Movies Like Ponyo (2008)

Ponyo is a 2008 animation, family, fantasy film from Hayao Miyazaki with a MovieMagicScore of 7.8/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Little Witch Academia and Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry.

Animation Family Fantasy

Little Witch Academia

2013

Inspired by a magician named Shiny Chariot, the lively Akko Kagari enters the Little Witch Academy with the dream of one day becoming as cool as her idol.

7.1

MagicScore

Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry

2017

Dragon Cry is a magical artifact of deadly power, formed into a staff by the fury and despair of dragons long gone. Now, this power has been stolen from the hands of the Fiore kingdom by the nefarious traitor Zash Caine, who flees with it to the small island nation of Stella. Frightened that the power has fallen into the wrong hands, the King of Fiore hastily sends Fairy Tail to retrieve the staff. But this task proves frightening as a shadowy secret lies in the heart of the kingdom of Stella. Dragon Cry follows their story as they muster up all their strength to recover the stolen staff and save both kingdoms.

6.6

MagicScore

Grown Ups 2

2013

Lenny has relocated his family back to the small town where he and his friends grew up. This time around, the grown ups are the ones learning lessons from their kids on a day notoriously full of surprises—the last day of school.

6.1

MagicScore

The King's Daughter

2022

King Louis XIV's quest for immortality leads him to capture and steal a mermaid's life force, a move that is further complicated by his illegitimate daughter's discovery of the creature.

7.1

MagicScore

Big Fish

2003

Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures.

7.8

MagicScore

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls

2013

Via a magic mirror, Twilight Sparkle travels into an alternate universe in order to recover a crown that was stolen from the Crystal Empire. Upon her arrival she is horrified to learn that she has turned into a human.

7.4

MagicScore

The Mermaid

1904

A magician conjures up a mermaid while fishing.

5.7

MagicScore

The Little Mermaid

1989

This colorful adventure tells the story of an impetuous mermaid princess named Ariel who falls in love with the very human Prince Eric and puts everything on the line for the chance to be with him. Memorable songs and characters -- including the villainous sea witch Ursula.

7.4

MagicScore

Barbie in A Mermaid Tale

2010

Barbie stars as Merliah, a surfer who learns a shocking secret: she's a mermaid! She and her dolphin friend set out for an undersea adventure to rescue her mother, the queen of Oceana.

7.2

MagicScore

#10

The Little Mermaid

1968

Rusalochka opens in modern day Copenhagen, Denmark. Several tourists gather around the capital's famous mermaid statue, as a tour guide explains its significance. A fish in the water below the tourists scoffs at their foolishness, and then, proceeds to tell about the doomed love of the mermaid. Upon reaching her 15th birthday, the Little Mermaid is allowed to swim up to the surface above. As soon as she does, however, the Mermaid spots a young prince caught up in a dreadful storm. She admires the man's bravery and decides to save him, declaring that, "The beautiful and the brave should not perish." After the mermaid returns to the ocean, she decides that she wants to become human.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2

2012

Surf's up for Barbie as she returns as Merliah, the fun and fashionable surfing champion who's also a magical mermaid princess! In this exciting sea-quel, Merliah makes a splash when she heads to Australia for the ultimate surfing competition. When the evil mermaid Eris escapes from her whirlpool with plans to take over the throne of Oceana, Merliah and her sea friends dive in to stop her. It's a fresh new adventure where Merliah learns that anything is possible and she really can have the best of both worlds!

7.0

MagicScore

#12

Barbie: The Pearl Princess

2014

Barbie plays Lumina, a mermaid girl with the power to change the color of pearls. Cheerful and creative, Lumina finds herself working in a mermaid salon customizing fabulous hairstyles. And when Lumina has the chance to attend the royal ball, her friends adorn her with a gown fit for a princess. At the ball, villains try to seize power over the kingdom, and Lumina finds within herself an unexpected power that proves she is much more than a hair stylist.

7.0

MagicScore

#13

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

2008

Follow Ariel's adventures before she gave up her fins for true love. When Ariel wasn't singing with her sisters, she spent time with her mother, Queen Athena. Ariel is devastated when Athena is killed by pirates, and after King Triton outlaws all singing. Along with pals Flounder and Sebastian, Ariel sets off in hopes of changing her father's decision to ban music from the kingdom.

6.7

MagicScore

#14

The NeverEnding Story

1984

While hiding from bullies in his school's attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing.

7.2

MagicScore

#15

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea

2000

Set several years after the first film, Ariel and Prince Eric are happily married with a daughter, Melody. In order to protect Melody from the Sea Witch, Morgana, they have not told her about her mermaid heritage. Melody is curious and ventures into the sea, where she meets new friends. But will she become a pawn in Morgana's quest to take control of the ocean from King Triton?

6.4

MagicScore

#16

Pan

2015

Living a bleak existence at a London orphanage, 12-year-old Peter finds himself whisked away to the fantastical world of Neverland. Adventure awaits as he meets new friend James Hook and the warrior Tiger Lily. They must band together to save Neverland from the ruthless pirate Blackbeard. Along the way, the rebellious and mischievous boy discovers his true destiny, becoming the hero forever known as Peter Pan.

6.0

MagicScore

#17

The Little Mermaid

2018

A young reporter and his niece discover a beautiful and enchanting creature they believe to be the real little mermaid.

5.0

MagicScore

#18

The Dark Kingdom

2018

To save their Kingdom from an army of undead, a group of warriors must travel through the forbidden lands fighting the fearsome beasts that call The Dark Kingdom their home.

5.7

MagicScore

#19

Mulan

1998

To save her father from certain death in the army, a young woman secretly enlists in his place and becomes one of China's greatest heroines in the process.

7.9

MagicScore

#20

Shrek

2001

It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.

7.8

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Ponyo?

The top films similar to Ponyo by MovieMagicScore are Little Witch Academia (7.1), Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry (6.6), Grown Ups 2 (6.1). Each shares animation/family/fantasy themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Ponyo worth watching?

Ponyo holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.8/10 from 4,818 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Ponyo?

Ponyo (2008) is a animation, family, fantasy film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, starring Yuria Kozuki, Hiroki Doi, George Tokoro.

Where can I find more recommendations like Ponyo?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more animation recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Little Witch Academia Movies like Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry Movies like Grown Ups 2 Movies like The King's Daughter Movies like Big Fish Movies like My Little Pony: Equestria Girls

About movies like Ponyo

This ranked list pairs Ponyo (2008), a animation and family and fantasy film from Hayao Miyazaki, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Yuria Kozuki take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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