Metacritic reviews

Don't tell Walt Disney, but Hayao Miyazaki really holds the keys to the magic kingdom.

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 is a work of great fantasy and charm that will delight children ages 3 to 100.

Best of all, Ponyo never ceases to be a genuine odyssey in short pants.

It’s essentially a stroll through a fantastically detailed pastel world, in which the plot is little more than an excuse for Miyazaki to dive into a world teeming with colorful (and sometimes prehistoric) life.

Though targeted at tots, Ponyo may appeal most to jaded adults thirsty for wondrous beauty and unpackaged innocence

Imagination spills across the screen in a bold, undeniable presence.

Traditional in the best sense.

Liam Neeson has gravely splendid pipes as Ponyo’s father, a once-human wizard who lives underwater and despises humankind for polluting the planet.

It's a movie for anyone who, like Miyazaki himself, can still happily commune with his inner five-year-old.