Interesting Ponyo discoveries
Does anyone have some random things they've noticed after multiple viewings of Ponyo? I've seen this film many times and finally noticed that Sosuke's hat and binoculars shrink to extra small size along with the boat when Ponyo falls asleep.
In previous viewings, I must have assumed they were small to begin with and were simply reverted back to that size. That was not the case though. Whatever inanimate object is touching the boat is also affected by the "spell", as evidenced by the candle earlier and the fact that Sosuke's hat and binoculars are normal-sized to begin with.
Also, further viewings have led me to grasp more of what was at stake in the film. It was not only the threat of the moon destroying the planet and rising sea level. Had Ponyo not used that well of magic early, Fujimoto fully intended to eventually fill it up and use it to destroy humankind.
And it was Ponyo that really saved everything. Her desire for freedom and to explore more of the world is what allowed Fujimoto's long-term plan to be averted. Being the offspring of a human and sea-goddess, she brought the balance that was necessary.