Mary and the Witch's Flower メアリと魔女の花
An enchanting tale
Mary and the Witch's Flower is the first born of Studio Ponoc. This one was founded by former members of Studio Ghibli. It is an adaptation of the book The Little Broomstick, written by Mary Stewart.
Mary has just moved to a small village, with her great aunt Charlotte. Day after day, she is bored when she finally discovers the famous witch's flower . It flowers only every seven years and will allow it to have magical powers for one night. Mary then mounts her broom, to discover the kingdom of magic and its school, above the clouds...
Ghibli's Legacy
Yonebayashi is the author of Memories of Marnie , the latestStudio Ghiblifilm (which received a mixed reception when it was released). It is difficult for him, with this first feature film, to escape the Ghibli heritage. At many points in the film, we can't help but think of Spirited Away , Castle in the Sky , Howl's Moving Castle , and Kiki's Delivery Service , wondering if these are intended references. or not. Similarly, when Mary discovers the school of magic, it is impossible not to think of the most famous of all wizards, Harry Potter! Yonebayashi still manages to make a film with universal reach, which will affect both children and adults.
Everyone will be blown away by the opening and ending scenes, which prove that Yonebayashi has nothing to envy maestro Miyazaki, in terms of animation . Once again, the landscapes parade, in fluidity and poetry. The characters are endearing and the creatures, straight out of Yonebayashi's imagination, are touching.
A movie for children?
On the other hand, the very Manichean story and the relatively simple dialogues will have difficulty seducing the older ones , especially if they have been accustomed to the subtle universe of Ghibli, whose meaning in the films continues to evolve, as and as our maturity grows.
Mary and the Witch's Flower is therefore a pretty tale, more suited to a young audience. If you are nostalgic for Ghibli, you will be happy to find their familiar universe . The film, on the other hand, only bodes well for future productions by Studio Ponoc.
For the musical touch , the very popular J-pop group Sekai no Owari (literally "End of the world") was responsible for the theme of the film. To listen without moderation !
See also: The pop group Perfume
