Who directed Studio Ghibli’s 2008 film Ponyo?

Hayao Miyazaki directed Studio Ghibli’s 2008 film Ponyo.

Miyazaki also wrote the film’s screenplay and helped shape its hand-drawn visual style. Ponyo follows Brunhilde, a goldfish-like being who escapes from the sea and becomes friends with a five-year-old boy named Sōsuke. The film combines fairy-tale ideas with imagery inspired by the sea and coastal landscapes.

Ponyo premiered in Japan on July 19, 2008, and became one of Studio Ghibli’s major box-office successes. It was distributed internationally by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Joe Hisaishi composed the music, while the English-language version featured voices including Noah Cyrus and Liam Neeson.

A common mix-up is confusing Ponyo’s director with Goro Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki’s son. Goro directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill, but not Ponyo. Ponyo was also not directed by Isao Takahata, another co-founder of Studio Ghibli.