This film is based on Mary Stewart's 1971 story "The Little Broomstick".which came out long before Kiki or Harry Potter.so although similar to the other stories, it is an original as well. What's next? Well, it's a bit like "Frankenstein".but you'll have to see for yourself. She has no idea what she's doing but soon she and the cat are in a far away magical land with talking animals as well as a witch's school.Endor! But things aren't all happy and laughter there.and after a while she isn't sure who to trust. However, when she meets a black cat in the forest and finds a broom, something very strange happens.a weird slime pours from a flower onto her hands and instantly she can fly using the broom. When the story begins, Mary seems to be a pretty ordinary young girl.
Anime studio debut 8 review movie#
In many ways, "Mary and the Witch's Flower" is like taking Kiki from that classic movie and sending her to Hogwarts! Seriously. One of Studio Ghibli's most wonderful films was "Kiki's Delivery Service"-an anime movie about a young witch who goes into the world to find herself. Technically superb, but empty on the inside. Mary and the Witch's Flower is not the worst anime film I've ever seen, but it is certainly lacking in depth, heart and message. And that's a big no-no in stories aimed at children. By the end she's essentially the same character she was in the beginning. I also don't enjoy the fact that Mary does not learn a thing throughout the course of the film. It was an okay film on its own, but it felt like a huge betrayal for all fans of the original Earthsea books.
Studio Ghibli had this same problem with Tales from Earthsea. Studio Ponoc has essentially taken a quintessentially British children's novel and turned its mood, its atmosphere on its head, adding in a lot of unneeded anime tropes and visuals. I have not read the original novel, The Little Broomstick, but I'm somewhat familiar with Mary Stewart, the author. Which is why, it's my sad duty to inform you that the script is rather awful. The musical score is also nice, the voice actors are extremely talented and the whole film has this warm, inviting, fairytale-esque feeling to it. The character and set designs are amazing to look at, everything moves with graze and effortless fluidity, and there isn't a hair out of place, figuratively speaking. This is some of the most beautiful, vibrant, lush, detailed and gorgeous animation I've ever seen. And this is reflected in the quality of animation. Studio Ponoc was founded by former Studio Ghibli employees and a lot of its animators worked for Ghibli as well. She manages to bewitch a broom, which takes her to the Endor College for witches. In it a young girl, Mary Smith, has moved to the countryside and is out exploring one day when she stumbles upon a mystical flower, which has the power to grant her magical abilities. Mary and the Witch's Flower is the first feature film made by Studio Ponoc and the third film directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who previously worked for Studio Ghibli.