'Ponyo' passes 10 million admissions mark

Animated feature takes in 12 billion yen

By MARK SCHILLING

TOKYO -- Hayao Miyazaki toon "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" has passed the 10 million admission mark in Japan, taking in 12 billion yen ($109.6 million) and putting it on track to become one of the biggest B.O. hits of all time in the country.

Bowing on July 19, the toon reached the milestone on Aug. 28, its 41st day of release. By comparison Miyazaki's 2001 "Spirited Away," Japan's all-time B.O. champ at $278 million, needed only 31 days to hit 10 million, while his 2004 "Howl's Moving Castle" took 44 days and his 1997 "Princess Mononoke" took 66. The latter two toons are the Nos. 2 and 3 all-time Japanese B.O. winners, respectively.

"Ponyo" is in release on 481 screens, a record for a Japanese pic. 

Despite the Summer Olympics, the toon has continued to pack theaters throughout its run, with families the biggest demo.