MovieChat Forums > Gake no ue no Ponyo (2009) Discussion > The baby on the boat

The baby on the boat

posted 13 years ago by whomod
4 replies | jump to latest

Can someone explain that scene to me?

Ponyo and Sosuke approach the family on the boat, the mother claims that the baby likes Ponyo, as the baby stares stone faced and emotionless at her. Ponyo offers the baby her soup which the mother eats instead on account of the baby being too young for it. Then Ponyo gives up all their food to the family and as they start to leave, the baby begins crying hysterically and starts tearing up and getting a profusely runny nose. Ponyo, as she's reverting back to fish form, then races back to the family and smears her face all over the baby's fluids on it's face as she squeezes on the baby's face. Then she races back with Sosuke on his boat and the baby finally shows some emotion, happiness and laughter.

I'm sure there is a point and something meaningful happened, i'm just not sure what exactly. Was the baby sick or did it have downs syndrome and Ponyo used her magic on it, hence her reverting to fish form temporarily?

[–] craig-353 13 years ago

The scene was there to show that Ponyo was selfless and generous, giving up the food to the needy family. The baby had a cold and Ponyo used up some of her magic to cure it.

[–] hgonzalez-3 13 years ago

The scene was there to show that Ponyo was selfless and generous, giving up the food to the needy family. The baby had a cold and Ponyo used up some of her magic to cure it.

Perhaps that is an apt explanation, but the scene is a little puzzling nevertheless. That the baby was ill and Ponyo "cured" him is probable, but neither the fact or the message is clear.

I'd venture that Ponyo was indeed learning to be selfless then - but , furthemore, the scene shows the two ways she could use to help people: the "natural" way (giving up the food) and the "magical". The problem with the later is that to use her magic she must return partially to her non-human nature. And that hints that she also need to learn to give up that way of helping other people, and content herself with her human nature -and the humble human ways.

[–] tofugoast 13 years ago

The mom in the boat actually says the line "You must have a cold" when the baby starts crying. I just watched it today. You can tell what Ponyo did by the way the baby acted afterward. As you pointed out, it was suddenly laughing and happy. So she made the baby feel better, whether it really had a cold or not.

[–] AndyKing1967 (34634) 3 years ago

Whilst I agree with the other Posters’ answers, it’s still a very odd scene.