Following the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ inaugural exhibition, “Hayao Miyazaki,” in 2021, the new exhibition “Studio Ghibili’s Ponyo” celebrates Studio Ghibli and the many elements of the traditional hand-drawn animation processes used throughout the film “Ponyo” (2008).
The exhibition opened on Feb. 14 and will run through Jan. 10, 2027. The opening included a screening of the film in 35mm.
The film tells the story of Ponyo, a goldfish-like creature who escapes from the ocean and is helped by a five-year-old human boy named Sōsuke after she is washed ashore while trapped in a glass jar. As they bond with each other, Ponyo desires to become a human girl, despite the devastating circumstances brought about by her acquisition and use of magic.
The English-language version was released in the U.S. in 2009 with a voice cast that included Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and Liam Neeson.
The magical water worlds, the unique flowing aesthetic of hand-painted drawings, and the film’s themes of transformation, human connections, and joy are on full display.
Featuring an exclusive donation of original materials from Studio Ghibli to the Academy Collection — some of which are being displayed in North America for the very first time — the exhibition includes over 100 materials that have been hand-picked by Studio Ghibli, including art boards, posters, a Studio Ghibli animation desk, and original hand drawings by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
The exhibition, which is supported in part by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, is curated by Senior Exhibitions Curator Jessica Niebel, with Assistant Curator Emily Rauber Rodriguez.
The Academy Museum is located at 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles and is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.
General admission tickets for the museum’s exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (age 62+), and $15 for students. Admission for visitors ages 17 and younger and for California residents with an EBT card is free.
For more information or to reserve tickets, go to: https://www.academymuseum.org/exhibitions/studio-ghiblis-ponyo.
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