(Image © Toho)
MARY AND THE WITCH'S FLOWER: B
Studio Ponoc continues Studio Ghibli’s legacy with its debut animated feature, Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Magical and goodhearted, this simple film should entertain children and adults alike. When young Mary discovers a mysterious flower, granting her limited magical powers, she is transported to a school for witchcraft where she soon learns everything is not as it seems. My main concern lies in the film’s animation choices—I’m surprised how Westernized everything looks; and yet, this look is faithful to its source material, Mary Stewart’s The Little Broomstick. That aside, this delightful film proves Studio Ponoc is here to stay.
Sean Woodard
Mary and the Witch's Flower
Starring Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet, and Jim Broadbent (U.S. voice cast)
Written by Riko Sakaguchi & Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
In Theaters Now