Now, don't get me wrong. I ordinarily like how in most Ghibli films there are things left unsaid for the audience to infer or to figure out themselves. I like that there's small things that hinge on parts of Japanese culture you either get or you don't - and why shouldn't there be? But Ponyo just...

...what?

What the hell was happening there? What was Wet Bowie's whole thing? Why was the moon getting closer to the earth? People can just breathe underwater if a jellyfish is big enough or something? Whaaa? There's so many interesting pieces to that very pretty puzzle, but none of it seems to come from anywhere. It's exceptionally weird.

I hasten to add I actually friggin' loved it, I had a great time, it was beautiful as you'd expect, I don't regret having watched it at all. Just, y'know. What.

I also kinda love that Wet Bowie's design was just Miyazaki's Horrible Old Woman face, but as Willy Wonka.