Ponyo: Trivia & Fun Facts

“Ponyo” (Official Studio Ghibli) is an animated feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released in 2008.

This time, I’d like to put together some trivia and fun facts about “Ponyo” While not essential for enjoying the main story, I think it includes some rather interesting tidbits.

*This article is an English translation of the original Japanese article, “【崖の上のポニョ】雑学＆豆知識集“

“Ponyo” Trivia & Fun Facts Collection

Ponyo’s initial concept was a frog.

In the final film, Ponyo was a fish girl, a goldfish princess, but the initial idea was for her to be a frog.

This fact has been mentioned by Director Miyazaki himself and can also be confirmed in early concept art (it’s briefly shown in the documentary “How Ponyo Was Born”).

Source: “Ghibli Textbook 15: Ponyo(ジブリの教科書15:崖の上のポニョ, in Japanese)”

Ponyo was modeled after the animation director’s daughter.

Ponyo is modeled after the daughter of animation director Katsuya Kond?. Furthermore, Ponyo’s father, Fujimoto, is modeled after Katsuya Kond? himself.

It seems Director Miyazaki had a firm idea of this, as he reportedly gave directions during the voice recording sessions, saying, “This is how Kond? is.” Fujimoto’s slightly haggard and tired appearance also seems to be based on Director Miyazaki’s impression of Kond?.

Sources: “Ghibli Textbook 15: Ponyo(ジブリの教科書15:崖の上のポニョ, in Japanese),” “The Place Where the Wind Returns, Continued(続・風の変える場所, in Japanese)”

Fujimoto is a former crew member of the Nautilus.

Although Fujimoto pilots a submarine called the “Ubazame-g?” (Basking Shark) in the film, there’s a backstory that he was once the only Asian crew member aboard Captain Nemo’s Nautilus from “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.”

Fujimoto deeply loves the marine ecosystem and, conversely, despises the destructive aspects of humanity. Perhaps his days on the Nautilus shaped this part of his personality.

He must have met Granmamare around that time, and he surely felt the true mystery of the sea.

Source: “Ghibli Textbook 15: Ponyo(ジブリの教科書15:崖の上のポニョ, in Jaoanese)”

S?suke’s name is taken from a novel by Natsume S?seki.

The protagonist’s name, “S?suke,” is taken from the protagonist of Natsume S?seki’s novel “The Gate.”

After the release of “Howl’s Moving Castle,” Director Miyazaki stayed in a vacant house in Tomonoura on the Seto Inland Sea for about two months, where he avidly read the works of Natsume S?seki in his spare time.

An early title idea for “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” was “S?suke Under the Cliff,” which comes from the fact that S?suke in “The Gate” lives at the bottom of a cliff.

Source: “Ghibli Textbook 15: Ponyo(ジブリの教科書15:崖の上のポニョ, in Japanese)”

Ponyo turned back into a fish due to Granmamare’s magic.

Towards the end of the story, Ponyo transforms into a half-fish, half-human form while passing through a tunnel, and then reverts completely to a fish after exiting it.

Although not explicitly stated in the film, this was the effect of Granmamare’s magic. Ponyo returned to her original form because she entered a magical barrier that Granmamare had created. Realizing this, Ponyo was reluctant to enter the tunnel.

The reason for creating such a barrier was likely “to show S?suke Ponyo’s true form.” Granmamare turned Ponyo back to her original form to test whether S?suke could still love her even after knowing her true nature.

Source: “How Ponyo Was Born(ポニョはこうして生まれた, in Japanese)”

Ponyo smells like fish.

There’s a scene where Ponyo escapes from Fujimoto for the second time, becomes human, and reunites with S?suke.

In that moment, Ponyo hugs S?suke tightly… and while retouching the key animation for this scene, Director Miyazaki jokingly mentioned that Ponyo smells like fish.

S?suke immediately recognizes the human Ponyo as the fish he rescued, but behind that romantic scene, the staff shared a laugh about the fact that “she smelled like fish.”

This should be seen more as an on-the-spot joke rather than official canon, but knowing this might add another fun layer to how you view that scene.

Source: “How Ponyo Was Born(ポニョはこうして生まれた, in Japanese)”

Granmamare’s true form is an anglerfish.

Perhaps the most shocking piece of trivia about “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” is the fact that “Granmamare’s true form is an anglerfish.” This was stated by Director Miyazaki himself.

I have summarized my personal thoughts on this matter in the article below.

Ponyo:The Truth of Gran Mamare and the Future Entrusted to Sōsuke -Hayao Miyazaki’s “Sorrow of Men” Series ③-This article explores the hidden truth of Gran Mamare in 'Ponyo,' re...

Source: “The Place Where the Wind Returns, Continued(続・風の変える場所, in Japanese)”

Director Miyazaki blasted “Ride of the Valkyries” while preparing for production.

During the pre-production period for “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” at his own studio, Director Miyazaki played Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” over and over.

He was drawing various storyboards but couldn’t create a definitive image. However, it was while “Ride of the Valkyries” was playing that the storyboard titled “Ponyo is Coming (Ponyokuru)” was born.

It was a picture of Ponyo standing on top of pitch-black waves, and it became the initial image for the scene in the film where Ponyo runs on the waves to meet S?suke.

Every time I watch “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea,” I’m in awe of Ponyo’s tenacity, but thinking about that scene with “Ride of the Valkyries” playing makes it less awe-inspiring and more like horror.

Incidentally, Ponyo’s real name, “Brunnhilde,” is the name of a Valkyrie from Norse mythology.

Source: “How Ponyo Was Born(ポニョはこうして生まれた, in Japanese)”

The images used in this article are from the “Studio Ghibli Still Images” collection.