In many respects, "Ponyo" is Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's gentlest and most normal movie in quite some time.

Of course, what you need to remember is that Miyazaki's recent output has consisted of such bizarre but enjoyable cartoon features as "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004) and the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away" (2001). And that for him, "normal" and "gentle" mean the enjoyable and only slightly less bizarre "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988) and "Kiki's Delivery Service" (1989).

His latest, a fantasy tale, with one of his expected but mildly ecologically friendly messages, is more in line with both "Kiki" and "Totoro" than it is with those others films. Also, Miyazaki fans who are expecting the deeper themes in this may be disappointed. And as good as it looks, it's not career defining work, it's only merely good.

As with previous few Miyazaki films, Disney and Pixar officials supervised the English language translation. Among the recognizable voice cast members for this dubbed version are actors Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and Liam Neeson, as well as veterans Betty White, Lily Tomlin and Cloris Leachman. And the leads are younger Jonas and Cyrus siblings.

Frankie Jonas provides the voice for Sosuke, a young boy who finds a goldfish with unusual coloration and an even more unusual facial features.

It turns out the fish is the offspring of Fujimoto (Neeson), a wizardlike inventor who has turned his back on mankind and who has embraced sea life.

And the fish (Noah Lindsey Cyrus), whom Sosuke has dubbed Ponyo, wants to become human. However, doing that apparently requires some sort of magic that may put Sosuke and the rest of mankind in peril.

As always, there's a mix of fantasy and off-the-wall humor. This film is clearly aimed at younger audiences — though it's more childlike than childish.

Also, Miyazaki and his animation teams are still able to do things with traditional, supposed "2-D" cel animation styles that even the best computer-generated animators and programs cannot. (It's no wonder that even the Pixar geniuses are in awe of Miyazaki.)

The earthy and underwater backdrops all resemble watercolor paintings or look as if they were rendered with colored pencils. But they are lusher, richer and more textured than that would imply.

As for the English-language cast, the voice performances by the two young leads are better than you might expect. Gruff-voiced Neeson is the standout.

"Ponyo" is rated G but does feature some violent content and imagery (storm-caused calamities, automotive mayhem and some slapstick), derogatory language and slurs, and use of mystical potions and elixirs. Running time: 100 minutes.

e-mail: jeff@desnews.com