Film Independent announced that Studio Ghibli's Ponyo will be the closing night film of this year's Los Angeles Film Festival. The film will see a general theatrical release on August 14.

Ponyo was directed by Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke), and features a soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi. The film opened last July, and quickly became Japan's highest-grossing film for the year. Ponyo won a number of awards, including the Tokyo Anime Awards' Animation of the Year.

Walt Disney pictures is handling the western adaptation of Ponyo. A number of high-profile actors were signed on for the film's dub, including Liam Neeson, Betty White, and Matt Damon.