The 2008 Ponyo movie packed an incredible cast and characters that helped breathe life into director Hayao Miyazaki’s screenplay. Having produced works for several animation studios in the past, Ponyo was Miyazaki’s eighth-produced project for Studio Ghibli, an animation he co-founded. For new anime audiences, Hayao Miyazaki is best known for the 2023 The Boy and the Heron.
Ponyo centered around its eponymous character. The Japanese animated film was originally released in Japan on July 19, 2008. A year later, on August 14, 2009, an English-language version was released theatrically in the United States. Ponyo grossed a whopping $204.8 million to become the eighth-highest-grossing anime film of all time. These are the actors who voiced Ponyo’s main characters.
Yuria Nara/Noah Cyrus as Ponyo
Ponyo is introduced as the daughter of Fujimoto, an underwater wizard. After she playfully sneaks away from her father’s protective care, Ponyo is inadvertently captured by a fishing trawler and becomes trapped in a glass jar. Ponyo’s chance encounter with Sōsuke and her transformation into a human sets the film’s plot in motion.
8-year-old Japanese child actor Yuria Nara voiced the original movie. Interestingly, Ponyo was Nara’s feature debut. American singer and actress Noah Cyrus voiced Ponyo in the movie’s English dub. Cyrus was also 8 years old when Ponyo was released.
Hiroki Doi/Frankie Jonas as Sōsuke
Sōsuke is the male lead character in the 2008 Ponyo. He’s a young boy who lives with his mother, Lisa. After rescuing a trapped Ponyo in a glass jar, Sōsuke grows fond of her. Their attraction and love are the central plot of the movie. Japanese child actor Hiroki Doi voiced the character of Sōsuke in the original Japanese film. American singer, songwriter, and former child actor Frankie Jonas voiced the character in the English dub. Frankie Jonas is the youngest brother of the famous Jonas Brothers.
Tomoko Yamaguchi/Tina Fey as Lisa
Lisa is a caring and loving mother who works at a nursing home. She is also the mother of Sosuke, the protagonist of the film. Lisa is shown to be supportive of her son and has a warm and nurturing personality. She is depicted as a strong and capable woman who takes charge during a crisis. Japanese actress, voice actress, and singer Tomoko Yamaguchi did the voiceover for Lisa’s character in the original Ponyo movie. American writer, comedian, actress, and producer Tina Fey was the voice of Lisa in the English version of the movie.
George Tokoro/Liam Neeson as Fujimoto
Fujimoto is introduced in Ponyo as a powerful underwater wizard who was once a human. After his daughter, Brunhilde (Ponyo), goes missing, he does his best to find her. After Ponyo’s actions cause an imbalance in the world, he sets out to restore the balance. Japanese comedian, TV personality, singer-songwriter, and essayist George Tokoro voiced Fujimoto in the original Japanese film.
Tokoro has also voiced several famous English original movie characters. He voiced Buzz Lightyear and Homer Simpson in the Japanese dub version of Ralph Breaks the Internet, Toy Story movies, and The Simpsons Movie. In the Ponyo English dub, Academy Award-nominated actor Liam Neeson voiced the Fujimoto character.
Yūki Amami/Cate Blanchett as Gran Mamare
Gran Mamare is a mystical and powerful sea goddess and Ponyo’s mother. She’s the Goddess of Mercy and the Queen of the Sea. She’s depicted as benevolent and caring, able to command the forces of nature and the ocean. Gran Mamare’s kind nature helps provide a way for Ponyo and Sōsuke to be together. Japanese actress Yūki Amami voiced Gran Mamare in the original Ponyo movie. Amami also did the Japanese dub of English characters like Scarlett Overkill and Hela in Minions and Thor: Ragnarok. Two-time Academy Awards winner Cate Blanchett joined the voice cast of Ponyo as Gran Mamare.
Kazushige Nagashima/Matt Damon as Kōichi
Kōichi is introduced as a supporting character in Ponyo. He’s Sōsuke’s father. Japanese sports commentator, and former professional baseball player Kazushige Nagashima voiced Kōichi in the original Japanese film. Academy Award winner Matt Damon did the voiceover for the Kōichi character in the English dub of Ponyo. If you recognize the voices of these Ponyo cast members, check out the voice actors in King of the Hill.
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