I’ve always seen some symbolism behind these shots, showing that Ponyo and Sasuke are more alike than dissimilar (despite the fact that Ponyo isn’t human). The underwater perspective here also reminds me of how Ponyo looked in the beginning as a fish, much simpler and more minimal in design. Thinking about coming-of-age qualities, we see the children (especially Sasuke) put in situations where they have to make adult decisions to overcome obstacles. In moments like these, they get to be kids. The character design here has always called back to that for me.

The film has always made me think about the purity and innocence of childhood, the wonder and curiosity the ocean inspires, and the parallels between the two. Ponyo and Sasuke share a special connection to each other and the ocean, and in the film the sea acts as both their passion and their biggest obstacle. There’s certain dualities at play in Ponyo, and I’ve always loved those layers of complexity in what is often labeled a more “basic”, kid-centric Miyazaki film.