Ponyo (2008) by Hayao Miyazaki is the tale of a beautiful goldfish trapped in a glass bottle and her friendship with her savior, a five-year-old boy from the human world. If you’ve been unable to find this much-loved Japanese animation film online, this guide explains how and where to watch Ponyo from anywhere in the world.
Key Takeaways: Where to Watch Ponyo Online
- Though Ponyo is not available on Netflix in the U.S. and Japan, you can still find it in various other Netflix libraries, including the U.K., Canada, France, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and Australia. The animated film is also on HBO Max.
- If you are in a location where Ponyo isn’t available on Netflix, you can change your Netflix library with a VPN to stream Ponyo.
- ExpressVPN is the VPN we consider to be the best for streaming on Netflix and HBO Max, but NordVPN is a more affordable alternative, and Proton VPN is a good free option.
Though streaming services like HBO Max and Netflix give you access to huge content libraries and are widely available, they also utilize regional restrictions to make sure some content is only accessible in specific locations. For example, you might find Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix in one country, then travel to another country and find them unavailable.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to access blocked streaming services and libraries to stream Ponyo with a secure virtual private network (VPN) like ExpressVPN.
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No, Ponyo is not on Disney+.
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You can watch Ponyo on Netflix in various countries, including the U.K., Canada, France, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa and Australia. It’s also on HBO Max in the U.S. and elsewhere.
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No, Ponyo is not on Crunchyroll.
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Where to Watch Ponyo
Ponyo is available to stream on a couple of major subscription services, and to purchase on buy and rent platforms. If you’re in a location where a streaming service or library with Ponyo is blocked, you’ll need to connect to a VPN to bypass the blocks. More on this further down.
Which Streaming Services Have Ponyo?
HBO Max has Ponyo in its library, along with other Studio Ghibli movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. HBO Max is available in several countries outside the U.S., including (but not limited to) Mexico, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway and Sweden.
Unfortunately, HBO Max isn’t available in the U.K., Canada, Australia, Asian countries or African countries. The good news is that you can still access your HBO Max account from unavailable locations with a VPN.
You can also buy or rent Ponyo on Amazon Prime Video U.S., Vudu, iTunes, Google Play and YouTube Movies & TV.
Is Ponyo on Netflix?
Yes, but not in the United States or Japan. If you’re in a location where Ponyo isn’t available on Netflix, we’ll show you further down how to access Ponyo on Netflix with a VPN. We found Ponyo on Netflix in the following locations:
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇬🇧 The U.K.
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
How to Watch Ponyo for Free
Amazon Prime Video U.S. offers a seven-day free trial of the HBO Max add-on. If you have a U.S. payment method, you can sign up for this to stream Ponyo for free.
If you have a U.S. payment method but are abroad, you can connect to a U.S. VPN server to get into Amazon Prime Video U.S. Most VPNs offer money-back guarantees, so you can pair this with an Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max free trial.
How to Watch Ponyo With a VPN
This step-by-step tutorial shows you how to access Ponyo on Netflix U.K. from anywhere with ExpressVPN — the VPN we consider to be the best for streaming.
You can use the same method to access your HBO Max account from locations where it’s not available if you’re traveling overseas. To do this, connect to a U.S. server or a server in another country where HBO Max isn’t blocked.
- Get a VPN
Go to a reputable VPN’s website and sign up for a plan. If you’re worried about making the investment, most VPNs — including ExpressVPN — offer money-back guarantees.
- Install the VPN
Download and install the VPN’s app. Each website will be different, but look for a “download” tab.
- Connect to a U.K. Server
Connect to a server in the U.K. or another country where Ponyo is available on Netflix (Canada, France, etc.).
- Watch Ponyo
Go to the Netflix homepage and search for Ponyo. Click “play” to start streaming.
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The Best VPNs for Watching Ponyo
In the VPN world, you’ve got the excellent, the good and the downright terrible — our worst free VPNs post gives you a heads-up on services to avoid. Here are three reputable, secure and fast services that won’t compromise your privacy while you stream.
1. ExpressVPN
Our best overall VPN recommendation is also our top pick for streaming on Netflix and HBO Max.
Pros:
- Diverse server locations
- Unlocks streaming services
- Excellent security
Whether you’re a complete beginner or just want to switch providers, ExpressVPN is an all-around excellent choice for streaming. As well as being one of the fastest VPNs, it’s also the most secure, the most beginner-friendly and its diverse server network means you’re always spoiled for choice in terms of locations you can connect to.
Now, for the less exciting stuff — ExpressVPN is expensive compared with its top competitors. We recommend avoiding the monthly plan and going for the annual plan, as this is the cheapest option. You can give ExpressVPN a go with its 30-day money-back guarantee and read our full ExpressVPN review to learn more.
ExpressVPN Plans
2. NordVPN
NordVPN has reasonable plans, excellent speeds and an intuitive desktop interface to offer.
Pros:
- Reasonable long-term plans
- Best speeds
- Nice desktop app interface
Cons:
- Complicated mobile app UI
If ExpressVPN doesn’t float your boat, NordVPN is a more budget-friendly alternative. Though its monthly plan is costly, the two-year plan is much more attractive. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee for peace of mind. Moreover, NordVPN’s speeds are the best on average, which helps you avoid common streaming issues like buffering and lagging.
The reason NordVPN is in second place behind ExpressVPN is that it’s not quite as easy to use if you plan to dig into the more advanced features, and its mobile app interface can be awkward to move around. Otherwise, NordVPN is a top-notch streaming VPN, as detailed in our NordVPN review.
3. Proton VPN
Proton VPN is our overall best free VPN recommendation, thanks to its security and unlimited data.
Pros:
- Unlimited data on free plan
- Very secure
- Gets into streaming services
Cons:
- Expensive paid plans
- Limited free servers
As far as free VPNs go, we consider Proton VPN to be the best. You have to be careful with free VPNs for security and privacy reasons, but you don’t have to worry about these issues with Proton VPN, as our Proton VPN review explains in more detail. One of the best Proton VPN features is that it gives you unlimited data on the free plan.
On the flip side, there are only three free locations (the U.S., Japan, Netherlands). This makes it a great choice if you want to access HBO Max from outside the U.S. or Netherlands, but it does limit you if you want to access services in other locations.
Cast, Characters & Plot: Ponyo
Ponyo’s original title in Japanese translates to “Ponyo on the Cliff.” It’s about a goldfish princess who, one fateful day, secretly ventures to the ocean’s surface, and becomes trapped in a glass bottle after crossing paths with a sailor.
She is rescued by a human child, a boy called Sōsuke who lives on an oceanside cliff. Sōsuke names the goldfish “Ponyo,” and soon realizes that this is no ordinary goldfish. The pair develop a strong friendship.
Though Ponyo’s father sends spirits to bring her back to the ocean, her desire to become human is overpowering, with potentially dangerous consequences. The Ponyo voice cast consists of the following:
| Character | Japanese Version | English Version |
|---|---|---|
| Ponyo | Yuria Nara | Noah Cyrus |
| Sōsuke | Hiroki Doi | Frankie Jonas |
| Mother Lisa | Tomoko Yamaguchi | Tina Fey |
| Kōichi | Kazushige Nagashima | Matt Damon |
| Gran Mamare | Yūki Amami | Cate Blanchett |
Final Thoughts: Streaming Ponyo
Not only can a VPN get you into Netflix in locations where Ponyo is unavailable, but it also opens up a much wider streaming world to explore. Whatever Studio Ghibli movie you want to watch, we hope you can now enjoy a much more liberated streaming experience.
Which Studio Ghibli movie is your favorite? Do you plan to stream Ponyo or another Studio Ghibli film on Netflix or HBO Max with a VPN? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks for reading.
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