Hayao Miyazaki has revealed that his closely guarded upcoming film will be a retelling of “The Little Mermaid,” set in Japan.

GhibliWorld reports that director Hayao Miyazaki used Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale as a basis for his new film “Gake no ue no Ponyo,” though he moved the location to Japan and “cut out the Catholic color.” The mermaid in the story wants to be human, and so tries to be friends with a 5-year-old boy, Sosuke, who lives in a seaside village with locations like “Shark Island” and “Ponyogahama” (Ponyo Beach). The director also promises a film “kind to the old as well as kids.”

The town in the film seems to be based on a small town Miyazaki visited in 2004 on Japan’s Inland Sea. First there on a company trip, Miyazaki later returned to the town and lived there for two months. While there, he read Natsume Soseki’s novel “Mon,” which is referenced in the name of the film’s protagonist.

Miyazaki seems to have been motivated by a wish to try drawing the ocean again, and according to Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki he is now attempting “a new method.” “The sea is like a creature,” Miyazaki said. “I animated the sea not in the background, but as a main character.”

“A boy and a girl. Love and life. I try to depict those without any hesitation and try to counter this age of nervous disease and angst.”

GhibliWorld has also acquired a piece of art (left) that seems to indicate the English title of “Gake no ue no Ponyo,” literally “Ponyo on a Cliff,” will be “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.”

The film is scheduled to be released this summer, perhaps in July, but it may yet be delayed. Queen Silvia of Sweden was shown a preview of the film in a tent on a cliff outside Tokyo on March 3, according to the Swedish press.

Filed under:
Uncategorized by admin