Book excerpt: An in-depth look at the hand-drawn anime hit! Ponyo, loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, is a hand-drawn feature-length film of breathtaking beauty and charm. The art of the film entails not only cels, but striking watercolor and pastel concept sketches and layout pages. Interviews with production principles about their daring choice to hand draw a film in the age of CGI, and the voice-over screenplay itself, complete the package. Ponyo, loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, is a hand-drawn feature-length film of breathtaking beauty and charm. The art of the film entails not only cels, but striking watercolor and pastel concept sketches and layout pages. Interviews with production principles about their daring choice to hand draw a film in the age of CGI, and the voice-over screenplay itself, complete the package.