A favourite amongst the GamingAngels staff is Studio Ghibli and the master that is Hayao Miyazaki. I’m sure most of you have heard of (and maybe even seen) the latest product of the talented folks at Studio Ghibli – PONYO.

News from our friends at Madman is that Australians can expect a release of the film on DVD, just after Christmas on the 29^th December 2009. The DVD will feature the Disney Pixar produced English language dub and Japanese language (with subtitles) audio, as well as creator interviews, ‘The Five Geniuses Who Created Ponyo’ featurette, Japanese TV Spots and Trailers, Textless Songs and more. The English voice cast includes the voices of Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Betty White, Lily Tomlin and Noah Cyrus as Ponyo.

If you aren’t clear on the story behind PONYO, here’s the synopsis:

In a small town by the sea, high on a cliff, lives 5-year-old Sosuke. One morning, while playing on the rocky beach below his house, he discovers a goldfish named Ponyo, her head stuck in a jam jar. Sosuke rescues Ponyo and keeps her in a green plastic bucket. Both Ponyo and Sosuke are fascinated by each other and promise to stay firm friends until Ponyo’s father, a sorcerer who lives deep under the sea, forces her to return with him to the ocean depths. What follows is an amazing underwater adventure for all ages.

Need more fPONYO? Maybe you would like to read The Art of Ponyo, Ponyo Picture Book and Ponyo Film Comics that are available now from Madman Manga. Or perhaps you need to complete your Studio Ghibli collection by getting some of the other DVD releases you may have missed, by purchasing their Studio Ghibli-related books such as The Art of Spirited Away, The Art of Howl’s Moving Castle and Hayao Miyazaki’s autobiography Starting Point 1979 – 1996? All of those are available at www.madman.com.au/studioghibli.

PONYO will be available on DVD in Australia from December 29^th 2009, and can be expected to cost $34.95.