If you’ve ever wished you could step inside a Studio Ghibli film—not just watch it—Los Angeles just got a rare treat. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has opened an immersive exhibition dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo, the 2008 fantasy that turns waves, wonder, and childhood joy into pure hand-drawn poetry.
And instead of treating Ponyo like a “nostalgia classic,” the exhibit leans into what makes it special: it’s Miyazaki at his most tender, most playful, and most accessible for very young audiences—without losing any artistic depth.
Why Ponyo is the perfect Ghibli world to build a museum around
Unlike some of Miyazaki’s more mythic or complex stories, Ponyo is built around a simple, emotional engine: a goldfish-like girl who longs to become human, and a little boy who treats that longing as natural, not strange.
The film is loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” but it swaps tragedy for warmth. It’s not about punishment or sacrifice—it’s about transformation, trust, and the idea that love can be innocent and enormous at the same time.
That’s why a Ponyo exhibit hits differently: it’s not just “beautiful animation.” It’s a space that invites you to remember what it feels like to see the world with unarmored eyes.
What you’ll actually see inside the exhibit
This show isn’t a poster wall or a merch trap. The museum is showcasing more than 100 original materials from the production—rare artwork, sketches, and behind-the-scenes pieces that reveal how Studio Ghibli builds motion out of patience.
Expect highlights like:
- Original production sketches and artwork from Studio Ghibli
- A closer look at the film’s signature “watery” visual language—those flowing lines and hand-painted textures
- Displays that break down the traditional, hand-drawn process that made Ponyo feel alive long before “AI animation” became a buzzword
- A clear emphasis on craft: the idea that the human hand still matters in a world that’s rushing toward automation
The best part: it’s designed for kids (without dumbing anything down)
One of the smartest choices here is that the exhibit doesn’t treat children as “tag-alongs.” It actively invites them into the filmmaking process with an interactive stop-motion animation station—a hands-on way to learn how movement is built frame by frame.
It’s a quiet statement: animation isn’t magic because it’s easy. It’s magic because someone cared enough to make it, one moment at a time.
Why this exhibit lands right now
There’s an unspoken tension in modern creativity: speed vs. soul.
As AI tools creep into every creative industry, Ponyo becomes more than a charming film—it becomes a reminder of what handmade imagination looks like. This exhibit doubles down on that message. It celebrates traditional animation not as an “old method,” but as a living art form that still punches straight through the heart.
Dates, location, and what to know before you go
- Where: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles (Wilshire Blvd.)
- When: Opens February 14, 2026, running through January 10, 2027
- Access: Included with museum admission
- Extra experiences: The museum is also tying in screenings and family-friendly activities connected to the exhibit
If you love Ghibli—or you’re introducing someone to it for the first time—this is the kind of exhibit that works on both levels: it’s enchanting for casual visitors, and deeply satisfying for anyone who wants to understand how that enchantment gets made.
Bottom line
This isn’t just a celebration of Ponyo. It’s a celebration of animation as a human art—messy, meticulous, and miraculous.
You don’t leave with “fun facts.” You leave with a renewed respect for the hands behind the waves.
