It is a Japanese animated fantasy film. Co-written & directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Produced by Studio Ponoc founder Yoshiaki Nishimura. It is based on the 1971 novel ‘The Little Broomstick’ by Mary Stewart.
It is Studio Ponoc’s first feature film. It stars voices of Hana Sugisaki, Yuki Amami, Fumiya Kohinata.
A girl, Mary Smith, finds ‘fly-by-night’, a mysterious flower that can give her the power to become a witch for only one night.
Yonebayashi, who had worked with Ghibli on ‘When Marnie was There’ and ‘Arrietty’, said’ this is the first movie after leaving Studio Ghibli.’ It shows Ghibli’s influence. I found it resembles ‘Kiki’s delivery Service’ because of the broomstick!
Critics give it 6.9 / 10. ‘Mary & the Witch’s Flower’ honors it’s creator’s Studio Ghibli roots with a gentle, beautifully animated story whose simplicity is rounded out by it’s entrancing visuals’.
A delightful film.
Asian Entertainment 