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How & Where to Watch Ponyo in 2025: Watch Studio Ghibli Movies Online

Studio Ghibli movies like Ponyo aren’t hard to find online -- unless you’re in a location where a streaming service or library is blocked. Read on to find out how and where to watch Ponyo with a VPN from wherever you are.

Kit CopsonSandra PattisonVildana Bratic

Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)

Facts checked by Vildana Bratic (Video Editor, Fact-Checking Editor)

Last Updated: 2025-01-26T13:51:37+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Where to Watch Ponyo

Key Takeaways: Where to Watch Ponyo Online

  1. Get a 72% discounted NordVPN subscription.
  2. Connect to a server where Ponyo is available, such as a U.K. server.
  3. Go to Netflix and start streaming Ponyo.

Best VPNs for Streaming Ponyo:

  1. NordVPN — Top-tier VPN with uncompromising performance. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 72% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
  2. Surfshark — Best VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. Explore Surfshark’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount.
  3. ExpressVPN — Slightly more expensive VPN but feature-rich and fast. Get 25% off the first two years with ExpressVPN, covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.

What to Know About Ponyo:

  • 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 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
  • NordVPN is the VPN we consider to be the best for streaming on Netflix and Max, but Surfshark is a more affordable alternative.
Best VPN for streaming Ponyo

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.

Though streaming services like 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 NordVPN

Not available in your country?

Watch Ponyo now on Netflix

Status checked 2025/02/10:

  • 10/01/2024

    We verified the steps and updated the ranking to reflect current VPN performance, features and pricing.

  • 01/26/2025 Facts checked

    We revised the article with updated information about the best free option.

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?

Max has Ponyo in its library, along with other Studio Ghibli movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. 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, 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 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:

How to Watch Ponyo for Free

Amazon Prime Video U.S. offers a seven-day free trial of the 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 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 NordVPN — the VPN we consider to be the best for streaming.

You can use the same method to access your 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 Max isn’t blocked.

  1. Get a VPN

    Go to a reputable VPN’s website and sign up for a plan. If you’re worried about making the investment, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and its two-year plan works out the cheapest.

    nordvpn step 1
  2. Install the VPN

    Download and install the VPN’s app. Each website will be different, but look for a “download” tab.

    nordvpn step 2
  3. 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.).

    NordVPN connecting to the UK
  4. Watch Ponyo

    Go to the Netflix homepage and search for Ponyo. Click “play” to start streaming.

    ponyo netflix

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. NordVPN — Best VPN for Streaming

nordvpn uk server
NordVPN has reasonable plans, excellent speeds and an intuitive desktop interface to offer. 
Best VPN for streaming Ponyo

Pros

  • Reasonable long-term plans
  • Best speeds 
  • Nice desktop app interface

Cons

  • Complicated mobile app UI

Access any content, anytime — join NordVPN now and save 72% on your first two years.

Download
90 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/19/25 to 02/16/25
Data for region:

NordVPN is a budget-friendly VPN with top performance. 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.

Its desktop app is easy to use and includes an interactive map. However, it’s not quite as easy to use on the mobile app due to the smaller screen. Otherwise, NordVPN is a top-notch streaming VPN, as detailed in our NordVPN review.

Plus
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Complete
  • *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Prime
  • **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
  • 10

2. Surfshark — Best Budget Streaming VPN

surfshark app
Surfshark’s cheap plans and top performance make it a great pick for streaming.

Pros

  • Strong security suite options
  • Solid security
  • Excellent speeds

Cons

  • Site may collect your real IP
  • High latency on close servers
  • No Mac/iOS split tunneling

Stream freely across the globe — get Surfshark’s best deal at 66% (plus 3 months free) off today.

Download
94 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/19/25 to 02/16/25
Data for region:

Luckily, even if you’re on a tiny budget, you can still get a reputable VPN in the form of Surfshark. Of our top three picks, Surfshark is the most budget-friendly option, and it gives NordVPN a run for its money when it comes to streaming performance on Netflix and other popular streaming services.

Surfshark has its downsides: We’ve noticed issues with high latency in the U.S. and U.K. On the flip side, its worldwide latency is low, and its download speeds are especially strong in the U.S. You can give Surfshark a go with its 30-day money-back guarantee, and our Surfshark review has more information.

Surfshark Starter
  • Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
  • Yes
Surfshark One
  • Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
Surfshark One+
  • Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Easy to Use Streaming VPN

expressvpn app uk
ExpressVPN is one of the top picks for streaming on Netflix and Max. 

Pros

  • Diverse server locations
  • Unlocks streaming services
  • Excellent security 

Cons

  • Expensive

Unlock a world of entertainment — subscribe to ExpressVPN with a 25% discount and 30-day money-back guarantee.

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 secure and beginner-friendly. Plus, 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 going for the two-year 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.

Download
84 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/19/25 to 02/16/25
Data for region:
ExpressVPN Plans
  • Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 8
  • Yes

Best Free VPN for Streaming Ponyo: PrivadoVPN

privadovpn us
PrivadoVPN is our overall best free VPN recommendation, thanks to its excellent unblocking ability.

Pros

  • Free servers in 10 countries
  • Gets into streaming services
  • Good security features

Cons

  • Only 10GB of data each month

As far as free VPNs go, we consider PrivadoVPN 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 PrivadoVPN, as our PrivadoVPN review explains. It offers free servers in 10 countries, including the U.S.

PrivadoVPN’s free US server can unblock Max, enabling you to stream Ponyo. It’s not the fastest VPN, but it offers decent enough speeds so you shouldn’t experience lags while streaming.

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: 

CharacterJapanese VersionEnglish Version 
PonyoYuria NaraNoah Cyrus
SōsukeHiroki DoiFrankie Jonas
Mother LisaTomoko YamaguchiTina Fey
KōichiKazushige NagashimaMatt Damon
Gran MamareYūki AmamiCate Blanchett

Final Thoughts: Streaming Ponyo

Not only can a VPN get you into Netflix in locations where Ponyo is available, 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.

NordVPN is the best VPN for accessing Netflix or any other streaming service, with Surfshark being another great option. Curious about NordVPN? Its 30-day refund policy means you can explore all its features worry-free and decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Which Studio Ghibli movie is your favorite? Do you plan to stream Ponyo or another Studio Ghibli film on Netflix or Max with a VPN? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks for reading.

FAQ: How to Watch Ponyo Online

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