By the Sea Shore

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me…

Living in Seattle and having access to lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean, we understand their strength, their beauty and their mystery. In these enchanting and magical tales from near and far you’ll find yourself transported to the mythical and haunting power of the sea!

Ponyo is a beautiful tale by the talented writer and director Hayao Miyazaki. In a quiet oceanside town five-year-old Sosuke finds a goldfish washed ashore in a bottle, which he names Ponyo, but Ponyo is no ordinary goldfish. Ponyo is the daughter of a powerful sea wizard and a sea goddess who has escaped the confines of her watery world. While in Sosuke’s care she falls in love with him and will do whatever it takes to become human and stay by his side, even though her choice could destroy the world he lives in.

Jellyfish tells the story of three women living in Tel Aviv who find their lives adrift: Batya lives an isolated life until one day she finds a young girl abandoned at the beach and believes she comes from the sea; Keren, a new bride, celebrates her honeymoon with a broken leg and one disaster after another; and Joy, a Philippine chore women who is guilt ridden over the son she left behind. All three women are interconnected, yet so far apart.

Alisa, born from her mother’s tryst with a sailor, lives in a world where her wishes come true. Fueled by the need to know her father, she has a tumultuous relationship with her mother, which comes to a breaking point. She and her family start over again, moving from the saltwater aired beach to the bustling city of Moscow. In the movie Mermaid, the materialistic world clashes with a bright-eyed girl destined to change the path of those she encounters…even her own.

Aquamarine is a story of love, friendship and flippers. Forced to marry a merman she is not in love with, Aquamarine swims away from her father and washes into a beach club swimming pool after a brutal storm. She meets two best friends, Claire and Hailey, who after being told her story offer to help. If they can prove Aqua’s father wrong,  that love exists, they will be granted a wish that will be used to stop Hailey from moving to Australia. This movie is based on the novel Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman.

In The Secret of Roan Inish ten year old Fiona lives in Donegal, Ireland with her grandparents near the Island of Roan Inish. When she hears of the local legends regarding the selkies, seals who shed their skins to become human, and that her family is descended from one such mythical creature, she is convinced that this legend can give her clues regarding her missing brother. When she sees a young boy wandering the island she begins to believe it’s her brother.