18 Years Later, Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo Officially Returns to Theaters June 13

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GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment are bringing one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most popular films back to theaters for fans to enjoy.

GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment have announced that the English-dubbed version of Ponyo will be back in select cinemas on June 13th as part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2026. Fans can look forward to seeing this beloved film on the big screen again for a limited time.

You can watch the English dub of Ponyo on June 14th and 17th. The original Japanese version with English subtitles will be shown on June 15th and 16th.

Why Ponyo Is Worthy of Being Called a Modern Studio Ghibli Classic

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, a celebrated figure in animation and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, this film tells the story of Ponyo. Born as Brunhilde, a magical being from the sea, Ponyo dreams of becoming a human girl, and her wish sets off a grand, imaginative adventure.

In the movie Ponyo, a boy named Sosuke finds a goldfish washed ashore and rescues her. This isn’t just any goldfish, though – Ponyo is a magical creature who desperately wants to become human. As she explores the world and causes a bit of mischief, her sorcerer father tries to pull her back to the ocean.

When Ponyo came out in 2008, it was a huge success, earning almost $206 million worldwide despite only costing $34 million to make. The film is known for its beautiful animation and touching story, and it featured impressive voice acting talent in both its original Japanese release – with actors like Tomoko Yamaguchi and Yuuri Nara – and its English dub, which starred Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, and Matt Damon.

As expected, Ponyo received widespread praise from critics. Currently, it boasts a 91% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 174 reviews from verified critics. Viewers also love it, giving it an 84% score on the site’s “Popcornmeter” after over 50,000 ratings.

Studio Ghibli is bringing back several beloved animated films to cinemas for special limited showings. Starting in July with My Neighbor Totoro, these screenings will continue with Tales from Earthsea (marking its 20th anniversary), Only Yesterday (celebrating 35 years), and Castle in the Sky (its 40th anniversary) in August. Princess Monoke will be featured as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 in September, and Spirited Away will finish the series in October, commemorating its 25th anniversary.

Ponyo returns to theaters as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 from June 13 to June 17.

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2026-06-09 05:35