Source: CCTV.com

09-03-2008 09:24

Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki eschews high tech computer graphics, picking up pencil and crayon for his latest film. It's an East-meets-West nod to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid". The animated feature is already a hit in Japan. "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" opened Sunday at the Venice Film Festival. The film is in competition for the coveted Golden Lion Award.

"Ponyo" tells the story of a goldfish who longs to be human.  Fate takes a hand when she is caught in the jam jar of a  5-year-old boy.

"Ponyo" tells the story of a goldfish who longs to be human. Fate takes a hand when she is caught in the jam jar of a 5-year-old boy.

The film draws easy comparisons to "The Little Mermaid" and "Finding Nemo."

Unlike 'The Little Mermaid,' Miyazaki's underworld setting is not pristine. Unlike 'Finding Nemo,' the undersea environment does not approach realism.

Miyazaki said despite the magic power of computer graphics he finds the old fashion pencil hard to let go.

"Ponyo" is to be distributed in the United States by Disney. The release date is still to be announced.

The film starts rolling out in European theatres toward the end of the year.