Studio Ponoc Starts Its Case for Becoming the Next Ghibli with 'Mary and the Witch's Flower'

Studio Ponoc is founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura, a former producer for Studio Ghibli.  With Studio Ghibli going on an indefinite hiatus, Studio Ponoc hopes to fill in the void, starting with their first venture Mary and the Witch’s Flower.  And with many former Ghibli employees joining Ponoc to work on it, the implication is that the Ghibli spirit is going to live on through Ponoc.

Based on the book The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is about a young girl named Mary Smith who is sent to live with her Great Aunt Charlotte in her estate.  In her exploring of the nearby forest, she is led by two cats to a rare, extraordinary flower called Fly-By-Night and an old broomstick ensnared in vegetation.  These proves to be the catalysts for a magical adventure, as she is whisked to Endor College (think Hogwarts, but with almost as much machines and science as magic).  She’s initially awed of the place, but soon, she discovers that it is harboring dark secrets.

As expected, this anime film is a delight.  It captures many of the qualities that made Ghibli movies utterly charming.  The animation is exquisite, and the sound design is magnificent.  It is pleasingly whimsical, joyous, enthralling, innocent, and yet, dark and bold.

However, though this could easily pass off as a Ghibli film, I feel that it somewhat lacks oomph and depth.  The storytelling isn’t quite strong as I wanted to, and the characters – both protagonists and antagonists – aren’t quite memorable.  As a result, I was compelled by it, but not as much as I was compelled by most Ghibli movies.  After seeing the last Ghibli film, When Marnie Was There, I just knew it was going to end up in my list for best films that year (and it did).  In comparison, Mary and the Witch’s Flower doesn’t leave with such kind of impression.  Well, it’s a great film, so it’s possible that it eventually ends up in my list for this year’s best movies.  But there’s no certainty.

All in all, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is fantastic.  As far as style, it does a perfect Ghibli.  It falters a bit at the substance front, but it nonetheless generally upholds the Ghibli essence.  Thus, until Studio Ghibli comes back to the game (if it ever still plans to), then Studio Ponoc is on the right track of becoming its spiritual successor.

Mary and the Witch’s Flower may not be an anime masterpiece.  But it has successfully served as a terrific stepping stone for Ponoc.  Hopefully, they can build on it; that their next film will turn out being one.