When was Ponyo released in Japan?
Ponyo was released in Japan on the 19th of July, 2008, by distributor Toho on 481 screens, a record for a domestic film at the time.
Questions about Ponyo
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How much did Ponyo gross worldwide?
Ponyo grossed over $203 million worldwide, making it the eighth-highest-grossing anime film of all time at the time of its release.
Who directed Ponyo and what studio made it?
Ponyo was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. It was his eighth film for the studio and his tenth as a director overall.
What inspired Hayao Miyazaki to make Ponyo?
Miyazaki was prompted to create Ponyo when producer Toshio Suzuki suggested he make a film aimed at children. He then spent time in the seaside town of Tomonoura in Setonaikai National Park in 2004 and 2005, which established the film's setting and tone.
What is the origin of Ponyo's birth name Brunhilde?
Brunhilde is a deliberate reference to the eldest of the nine legendary Valkyrie and to the character Brunnhilde in Richard Wagner's opera Die Walkure. The film's music also references Wagner's opera.
How wide was Ponyo's theatrical release in the United States?
Ponyo opened on 927 screens in the United States and Canada on the 14th of August, 2009, the widest U.S. release for any Studio Ghibli film. By comparison, Spirited Away had opened on 26 screens, Howl's Moving Castle on 36, and Princess Mononoke on 38.