Yes it is most certainly a Japanese Animé/Manga film from none other than director Hayao Miyazaki of Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away fame. Is it good? Yes. Is it as goos as Miyazaki's other two films? ...eh, sure...why not. (The answer is probably no.)

The animation is your usual Japanese cartoon-schtyle-pictures-that move. This version of Ponyo is the dubbed American version; for example, there were no name changes from what would have been the original.

This was somewhat confusing but it kept true to the culture of the land of the rising sun so that we'll give them. Fair play. Liam Neeson voices a character that resembles The Child Catcher or some form of questionable paedophile.

Fujimoto is Ponyo's father and Ponyo, played by Noah Cyrus, (presumably related to Miley) is a magical fish who wants to and has somehow got the power to become human. The story seems to be based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid (pretty sure that was overheard...somewhere.)

This version of the film really has an all-star cast including Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey and one of the Jonas Brothers(!) This is a movie for those of us who are animation nerds at heart, those of us who would like to show our children an odd approach to a cartoon or for those of us who enjoy availing of hallucinogenics.

Confusion, terror, laughter and confusion again were the general feelings felt throughout - give it a watch if you're curious.

Emer Molloy