Research evidenceResearch evidence — scores and sourced research

Scored entertainment-first on WhatSphere's content-balance model 4

Its director stated on the record that "when we got together with our staff members to produce Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, we found that one of them had just had a child, Therefore, in the product…" 1. Its director stated on the record that "the most important thing is that even within such an environment, children grow up, they learn to love and they enjoy living in that environment, I think what…" 2. Its director stated on the record that "there are so many ships in the animation sea that are computer driven, that I think we can have at least one that's just a log raft that we can row by hand" 3. Taken together, the content-balance model places it entertainment-first at 9 of 100 4.

The receipts — every claim above is sourced
  1. 1
    Creator statementdirector: "When we got together with our staff members to produce Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, we found that one of them had just had a child. Therefore, in the production of this film, the members of staff w…"Screen Anarchy, Miyazaki press conference, Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, November 2008 source ↗
  2. 2
    Creator statementdirector: "The most important thing is that even within such an environment, children grow up, they learn to love and they enjoy living in that environment. I think what is most important is that parents and ch…"FanBolt, Hayao Miyazaki interview, 2009 source ↗
  3. 3
    Creator statementdirector: "There are so many ships in the animation sea that are computer driven, that I think we can have at least one that's just a log raft that we can row by hand."Collider, Hayao Miyazaki interview, Comic-Con/Los Angeles, August 2009 source ↗
  4. 4
    Content balanceAdvocacy 9 of 100, tier entertainment-first.WhatSphere content-balance model, score_version 1

WhatSphere presents the sourced record; it does not cast the judgement. Every statement above is drawn from a stored, sourced row — shown beside it — and nothing is asserted beyond what those receipts support.

Data updated March 22, 2026Scored, pending verification.Think a score is wrong? Submit a correction.

Synopsis

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.

Young MaleYoung FemaleMature MaleMature Female
Primary audienceYoung Women
Targeted

Quadrant Scores

Young Men
84
Young Women
86
Older Men
14
Older Women
16
Advocacy9
Entertainment

Audience Representation

LGBTQ+
0

Where to Watch (US)

Stream
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Rent
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Buy
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Score version: v1Data confidence: 100%How are scores calculated?

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Advocacy Over Time in Animation

The average advocacy score of Animation titles by release year, with this title marked. Higher is more advocacy-driven.

25507519512026
Average advocacy score of Animation titles by release year
YearAverage advocacyTitles
195102
195202
195702
196702
197042
197703
197803
197902
198102
198202
198314
198402
198502
1986012
198704
198827
198944
199003
199106
199233
199305
199413
199515
199634
199738
199803
1999213
200028
200129
200218
200318
2004212
200529
2006013
2007011
200828
200925
201026
201104
201213
2013311
201456
201544
201646
201726
201857
201969
202048
202169
20221011
2023228
2024710
2025513
202605
This title (2008)91

This title (2008): advocacy 9 · explore Animation

Cast & Crew

Naomi Kasugai (director) · Kenji Imura (director)