Hayao Miyazaki Film Food — Part Five: PONYO
Here is the final installment of our Hayao Miyazaki film food editorial series. This one centers on the food in the classic animated film Ponyo. To read the previous four articles that we've posted, you can check them out here.
Miyazaki's movies are widely known for their warm colors, cute pets, brave characters, attractive storylines, and incredible attention to detail. But one of the most significant parts of any Miyazaki film is actually the food. Miyazaki uses food in specific ways to bring characters together, build their relationships, and add depth to the story.
The food in Ponyo serves two purposes: comfort and connection.
In the first food scene in the movie, Sosuke shares his sandwich with Ponyo. This simple action connects her to him, and makes her want to be human. This is supported by Ponyo’s refusal to eat when she is back with her father — she is refusing that connection. She does not want to be with her family, she wants to be with Sosuke.
Comfort food is seen shortly after this first sandwich scene, on the drive home from school, after Sosuke has lost Ponyo. Sosuke has turned to ice cream, as many of us do, to help numb the pain of his loss.
We see that Lisa is also one to indulge in comfort food when, after hearing that her husband wouldn’t be returning from sea that night, she wants to abandon the beautiful dinner she had been preparing, in favor of getting fast food. She ultimately doesn’t, but I definitely understand that sentiment.
At this point in the film, the food seems to serve the purpose of both connecting and comforting. Ponyo is now with Sosuke in human form and this is her first opportunity to actually talk to Sosuke. At the same time, there is a massive storm happening, the power is out, and Lisa needs to keep these young children calm. What better way is there to do that than with tea and ramen?
The remainder of food in the movie is used to help other people in the town. Lisa packs provisions before she sets out to help the old ladies at the senior center during the storm. The following day, Sosuke and Ponyo pack up similar food before they head out in search of Lisa. They end up giving this food to a mother and her baby, which is yet another connection — the mother has to eat the sandwiches so that she can feed her child.
While there isn’t as much food in Ponyo as there is in some of the other Miyazaki films we covered, it all serves a purpose. As we’ve seen throughout this article, food can serve many roles — in film and in life — and Miyazaki displays this masterfully in his works.
