Ponyo: Film Comic All-in-One Edition

by Hayao Miyazaki

Relive the story of Ponyo and Sosuke in this full-color film comic!

Ponyo is a sweet-faced goldfish from a magical realm under the sea. One day, Ponyo’s curiosity takes her far from home. After accidentally hitching a ride on a jellyfish, Ponyo washes up on the shore and is found by Sosuke, a kindly human boy. Sosuke takes her home and does his best to make sure she’s happy and well-fed in the human world. But Ponyo’s father, a powerful underwater sorcerer, has sent out mysterious tidal forces to locate his daughter. Ponyo and Sosuke may be torn apart just when they’ve become best friends!

Experience the dynamic imagination of Hayao Miyazaki in this heartwarming love story!

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics

592 pages, Hardcover

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, you can't go wrong with Studio Ghibli and this book just continues to prove it. I LOVE the comic all-in-one editions, it's like reading the movie. I swear, it's so evocative, I don't feel like I'm reading, I feel like I am immersed in the movie.

If you have never experienced Studio Ghibli, I recommend watching a movie or two first before reading any of the books, as having that familiarity with the sounds and how the animation moves will help to make the books come to life. My personal favorite is Spirited Away. After the credits stopped rolling when I was watching it for the first time, I started it over and watched it again. It was THAT powerful to me.

So yeah, I'm a bit biased when it comes to whatever they produce. I'm going to watch/read it. I had never seen Ponyo before, but after reading this, I can easily believe that I will forget and think that I did!

I highly recommend anything that they produce, movie or book. Do yourself a favor and watch the movies and read the books. You will be doing yourself a favor. : )

5, because I CAN'T give less than that to Studio Ghibli, stars!

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC of this book to read and review.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ponyo Film Comic All-in-One Edition captures the same whimsical charm found in all of Miyazaki’s works, bringing the beloved film to life in a graphic novel format. It’s essentially a direct adaptation, taking scenes from the movie and presenting them as a seamless visual story, making it a great way to experience Ponyo in a new medium.

While Ponyo has never been my favorite Little Mermaid retelling, it’s still a beautifully crafted story that holds a special appeal for younger readers. The fantastical elements, vibrant artwork, and heartwarming themes make it an engaging read, even if the narrative itself isn’t one I personally connect with as much as other interpretations of the classic tale. That said, for fans of the film or those looking for an accessible introduction to Miyazaki’s storytelling, this edition is a delightful way to revisit the magic. Certainly those who adore Miazaki at a more intense level would love to add this to their shelves.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[goddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sea, sea, rain and there…the little cutee digging in :”) 🤍

[Willow’s Wisps 📚📖📘📗 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite Miyazaki movies, with the whimsical charm captured in what feels like ‘frame by frame’ graphic novel,
It was a wonderfully nostalgic experience flicking through this full colour comic edition, I spent a while paying attention to the detail in each frame.

The text is minimal, but well placed; perfect for a reluctant reader, or someone interested in animation as it works like a step by step guide in a way.

My only niggle is that the I would have preferred a deeper value/contrast in the images. I would have preferred a more intense black. Hopefully this will be rectified in the final print run.

Overall, this was just a joy to read. It will be a wondrous bookshelf edition for any of the original fans and for newcomers alike.

I have dropped one star mainly due to the blacks feeling slightly washed out, given that this is an art book, it is quite an important factor. I will edit if needed once I see the final book.

[Jourdain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Ponya! This was so freakin' cute! I love everything Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. I have read many books from the Studio Ghibli Library and seen many films. Ponyo is one of the few I have never seen so the entire story was brand new to me. From the loveliness of the characters to the beautifully colored artwork, this comic was amazing. I am left wanting to read it over and over again. The enchanting story was lovely and could go on for ever and ever. I wish I could live in this world and be friends with Sosuke and Ponyo. Would give more than 5 stars if I could! Go read right now! Thank you Netgalley!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

Cute cute cute cute cute!

Ponyo is one of my favorite movies and, in fact, the only Studio Ghibli film I've seen. I was thrilled to get my hands on this. It's very much just frames from the film reformatted to be a graphic novel with dialogue overlaid.

I don't think I would recommend this for someone who hadn't seen the film -- thus 4 stars instead of 5. I feel like a lot is missing contextually in this format, especially with the way they did it. The other thing that could be a hang up for some is that you do read this right to left, as in a manga, but in the digital format they don't say this. For readers who may not be familiar, this could get confusing because you still swipe the digital pages like you would an American book, but then you read each one as you would a manga. There is no warning/reminder about how to read the panels until you get to the end. This works in a physical format because unfamiliar readers will naturally open up to the end of the book (thinking it's the front ala American titles) and get the tip page. But in digital, it happens at the end and just seems like it could really confuse some readers. Perhaps that's something that will change in the full release.

[Mindy Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Ghilbi and Ponyo fan will be delighted with this full length comic of the film. It corresponds directly with the film in a page-by-page format.

This layout and format is delightful as the layout varies in format, adding to the artistic features.

Text is minimal and one may have a harder time with some of the storyline, but a reader unfamiliar with the story will still enjoy it.

This will be a great addition to any Miyazaki fan.

Thanks @NetGalley and @VizMedia for the advanced digital copy.

[Runell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite movies, so I just had to read this. There are very slight differences, but it's literally the movie. Gorgeous art. I need to find out if they've done this with other Miyazaki's films or plan on to because I would love to collect more.

[Valerie Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

"you're not busy, you're five"

this was frame for frame the movie and the movie isn't my favorite, but it's still cute, but definitely not the same without the music and the actual animation

[Asia Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ponyo so much and this graphic novel does it justice! So cute! Must read whether you’ve seen the movie or not and if you haven’t, well you need to watch it!

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The print quality was better than the Totoro film comic. Another Ghibli classic <3

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also really like ham. ◡̈

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE PONYO!!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brought back memories of when I watched Ponyo at the theatre about 16 years ago.

[Samuella Tuffour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it, it's so cute and charming! 😊

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful tale by the Ghibli studio blending Japanese folklore and modern world. Loved it.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.

This is nearly a shot-for-shot adaptation of the classic film Ponyo by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by Studio Ghibli. Ponyo is a young, sheltered fish who breaks away from her powerful sorcerer father from the ocean and finds herself within the care of a young boy, Sosuke, on land. During her adventure, she morphs into a young girl as a deadly storm rages across Sosuke's ocean-dependent village. This sweet take on The Little Mermaid also has statements on humanity's impact on the environment, as many of Miyazaki's stories do. Fans of the film will love this comic version and will most likely be inspired to watch the film after reading. New readers may be missing a little bit of context as the film cannot fully be translated to the page.

Reviewed for School Library Journal.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I loved this it is one of my favourite films but seeing the art on page made me love it even more which I didn't think was possible. This will definitely be added to comfort read rotation and I cannot wait to read the other All in Ones I own.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like that the comic is a shot by shot version of the movie. The same art the same colors. It is nice to be able to read all my favorite Ghibli movies.

5 stars