Here are the next series of hi-res Ponyo photos. I don't know which ones to pick up, so I'll just grab them at random and we'll see what I get. As always, be sure to click on the photos to see them in their full size, and you can appreciate all the amazing detail and color.
The illustrated storybook style of this movie is remarkable. The backgrounds are absolutely stunning, and look as though they were drawn entirely by watercolor pencils. You can easily see brushstrokes in the textures.
As a compelling contrast, the characters are simpler and more iconic than in past Ghibli films. Lighting and shadow are kept to a minimum; flat, solid color is emphasized here. There's also a jerky, hand-drawn element to the character designs, as you've seen from some of the Ponyo pics on earlier posts. It's highly reminiscent of Miyazaki's one-off comics that he draws on occasion.
I can't wait to see how everything comes together on the big screen. I also can't wait to get my hands on the art book, which should be spectacular.
5 comments:
That first screenshot is a big, big spoiler...
Anyway...Ponyo is an artistic triumph. Yet, I can't help but think that Americans are too jaded to enjoy a film like this, so full of innocence and classical delicacy. The character animation is very fluid and nuanced, like the old Russian animated features and so unlike the popular conception of "anime". The narrative is like a classic folktale, yet free of cynicism; it remains character-driven despite its whimsical surrealism. Do such masterpieces ever have a chance here, in the USA? Though I love this film, I can't imagine it becoming popular here. The weltanschaung of my generation certainly doesn't allow for refined, life-affirming art to be treasured. And, naturally, Michelle Bachmann will probably libel it as "leftist propaganda". What a queer bird the frog are (to quote Ogden Nash).
No, I wouldn't say that shot is a spoiler. I don't know why it's a spoiler, or how it fits into the overall film. These pictures were the ones supplied by Studio Ghibli to the press, so I'm sure they know what they're doing.
And Michelle Bachmann? Ha, ha, ha, I love that woman. She's a never-ending source of comedy. There's no hope in guessing what she'll say next. You're making the mistake of using logic and reason. Those are not her strong suits.
I've seen it (I couldn't resist). It's a good audience pleaser and full of new (and familiar) experiences though I'm someone who's been disappointed by everything Miyazaki has done after Mononoke. I really not a fan of his increased use of illogical fantasy, magic, and weird stuff.
These days Miyazaki is a master at stories for stirring emotions but I feel like alot of times, things will pop up and not carry any logical sense and he explains (or cheats) them away through magic or fantasy. That is he uses magic as an easy device to get to the next story point or create whatever emotional response he wants on screen.
Before Mononoke, he relied less on that.
More on Ponyo (no spoilers but slightly revealing): There are more exciting parts in this movies than anticipated. The ending was too familiar (one of my gripes). Anyway without getting more into it, I think Miyzaki fans will be happy with it overall.
I can't wait to watch this! But I have to... =/
i like it. it's modern, fairy-taleish and... i dunno...chipper!?
i like the fact it has a cool, young mother character who's very much present and alive. ^^
it seemed so contemporary, and yet indeed a return in some way to his great work before mononoke in some strange way...
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