Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017)

*No Spoilers The first feature length work of animation from Studio Ponoc is a careful interpretation of a classic 1971 children's book. The story is filled with plenty of action and suspense while staying appropriate for younger children. There are no true villains in this story but rather people in conflict because they want different things for themselves. Studio Ponoc includes a group of individuals who banded together after Miyazaki and Takahata announced their retirement from full time features in 2014. As a result this work has a distinct similarity to the visual style of Studio Ghibli films.

Fmovies: What a stunning debut from Studio Ponoc! The animation is gorgeous and multi-layered, and the music is stunning. The themes, while familiar, are done in unique and meaningful ways. I felt small influences of other great animes like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and even the great Akira. Some ideas and homages to Legend, The Dark Crystal, and Harry Potter. The plot involves a young girl who finds a magical flower that enables her to be a witch. She finds the Endor College for Witches and embarks upon her training. This was a visual feast, and I cannot wait to see it again. This is the best anime that I have seen in years, and Studio Ponoc is one to watch for the future.

This film is absolutely wonderful. The animation is beautiful, and adds to the theme of magic perfectly. The soundtrack captures the tone wonderfully, as well as all the sound effects used. Many people wondered if the film would be on par with Studio Ghibli, since Studio Ponoc is a branch off from them. There is no question that this has the quality and feel of a classic Ghibli film that all fans can enjoy. The main character, Mary, is likeable and relatable. She is a sweet girl who is a bit awkward and doesn't feel like she fits in. This film shows that not all adults are what they appear to be, and cannot always be trusted. It also holds a strong underlying message against animal experimentation and cruelty. The plot is well structured, and her journey to accept who she is and do the right thing despite the circumstances is absolutely incredible. I would definitely recommend this film.

Mary and the Witch's Flower fmovies. Mary and the Witch's Flower is a fun film that should delight the kiddies, but is not a perfect film.

The animation is excellent, not to mention the character and set design. Has a very unique old-timey fantasy feel to it. Mary is a strong likable character. The conclusion is both action and emotionally strong.

However, the first act lags. Running at a little over two hours, the film could have cut this down somewhat. The biggest flaw is that besides Mary, most of the film is very one-dimensional. They don't explain the world of magic and the magical university really well. (After the university is introduced, they never even bother showing the staff or students again except for three characters.) The world is more of a plot device than a truly living world.

The creators of "Mary and the Witch's Flower" try hard to make a Ghibli-style movie, but they end doing something generic and ultimately annoying, even if visually beautiful. What they miss are real characters, as the protagonist is bland and anonymous, and the other characters are basically totally empty, with no personalities nor motivations. So the movie is all about action, with pointless dialogues, no poetry, no emotions and no soul. A missed opportunity.

Studio Ponoc, heir apparent to Studio Ghibli, makes a decent start with Mary & the Witch's Flower.

Animation is lush and gorgeous to look at, and is very reminiscent of the work we're used to from Studio Ghibli - and as anyone who's familiar with Ghibli's work can tell you, that is a pretty high bar to meet. I saw the English dubbed version, and the voice acting was excellent as well - especially Ruby Barnhill as Mary. Background score was quite good too.

Story, however, was a bit disappointing. Not saying that it was bad, it just felt a bit devoid of heart and there were quite a few plot holes which were hard to overlook. Character motivations were hard to explain, and the wizarding world Mary stumbles into feels empty, though it is supposed to be a thriving world. Then again, I complain because I was expecting something of Ghibli standards.

It was a fun movie to experience, and I'm glad Studio Ponoc exists - not only because I expect bigger and better things from them in the future, but also because something as beautiful as the tradition of Ghibli animated movies needs be kept alive.

7/10