Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published February 21, 2026 5:00 AM
The second section of the exhibition focuses on Ponyo leaving her home, following her curiosity to dry land where she meets Sōsuke.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Topline:
An exhibition that takes visitors through the magical water worlds of the 2008 film Ponyo and the hand-drawn artistry of Studio Ghibli is now open at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Why it matters: The films from the Japanese animation studio and director Hayao Miyazaki have captivated imaginations around the world for decades — this reporter with my four tattoos of favorite Studio Ghibli characters included.
Why now: This is now the second time the Miracle Mile museum has dedicated an exhibition to Miyazaki’s works, with the focus on Ponyo arriving more than four years after the retrospective of all his animated feature films.
The backstory: “These drawings have never been shown outside of Japan,” Shraddha Aryal, the museum’s executive vice president of exhibitions, told LAist. “We have an amazing conservation team who actually cell by cell took care of these, conserved these and that was what led us to say let’s do another exhibition really highlighting their artwork.”
Read on ... for more about the Ponyo exhibition.
An exhibition that takes visitors through the magical water worlds of the 2008 film Ponyo and the hand-drawn artistry of Studio Ghibli is now open at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The films from the Japanese animation studio and director Hayao Miyazaki have captivated imaginations around the world for decades — this reporter with my four tattoos of favorite Studio Ghibli characters included.
This is now the second time the Miracle Mile museum has dedicated an exhibition to Miyazaki’s works, with the focus on Ponyo arriving more than four years after the retrospective of all his animated feature films.
“These drawings have never been shown outside of Japan,” Shraddha Aryal, the museum’s executive vice president of exhibitions, told LAist. “We have an amazing conservation team who actually cell by cell took care of these, conserved these and that was what led us to say let’s do another exhibition really highlighting their artwork.”
The exhibition includes more than 100 items from Studio Ghibli, including animation cells from Ponyo.
The studio and Miyazaki would achieve the same feat again two decades later with The Boy and the Heron in 2024.
Studio Ghibli’s films are often fantastical with a lens of childlike wonder, but they also touch on difficult topics like the horrors of war, fascism, greed and environmental destruction. Characters are complex, with women and girls regularly in strong roles, such as the spear-wielding San or the brave but stubborn Kiki.
For me, there’s something about the carefully crafted storylines and colorful style that still make me feel like I’m exploring the forest with Princess Mononoke or stuck in a secret world of sorcery with Spirited Away, even as an adult.
Miyazaki's magical world
Ponyo is one of Miyazaki’s most kid friendly films — with positive themes of courage and curiosity as the audience tags along with the adventures of the young main characters. Plus, there’s no unnerving scenes of parents being turned into pigs like in Spirited Away (if you know you know).
The 2008 film tells the story of its namesake, the magical goldfish-like creature, Ponyo, and her budding friendship with a 5-year-old human boy named Sōsuke. The film follows Ponyo’s desire to leave her underwater world and become a human to be with Sōsuke, disrupting the balance of nature and having to contend with challenges like a tsunami along the way.
The exhibit creates a 3D version of the filmic world where visitors can climb inside an interactive version of Sōsuke’s green bucket or walk on wave displays like Ponyo in the tsunami.
“Ponyo exhibition is all about this character’s perseverance, and the joyful nature and triumph through ups and downs, [being] willing to explore a new world,” Aryal said. “And it's such a beautiful love story about friendship.”
Reimagining Ponyo
The exhibition includes rare Studio Ghibli donations on display in North America for the first time ever, such as original Miyazaki drawings and Ponyo animation cells, according to the Academy Museum. Guests can explore more than 100 items hand-picked by the studio, including an original animation desk and a make-your-own stop-motion station.
The experience is designed for all ages, reporter superfans with several tattoos of Studio Ghibli characters included.
But Jessica Niebel, the museum’s senior exhibitions curator, told LAist she hopes the Ponyo exhibition helps children feel inspired by the "beautiful messages” of the movie, especially after last year’s L.A. fires and the COVID pandemic.
“Sometimes you live through times where you have a tsunami, where you lose your magic or your mojo, you know, you're not quite sure of your identity,” she said. “[Miyazaki] gives us hope and courage that we can be free and run on the waves like Ponyo.”
“And instead of seeing things as a threat, maybe we use them to carry us,” she continued.
Dipping into the 3-D world
The exhibition is split into four sections focused on different aspects of the film.
The first dives inside Ponyo’s magical underwater home, introducing some main characters with a scene played on a screen spanning nearly the entire room.
The Ponyo exhibition takes visitors inside the 2008 film's magical water worlds.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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The first section includes Ponyo's goddess mother.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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A portrait of Ponyo’s goddess mother, Granmamare, is set up behind a few bean bag chairs in the space, giving guests the sense she’s watching the sea creatures over your shoulder.
The second section centers on Ponyo leaving her home, following her curiosity to dry land where she meets Sōsuke.
The room intentionally reflects the green and blue tones of the film, with curved designs and an interactive bucket that mirrors Miyazaki’s spirit, according to Aryal.
The second section includes the original Japanese release posters from Studio Ghibli’s other famed films, including Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and The Wind Rises.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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The walls are lined with the original Japanese release posters from Studio Ghibli’s other famed films, including Howl’s Moving Castle, Porco Rosso and The Wind Rises.
The third section takes you inside “the animators’ imaginative world,” Niebel said. The centerpiece is an original animation desk donated by Studio Ghibli and surrounded by Miyazaki’s detailed drawings for Ponyo.
The exhibition includes rare materials, such as a Studio Ghibli animation desk with drawing supplies.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Stations are set up where guests can make their own stop motion animation using sea creature cut-outs.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Two stations are set-up on the side where guests can create their own stop motion animation scene using some of the sea creature cut-out materials sent by the studio, according to Arturo Arias, an Academy Museum educator and gallery attendant.
“It's really nice to have the sort of underwater theme happening and so people submerge — no pun intended — into it and just kind of play along,” Arias told LAist.
The final section focuses on the scene where Ponyo runs on waves instead of being swallowed by the water.
“That's a moment that's really close to my heart and I think it's sensational and only [something] Hayao Miyazaki could do,” Neibel said. “[Ponyo]'s just so joyful and so free.”
Painted waves cascade on the exhibition walls as a bright Ponyo pokes out, with behind-the-scenes clips showcased on the side.
The film follows Ponyo’s desire to leave her underwater world and become a human disrupting the balance of nature with a tsunami along the way.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Behind the scenes clips from the making on Ponyo were showcased on the side in the last section of the exhibition.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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The movie may be nearly 20-years-old, but Aryal said the hopeful messages of Ponyo are still “really relevant” in the current world and political climate.
“It kind of becomes a refuge, if I may say that, this joyful refuge,” she said. “There is an option for you, even in this sort of disruptive climate that we're living in right now, that you can come and go through this joyful immersive experience.”
Details
The Academy Museum’s “Studio Ghibli’s PONYO” exhibition is open until Jan. 10, 2027. General admission to the museum is free for children and $25 for adults.
Rene Lynch
is a senior editor for Orange County, including food trends, politics — and whatever else the news gods have in store.
Published September 3, 2026 5:00 AM
Climate, weather and more will be up for discussion tonight in L.A.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman will each lay out their plans Thursday night for tackling LA’s biggest environmental issues, while sharing their longer-term vision for a cleaner and healthier Los Angeles. And LAist will be asking the questions.
Can't make it in person? You can listen live from 6 to 8 p.m. here on LAist 89.3 FM and it will also be on our YouTube channel if you prefer to watch live — or watch later.
Read on ... for more about the forum.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman will each have a chance to lay out their plans for tackling L.A.’s biggest environmental issues, and share their longer-term vision for a cleaner and healthier Los Angeles.
And LAist will be asking the questions.
You can listen live from 6 to 8 p.m. here on LAist 89.3 FM and it will also be on our YouTube channel if you prefer to watch live — or watch later.
Just don’t expect finger pointing and empty sound bites: the event will take on a fireside chat-style format so that each candidate will have the opportunity to lay out their proposals for making the environment a top priority if they win the election on Nov. 3.
Each candidate will have 45 minutes.
Stone said the evening’s format will allow voters to get a sense of how each candidate feels about crucial environmental issues, such as emergency preparedness and response, oil drilling, the city’s transportation policy, L.A.’s unique water challenges and efforts to transition to clean energy sources — all while trying to maintain affordable utility bills.
“The world’s top scientists are clear that this decade is a critical moment in history to take action to protect future generations from worse climate and environmental harms,” Stone said. “I hope the conversations help voters make the decision that is right for them.”
The event is organized by a coalition of local environmental and environmental justice groups including the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, SCOPE-LA, the Sierra Club, Clean and Healthy California, the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance and Communities for a Better Environment.
Naboo Starfighter at the entrance to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Lou Caltabiano
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Topline:
The museum, which opens to the public Sept. 22, unites the Star Wars universe with all kinds of illustration and classic art.
What you can see: Illustrations and props relating to the original Star Wars films, among many other intellectual properties — not to mention an extensive collection of murals and paintings from fine artists.
About the building: The 300,000-square-foot building designed by architect Ma Yansong with the firm Stantec, could easily blend into the scenery of Coruscant or Bespin in the Star Wars universe.
About the grounds: The gardens outside the museum are free and open to the public.
Read on... to see pictures of the collection.
Exposition Park’s new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on Sept. 22 — and LAist got a preview.
The 300,000-square-foot building, designed by architect Ma Yansong, working with the firm Stantec, could easily blend into the scenery of Coruscant or Bespin in the Star Wars universe.
For the fans of that certain long-time ago, far, far-away universe, you are immediately greeted by a Naboo Starfighter big enough to fit inside at the museum entrance with a life-size R2-D2 in the co-pilot seat.
Star Wars fans will definitely get their fill with pieces like this in the cinema section:
Doug Chiang, Podrace Crash, production art for "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," 1995–99. Digital print.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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You can find designs and set pieces from other George Lucas production companies, Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, but the museum is dedicated to impactful storytelling of all kinds, with a special focus on the work of illustrators.
“Most of the stories are myths, they're not real, but the illustrations make them real,” George Lucas said at a preview event. “A picture is very powerful, and the stories are very powerful, and you combine them together, and those two elements create a society.”
So, you’ll also see works like this E.H. Shepard illustration from Winnie-the-Pooh in a section dedicated to children’s stories.
E. H. Shepard, “Christopher Robin at the enchanted place,” illustration for Home Chat, 1928.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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And that’s not the only significant work you’ll see there.
“You can see one of the first historically important ‘dogs playing poker’ paintings made in 1894 as a whiskey advertisement, very close to Frida Kahlo, very close to Batman,” Lucas Museum senior curator Ryan Linkof said.
The museum’s umbrella of “narrative art” encompasses fine art like these works from painter, pro-football player and actor Ernie Barnes, photographer Dorothea Lange, and comic book artist Rafael Navarro:
Ernie Barnes, The Critic’s Corner, 2007. Acrylic on canvas.
Rafael Navarro, art for Sonámbulo: Mexican Stand-Off, 2006.
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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Murals and public art
The museum features public art installations — both reproductions of works by Diego Rivera and Banksy.
Three of the featured works by Banksy.
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Matthew Kroening
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
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You'll also experience an extensive video installation of Judith Baca’s The Great Wall of Los Angeles, which you can take in while sitting instead of having to walk the whole length.
A new green space in the middle of the city
The museum boasts extensive grounds built on a former parking lot. There, you can see a number of sculptures, including one of Jabba the Hutt and Princess Leia.
Jabba the Hutt and Princess Leia statue.
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Kevin Tidmarsh
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LAist
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“This public park is available and accessible to everyone all the time, even if you don't come to the museum, even if the museum's not open. You can come to the research library,” Linkof said. “It's an asset and a resource for everyone, including and especially the community.”
How to visit
Location: One Lucas Plaza, Exposition Park, Los Angeles
Tickets: Timed tickets cost $25 for adults, $21 for seniors and are to free to minors, active-duty military, members and LM37 passholders. See your options ▶
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Frank Stoltze
is a veteran reporter who covers local politics and examines how democracy is and, at times, is not working.
Published September 2, 2026 4:58 PM
Councilmember Nithya Raman at a campaign news conference in May 2026.
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Aaron Schrank
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LAist
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Topline:
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman Wednesday won the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America L.A. in her challenge to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Why it matters: The endorsement places the resources of DSA-LA to work for Raman in what’s expected to be a close race for mayor, but also opens her up to criticism that she’s too far left in her political views for the voters of L.A.
The backstory: Raman, a member of the organization, was first elected with its help in an upset victory over an incumbent City Council member in 2020. She was the first of four DSA-LA members elected to the council in recent years.
Read on ... for details about the endorsement and response from Bass' campaign.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman on Wednesday won the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America L.A. in her challenge to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The DSA-LA is a potent political organization known for mounting successful door-knocking campaigns for candidates for political office.
The endorsement places the resources of DSA-LA to work for Raman in what’s expected to be a close race for mayor, but also opens Raman up to criticism that she’s too far left in her political views for the voters of L.A.
The endorsement came after Raman won more than 60% of the vote in an online election held within the organization over the past week. Of the more than 6,000 members in the L.A. region, 1,400 participated in the vote.
“With Raman at the top of the ticket, DSA-LA is organizing to unite tenants, union members, immigrant communities, and working Angelenos behind a slate that can break corporate interests’ grip on city government,” DSA-LA said in a statement. “Our vision is clear: win office, build a governing majority, and deliver a city working people can afford to call home.”
Raman, a member of the organization, was first elected with its help in an upset victory over an incumbent City Council member in 2020. She was the first of four DSA-LA members elected to the council in recent years.
“A socialist movement with a path to the mayor’s office in Los Angeles should make the political establishment nervous,” said Sean Wakasa, DSA-LA co-chair. “The opportunity in front of us is enormous, and we intend to meet it.”
Raman was not immediately available for comment.
A spokesperson for the Bass campaign did not comment specifically on the endorsement but pointed to some of the issues that surfaced in debates between the candidates, including how to handle homeless encampments and Police Department funding.
"Nithya Raman said kids aren't safer if an encampment is 500 feet away from a school and voted repeatedly to cut basic public safety funding to make LA safer," Alex Stack said. "Those are positions she now fully owns as she tries to flip-flop and convince voters otherwise."
Raman has defended her opposition to a ban on camping next to schools, saying moving them merely shuffles homeless people from one neighborhood to the next.
A 'double-edged sword'
Some voters will likely be turned off by the DSA’s endorsement of Raman, according to USC Political Science Professor Christian Grose.
“The DSA endorsement is definitely a double-edged sword,” he said. “It's going to hurt her with the Pratt voters, who will be decisive potentially in the election.”
Conservative T.V. personality Spencer Pratt finished third in the primary with 26% of the vote.
Grose added that Raman already has come under fire for her association with the DSA-LA.
“So those attacks were kind of happening already,” he said.
Wasaka said Raman nonetheless has a lot of appeal to progressive voters.
“Nithya Raman has had a long history with DSA-LA and has helped pass transformative policies at the city level,” Wasaka said. “Her leadership and progressive vision have aligned with DSA members, and we are excited to canvas for her and help her win.
“We’re knocking on tens of thousands of doors, we’re hosting fundraisers and we’re talking to all of our neighbors and families about how these candidates are going to build political power for the working class.”
The DSA-LA endorsed several other candidates in local elections, including Marissa Roy over John McKinney in the L.A. city attorney’s race.
Raman is a member of the DSA-LA, but was not endorsed in the primary, in part because some members said she didn’t hew closely enough to the party line. Raman, for example, wants to roll back part of the mansion tax, which places an extra tax on the sale of properties worth more than $5.4 million. Raman has said it discourages the building of affordable housing.
Other endorsements
The DSA-LA backing comes on the heels of another big endorsement of Raman from a major labor union. Earlier this week, Unite HERE Local 11, which represents hotel and restaurant workers, said it is backing Raman.
“Nithya Raman will fight alongside our members to protect working families, enforce our laws, preserve our housing, and hold corporations like Airbnb accountable when they take desperately needed homes off the market,” said Ada Briceño, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11.
Political scientist Fernando Guerra of Loyola Marymount’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles said the union’s endorsement is important.
“I would 10 times more want the endorsement from UNITE HERE that has 30,000 members,” said Guerra. “They are one of the most powerful electoral bodies in terms of mobilization in all of California, especially in Los Angeles.”
Most labor unions back Bass in the election, including the powerful L.A. County Federation of Labor. The Democratic Party and Chamber of Commerce also have endorsed Bass.
Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published September 2, 2026 4:49 PM
High winds and rough surf a couple of weeks ago didn't deter beachgoers in Malibu. Conditions on Southern California beaches this Labor Day weekend could also be challenging. Forecasters say Tropical Storm Marie, which should reach hurricane strength by Thursday off the coast of Mexico, is expected to create dangerous rip currents and waves.
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Robert Gauthier
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
Tropical Storm Marie, which will soon become a hurricane, won’t hit Southern California directly, but it will create hazardous ocean conditions at the beach over Labor Day weekend.
The details: Marie is expected to reach hurricane strength off the coast of Mexico by Thursday morning. The storm is moving northwest, and forecasters say the chance is extremely low that the storm will veer north toward Southern California. Still, it is expected to affect weather and ocean conditions from afar.
Why it matters: The storm is expected to send a strong ocean swell our way, creating dangerous rip currents and surf as people are likely to crowd Southern California beaches for the holiday weekend. It’s also expected to bring clouds and a chance of light rain to the region.
Read on…for a deeper look at this weekend’s forecast.
Despite speculation earlier this week, a hurricane is not going to hit Southern California this weekend.
Tropical Storm Marie is churning in the Pacific Ocean several hundred miles off the coast of Mexico. It’s expected to reach hurricane strength by Thursday morning.
The storm is moving northwest, which is typical for most storms in the eastern Pacific. Forecasters say the chance is extremely minimal that it will veer north.
“The current forecast track is for Marie to continue to move off to the west and northwest, further and further away,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson.
A diagram shows the likely path of Tropical Storm and Hurricane Marie through Monday morning.
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NOAA
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But that doesn’t mean we’ll dodge its effects completely.
Hurricanes can affect weather patterns from afar, and Marie is likely to significantly impact Southern California’s weather and beaches over Labor Day weekend.
Beware dangerous beach conditions
Recent storm surges already have damaged Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach. A storm off the coast now has meteorologists warning of rough beach conditions and high moisture heading into the Labor Day weekend.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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The strongest effects from the storm will be felt along the coast.
”Those beach coastal impacts are gonna be the big thing to watch for this weekend,” Thompson said. “You're going to have a large and southeast southerly swell moving into the coastal waters from the hurricane.”
Forecasters are warning that the swell will come with dangerously strong rip currents and big waves, especially along south-facing beaches. It could also bring the potential for coastal flooding.
The swell's peak will probably hit Sunday and Monday.
Surf along the Southern California coast has already been high this summer. Last weekend, the conditions, combined with large beach crowds, led to more than 1,200 ocean rescues by L.A. County lifeguards. With temperatures soaring, more than 1 million people went to L.A. County beaches last weekend.
And with the holiday this weekend, large crowds are likely to return to the beaches, potentially putting more people in the path of even more dangerous ocean conditions.
The stats are in.
More than a million people headed to the beach this last weekend. With the crowds and increased ocean activity, @lacolifeguards performed more than 1,200 ocean rescues and responded to nearly 400 medical emergencies. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/a2orS5eYw3
If you do plan to go to the beach, the safest option is to stay near occupied lifeguard posts and heed lifeguard warnings. Also, stay off of jetties and coastal rocks.
If you’re caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shoreline. Once you stop feeling the current’s pull, swim at an angle away from the current and toward the shore. If needed, tread water and wave for help.
National Weather Service safety tips on how to move out of a rip current safely.
Marie will also bring a surge of moisture to Southern California, which means beaches will likely be socked in by tropical cloud cover.
It also means there will be a chance of rain across the region.
But at most, the rain will be light, with about a 50% chance of half an inch or less. Forecasters do not expect precipitation to be heavy enough to cause mudslides or hydrate vegetation in any significant way.
However, there is still some uncertainty among forecasters when it comes to the amount of rain and strength of the storm — they could vary if the storm’s path shifts even slightly.
“ That's what we're watching very closely in the next several days,” Thompson said. “If the forecast does seem to change over the next couple of days, it's because the track of the storm would have changed.”
If the storm veers slightly closer to North America, Thompson said the amount of rain and severity of ocean conditions would increase. If it veers the other direction, they would decrease.
