Ponyo to Reach America Soon?

ICv2 is speculating that Disney may begin American distribution of Hayao Miyazaki’s current Japanese box office hit Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea as early as this spring. Viz’s “Art of Ponyo” and “Ponyo” film comics are scheduled for domestic release in March and early April. In past years, Viz has released its domestic publications devoted to Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away only a month from the films’ official US debuts.

It seems difficult to imagine a domestic release of Ponyo just around the corner since Disney has revealed so little about its domestic distribution plans for the film, but getting the movie out in early 2009 would strike while the title is still hot, and would give the film plenty of time to generate DVD sales throughout 2009.