and fantastical, setting a whimsical tone.

#2

Theme Stated

5 min

Themes of love, friendship, environmental balance, and the courage to grow are introduced. Ponyo longs to experience the human world.

#3

Set-Up

10 min

Fujimoto, Ponyo’s father, tries to protect her from humans. Ponyo escapes and meets Sosuke, a young boy, beginning her adventure in the human world.

#4

Catalyst

15 min

Ponyo transforms partially into a human after tasting human blood, creating magical disturbances and beginning the central conflict between sea and land.

#5

Debate

25 min

Can Ponyo safely navigate the human world without causing harm? Sosuke must also protect her while grappling with sudden magical chaos.

#6

Break Into Two

30 min

Ponyo becomes fully human temporarily, strengthening her bond with Sosuke. Together they embark on small adventures, facing the magical consequences of her transformation.

#7

B Story

40 min

Ponyo and Sosuke develop trust, loyalty, and friendship. They learn the importance of courage and compassion while navigating a world of magic and storms.

#8

Fun and Games

50 min

Magical flooding, whimsical adventures, and encounters with mystical sea creatures showcase Ponyo’s growing powers and the playful, imaginative heart of the story.

#9

Midpoint

70 min

The human and magical worlds collide in chaos. Ponyo’s magic causes a massive flood, escalating stakes and forcing both her and Sosuke to act decisively.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

85 min

Fujimoto struggles to regain control over Ponyo’s magic. Natural disasters threaten the town, and Ponyo must confront her responsibilities and desires.

#11

All Is Lost

87 min

Ponyo’s powers spiral out of control. Sosuke fears losing her, and the world teeters on the edge of disaster.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

90 min

Sophie reflects (narratively through magic and interactions) on love, responsibility, and courage. Ponyo and Sosuke realize they must act together to restore balance.

#13

Break Into Three

93 min

Ponyo and Sosuke collaborate to calm the flooding, using love and friendship to align her magic with human needs.

#14

Finale

97 min

Ponyo returns to a stable form, the flood recedes, and Fujimoto accepts her choices. The town is safe, and balance between the magical and human worlds is restored.

#15

Final Image

100 min

Ponyo and Sosuke happily walk together, their bond stronger than ever. The magical and human worlds coexist peacefully, showing growth, friendship, and harmony.