Six exclusive clips from "Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea" posted on YouTube

by Chris MaGee

As we reported last month North American audiences will finally get to enjoy Hayao Miyazaki's "Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea" when it opens in select theatres on August 14th. Personally I can't wait. I'm a huge Miyazaki fan, so much so that after reading about "Ponyo" being released on 243 screens in France on Wednesday I wished I'd have kept up my French lessons past grade 9... that and my frequent flyer card!

It makes sense that "Ponyo" would get a release in France a good four months prior to its North American debut. The French are crazy for manga, anime and Japanese culture in general, in fact in 2003 the Financial Times reported that nearly a third of all comics published in France that year were Japanese manga. I'm still a little green with jealousy though that they're getting a chance to bask in a new Miyazaki film while we in North America have to suffer through "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs". Thanks to BVI France, "Ponyo's" French distributors, we can get a bit of relief though. They have not only posted a lovely trailer for "Ponyo" (which you can check out below), but also six French-subtitled clips at their YouTube Channel. It's a great opportunity to check out an exclusive on YouTube that won't get yanked off in a matter of hours or days, so definitely take advantage of it.

Thanks to Wildgrounds and Anime News Network for all the details on "Ponyo's" French release... and for us folks here, well, only 126 days until we get to join in the fun!