‘Mary and The Witch’s Flower’ Is A Magically Fun Ride

From my perspective, it’s difficult to critique modern Japanese animation (especially films) without consciously comparing it to the work of powerhouse Studio Ghibli. Ghibli has been around for ages, more than three decades, and has influenced a myriad of media. Branching off from this historical studio, is Studio Ponoc, whose many animators and founder previously worked at the aforementioned behemoth. Ponoc’s first feature film, Mary and The Witch’s Flower, clearly follows similar themes found throughout Ghibli narratives: strong women leads, tales describing the journey from childhood into adolescence, and lots and lots of magic. We’re introduced to Mary Smith, a young girl who has just recently moved to the idyllic countryside to live with her gracious great aunt Charlotte. Mary is sweet and eager to help those around her; however, her thoughtfulness is attached to clumsiness, and she is constantly dropping, tripping over, or breaking something. This doesn’t stop her from exploring or trying her best though! Her qualities are endearing (at least at first) and we see her gradually move towards fostering her confidence and capabilities within herself. After following some cats through the forest, she finds a beautiful batch of flowers, which leads her to discover their inner powers: They grant people the ability to use magic for at least one night. This leads Mary into excitement and danger, as she grapples with personal responsibility and what makes promises important. Hiro…