Studio Ghibli's latest offering is doing massive business over in Japan.
Hayao Miyazaki's toon "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" has passed the symbolic Yen 10 billion mark ($93.2 million) at the Japanese B.O. The first local picture to pass this milestone in four years, after Miyazaki's 2004 "Howl's Moving Castle."Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is set for release in Ireland and UK April 3, 2009, no word yet on US release date.
"Ponyo" accomplished the feat on its 31st day on release on August 18. Admissions totaled 8.43 million. This compares with 25 days for Miyazaki's 2001 smash "Spirited Away," which went on to earn $280 million -- the all-time high for any pic released in Japan.
"Moving Castle" required 33 days to achieve this mark and Miyazaki's 1997 hit "The Princess Mononoke" took 43 days.
