Variety is reporting that Pixar head John Lasseter, along Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and Studio Ghibli, are working hard to release the Japanese animated Smash hit, “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” the studio’s biggest release ever int he US.

If the name Ghibli sounds familiar, that’s because they pretty much the Disney of Japan. Some of their bigger hits include: Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle.

The US voice cast for the film includes:Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin and Cloris Leachman.

Over in Japan, the movie made $165 million, making it the biggest money earner in Japan for 2008.