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9

marymaebennettJan 19, 2018

For transparency sake, I saw the English dub. I consider myself as someone who can sift through the good and bad anime for the average Joe and this is great! With a quick pace, endearing characters, cute cats, beautiful animation, and highFor transparency sake, I saw the English dub. I consider myself as someone who can sift through the good and bad anime for the average Joe and this is great! With a quick pace, endearing characters, cute cats, beautiful animation, and high stakes, what's not to love? The exposition is so endearing where the humor isn't laugh out loud funny but makes you have a huge grin on your face. The protagonist also very much reminds me of a younger me... but maybe more charming. The cats are what did make me laugh because they're so authentic to how cats act that any cat lover can enjoy this movie. I have to admit when the main character meets a loud and energetic squirrel in lederhosen, I was a bit worried about what I was about to watch; however, they carefully did not overdue the comic relief. The movie is extremely cinematic and beautiful, definitely worthy of going out to the theatre to see! I also thought they delicately incorporated high stakes in the magic world with the fact that she herself was not a witch and powers could run out at any time. The one thing I think that can be hard for some people is occasionally the Ghibli films can be slow (this is not Ghibli but sort of is...yahta yahta yahta) and I think this is the most fast paced one out of the ones I've seen and dives straight into the story! I would recommend it 100%!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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8

Madmortagan68Jan 19, 2018

As a first movie for studio Ponoc, I quite liked Mary and the Witches flower. The movie feels like a fantastic adventure and is an incredible spectacle to behold. Some of the animation and scenery is on par with the best Studio Ghibli everAs a first movie for studio Ponoc, I quite liked Mary and the Witches flower. The movie feels like a fantastic adventure and is an incredible spectacle to behold. Some of the animation and scenery is on par with the best Studio Ghibli ever produced. It lacks the same emotional depth that you expect from a studio Ghibli movie but that didn't stop me from being completely entranced and connected the while way through. Honestly I think the lacking of emotional depth is to be expected. These are young film makers who haven't yet endured tragedy and suffering like Myazaki has. The highest praise I can give this movie is that I now feel less concerned by the fate of Studio Ghibli because I now know there is another studio out there that can make incredible animated films… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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9

morventhusApr 20, 2018

firstly I am rounding up a 8.6 to a 9.

The movie is basically a love letter to Ghibli films (yes most of the staff are ex-Ghibli) I mean love letter in the best way the visuals the voice acting etc. but the best part is that there arefirstly I am rounding up a 8.6 to a 9.

The movie is basically a love letter to Ghibli films (yes most of the staff are ex-Ghibli) I mean love letter in the best way the visuals the voice acting etc.

but the best part is that there are loads of subtle nods to old Ghibli moves...

(for instance the broom jumps like the scarecrow from howls moving castle).

A true movie for Ghibli fans… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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2

JezzalenkoJun 7, 2018

This movie was not great. Another movie about a powerful magical character who doesn't end up using any magic. The villains are boring and predictable.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

Davrosdaleks1Jan 21, 2018

Mary and the Witch's Flower is a fun film that should delight the kiddies, but is not a perfect film.

The animation is excellent, not to mention the character and set design. Has a very unique old-timey fantasy feel to it. Mary is a strongMary and the Witch's Flower is a fun film that should delight the kiddies, but is not a perfect film.

The animation is excellent, not to mention the character and set design. Has a very unique old-timey fantasy feel to it. Mary is a strong likable character. The conclusion is both action and emotionally strong.

However, the first act lags. Running at a little over two hours, the film could have cut this down somewhat. The biggest flaw is that besides Mary, most of the film is very one-dimensional. They don't explain the world of magic and the magical university really well. (After the university is introduced, they never even bother showing the staff or students again except for three characters.) The world is more of a plot device than a truly living world.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

FlexedacornJan 26, 2018

Mary and the Witches Flower was a great first film for the newly formed Studio Ponnoc. The film was clearly meant to be a spiritual successor to Studio Ghibli, helmed by form Ghibli Animator Hiromasa Yonebayshi. My expectations goingMary and the Witches Flower was a great first film for the newly formed Studio Ponnoc. The film was clearly meant to be a spiritual successor to Studio Ghibli, helmed by form Ghibli Animator Hiromasa Yonebayshi. My expectations going into the theater were on par with that of a Ghibli quality film, and to that end I was not let down. It had all the elements I came to expect, great animations, light hearted plot, and misunderstood “villains”. Art style and plot wise it reminded me of a mash up between Spirted away and Kiki’s delivery service. Personally, the film was a little slow in the beginning but started to suck me in towards the 2nd half. I can’t say it’s my favorite Japanese animated film, but if nothing else I am very excited to see what Studio Ponnoc has to offer going forward.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

wkallaoJan 24, 2018

This debut film by the newly formed Studio Ponoc delivers most of the magic and excitement of films from Studio Ghibli, but the film has several shortcomings that are impossible to look away from.

The central conflict of the film is notThis debut film by the newly formed Studio Ponoc delivers most of the magic and excitement of films from Studio Ghibli, but the film has several shortcomings that are impossible to look away from.

The central conflict of the film is not introduced until a good portion through the film. The films opening has lots of excitement and chaos, but once that brief five minutes is up, we are quickly shifted to a more mundane and uneventful first act. We're introduced to many characters in Mary's life who get little to no characterization, and are barely relevant. Mary is the only character who has a personality, so it's hard to connect with any of the other characters in the real world.

The antagonists of the film come across as run of the mill bad guys, with no special motivations to set them apart in any way. They essentially operate as one unit, despite being two different characters. Their "evil plan" (for lack of a better term), doesn't hold much weight to it, and doesn't seem to really end up being a horrible threat.

The story's first act concerns Mary and her everso boring life. And I mean boring! Nothing happens in the first act. It's hardly engaging, and the only real event is her finding the Witch's Flower. A good part of the second act is spent with Mary touring a magical college, which doesn't build up to anything. The final act has moments of intensity here and there, but the threat doesn't seem to be as imminent. This is likely due to the shallow characters not holding enough promise, or that the story was dragged out for so long, it became unenjoyable. Mary is also pitted against a task that has no real effect on her. The story isn't about her, and it isn't personal or emotionally effective. While her friend, Peter, is involved in the conflict, he is so unlikeable and bullies Mary in the first part of the film, so there is no reason to care about him!

However, the film has beautiful scenery and animation. It's a spectacle to look out and has some of the most wonderful sound design and music. Being a debut film, the shortcomings are alright, but I hope the studio improves as time goes on.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

rocktumblrJan 19, 2018

*No Spoilers
The first feature length work of animation from Studio Ponoc is a careful interpretation of a classic 1971 children's book. The story is filled with plenty of action and suspense while staying appropriate for younger children.*No Spoilers
The first feature length work of animation from Studio Ponoc is a careful interpretation of a classic 1971 children's book. The story is filled with plenty of action and suspense while staying appropriate for younger children. There are no true villains in this story but rather people in conflict because they want different things for themselves. Studio Ponoc includes a group of individuals who banded together after Miyazaki and Takahata announced their retirement from full time features in 2014. As a result this work has a distinct similarity to the visual style of Studio Ghibli films.
I am very excited to see more work from this new animation studio!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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0

valixtSep 7, 2018

Good animation. Empty world. Empty story. Mood imposed by music. Magic-driven plot.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

AaronchakraJan 20, 2018

Great visuals and throwbacks to a simpler time. However the story felt short and rushed especially the second act which was practically missing. The story didn't do enough to establish suspense and went to from one event to another.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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5

RedShiftXIIIJul 21, 2018

Entering the great Miyazaki's realm of story telling was a bold move by director Yonebayashi, but sadly, I don't think he quite met the challenge. With that said, the movie is neither bad, nor is it good; it just is OK. It's lesson is a bitEntering the great Miyazaki's realm of story telling was a bold move by director Yonebayashi, but sadly, I don't think he quite met the challenge. With that said, the movie is neither bad, nor is it good; it just is OK. It's lesson is a bit refreshing (at least what I believe it means) and one that I think is lost in translation. On the surface, it's simply to take life into your own hands and not depend on luck, or in this case, magic. I believe there is a bit more depth than that; perhaps, the movie is meant to represent a somewhat growing movement that exists within Japan, of young adults moving back to the countryside and shedding themselves of their hyperactive city lives, which are becoming less and less dependable at creating careers and opportunity for the new generations joining the labor force. I get this sense from their connection of magic to science where the magical world is a bustling city which seems to have no problem experimenting on the outside world - valuing life less. In this sense, and with this perspective, there was a lot of potential for the movie. Sadly, I don't think it's atmosphere, in supporting the message, really lived up to the Miyazaki standard. It felt empty despite the colorful art. Then again, I just might be reading into the message too deeply and the lighthearted attempt in atmosphere perfectly matched a relatively shallow message. The only interesting thing about the characters is skin deep; the characters often take peculiar forms, but their motivations and their personalities are about as deep as a puddle, save maybe Mary herself. I admit, I haven't found any deeper meaning to Mary's hate of her hair beyond the obvious self doubt proven pointless, but I think there's something I'm missing given later references. Creating interesting and magical worlds that serve the narrative is a gift of Miyazaki and I find it sad that Yonebayashi seems to have recycled the art without even remotely capturing the spirit. While I'm not against mimicking the successful, I feel like Miyazaki wasn't the only story teller Yonebayashi "borrowed" from; Harry Potter comes to mind. While J. K. Rowling doesn't have a monopoly on the magical school, the world here feels empty and largely token. The setting and the supporting characters/creatures that helped create it, were all nothing but unimaginative plot devices, or even worse, meaningless artifacts.

Again, I might be expecting too much based on my love of Miyazaki, but standards are standards, and I think if you enjoy this sort of fairy tale, so well explored by Miyazaki, I'm not sure you'll be impressed by this movie. I believe he took an interesting perspective of a Japanese social phenomenon, but failed to really turn it into a cohesive original-feeling universal message.… Expand