About the exhibition
Four and a half years after the Academy Museum’s inaugural exhibition, Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli’s PONYO celebrates Studio Ghibli and the traditional hand-drawn animation featured in its beloved 2008 film. Discover the unique, flowing aesthetic of this hand-crafted cinematic art, and the film’s themes of transformation and human connection, through hands-on experiences designed for all ages. These include an interactive animation table, where guests can create their own animated sequences, and a playful, immersive environment that allows younger visitors to step into the magical, oceanic world of the film.
Featuring an exclusive donation of original materials from Studio Ghibli to the Academy Collection—some of which are on display in North America for the very first time—the exhibition includes more than 100 rare materials hand-picked by Studio Ghibli, including art boards, posters, a Studio Ghibli animation desk, and original hand drawings by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
Studio Ghibli’s PONYO is curated by Senior Exhibitions Curator Jessica Niebel, with the support of Assistant Curator Emily Rauber Rodriguez.
Related Events
In-Gallery
Calm Morning: Earth Month inspired by Studio Ghibli
Families are invited to a sensory-friendly, environmentally-inspired morning featuring a stop-motion animation workshop.
Screenings
Ponyo
Ponyo focuses on the friendship between 5-year-old Sosuke and a magical goldfish named Brunhilde, the young daughter of a sorcerer father and a sea-goddess mother. After wandering away from her father’s four-flippered submarine, Brunhilde washes ashore and is discovered by the curious Sosuke. Now renamed Ponyo, her quick bond with Sosuke fuels her yearning to be a real girl, and they shoulder the cost of what that might take together. The vibrant and colorful hand-drawn animations are a visual delight for audiences of all ages, as Hayao Miyazaki builds a world filled with magical goldfish, wizards, and sea goddesses in this tale of how friendships can blossom anywhere—even in the ocean’s depths.
DCP
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Supported By
Studio Ghibli's PONYO is generously supported by GKIDS. Additional support provided by The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles. Academy Museum Digital Engagement Platform supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Technology solutions generously provided by Panasonic.