LOS ANGELES — An immersive exhibition dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki’s 2008 animated film, Ponyo, opened to the public Saturday at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, featuring over 120 original pieces of artwork from the film’s production.
The exhibit, titled “Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo,” showcases rarely seen hand-drawn sketches by Miyazaki, alongside art boards and interviews with the film’s animators. The film centers on Ponyo, a magical, goldfish-like creature who longs to become human after befriending a young boy named Sosuke and the resulting disruption to the natural world.
Curator Jessica Niebel noted the film was a deliberate departure for Miyazaki, who had previously focused on films geared toward older audiences, such as 1997’s Princess Mononoke and 2001’s Spirited Away. Ponyo was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, and designed with younger children in mind.
The exhibition’s design reflects this intention, with lowered sight lines and interactive elements. Visitors can interact with a movable figure of Ponyo running across waves and explore a large-scale replica of the green bucket Sosuke uses to carry Ponyo, designed for children to crawl inside. An interactive animation table allows guests to create their own stop-motion films using colorful sea creature cut-outs designed by Studio Ghibli.
Art boards by Art Director Noboru Yoshida are as well on display. According to Niebel, Studio Ghibli’s willingness to share these materials was remarkable, given their customary protectiveness of their work. “They keep their work close to their hearts and are very protective of them, so I was overjoyed,” she said.
The exhibit also reveals insights into Miyazaki’s meticulous creative process, including notes on character development. One sketch features the note, “Remember that Sosuke is a bright boy,” illustrating the director’s attention to detail in shaping the characters’ personalities.
Niebel, paraphrasing Miyazaki, emphasized the film’s appeal to both children and adults, stating, “What’s truly good for children is also good for adults.” The exhibition aims to convey the film’s “whimsy and wonder” while exploring its deeper themes.
