Mary and The Witch's Flower

Name: Mary and The Witch's Flower
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Animation, Family
Released: January 19, 2018
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Eri Watanabe, Fumiyo Kohinata, Hana Sugisaki, Hikari Mitsushima, Jim Broadbent

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 70 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 70 Ratings

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Mary And The Witch's Flower

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Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: January 19, 2018 | PG

Starring: Eri Watanabe, Fumiyo Kohinata, Hana Sugisaki, Hikari Mitsushima, Jim Broadbent, Jirô Satô, Kate Winslet, Ken'ichi Endô, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Ruby Barnhill, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Shinobu Ôtake, Yûki Amami

Summary: Mary is an ordinary young girl stuck in the country with her Great-Aunt Charlotte and seemingly no adventures or friends in sight. She follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest, where she discovers an old broomstick and the strange Fly-by-Night flower, a rare plant that blossoms only once every seven years and only in that forest.Mary is an ordinary young girl stuck in the country with her Great-Aunt Charlotte and seemingly no adventures or friends in sight. She follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest, where she discovers an old broomstick and the strange Fly-by-Night flower, a rare plant that blossoms only once every seven years and only in that forest. Together the flower and the broomstick whisk Mary above the clouds, and far away to Endor College – a school of magic run by headmistress Madam Mumblechook and the brilliant Doctor Dee. But there are terrible things happening at the school, and when Mary tells a lie, she must risk her life to try to set things right.… Expand

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

May 12, 2018

This art-form has long been thought to have reached its twilight years, but Yonebayashi’s film brims over with the bounce and spark of childhood. Read full review

Ray Greene

Dec 8, 2017

A lovingly crafted fantasy on an epic scale, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is a film about transformation made by filmmakers in transition. Read full review

Wendy Ide

Jun 10, 2022

It may lack the originality of the best Miyazaki films, but with its heart-swelling score and exquisitely realised worlds, this is a must for Ghibli fans. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Jan 18, 2018

Mary and the Witch’s Flower isn’t quite a masterpiece.... But it’s a joy to look at: a visual adventure, and a continuation of a remarkable legacy Read full review

William Bibbiani

Jan 18, 2018

The familiar story and underdeveloped characters aren't nearly as magical as the animation, but there's still a lot to enjoy in Mary and the Witch's Flower, even if it's not Hiromasa Yonebayashi's best. Read full review

The Film Stage Daniel Schindel

Nov 29, 2017

Mary and the Witch’s Flower is safe, containing no assertion of Ponoc as an artistic force beyond its overall technical accomplishment. Read full review

The Playlist Ally Johnson

Feb 1, 2018

It’s thrilling to have any semblance of Studio Ghibli back in our theaters and Mary and the Witch’s Flower will momentarily satisfy that hunger, but will leave you wanting more. Read full review

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User Reviews

CosmicRain

Jan 9, 2019

The animation is absolutely eye catching, and needs to be celebrated! The pacing was surprisingly quick, and the dialogue, while feeling out of place at some points, (still a good dub) was pleasant and genuine. The fact that this is the studios first film is wonderful! While everyone isThe animation is absolutely eye catching, and needs to be celebrated! The pacing was surprisingly quick, and the dialogue, while feeling out of place at some points, (still a good dub) was pleasant and genuine. The fact that this is the studios first film is wonderful! While everyone is comparing everything about this film to every Ghibli film ever, I think studio Ponoc kept this more as a love letter to Ghibili rather than it's competition. I'm looking forward to Ponoc's future work!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

liamfltaylor

Jun 14, 2018

Review for film with Japanese audio, english subtitles.

I found Mary and the Witch's Flower to be a moving film. I was engaged throughout and time passed very quickly. I appreciated the wonderully drawn Shropshire landscapes. I found it entertaining observing all the Ghibli signatureReview for film with Japanese audio, english subtitles.

I found Mary and the Witch's Flower to be a moving film. I was engaged throughout and time passed very quickly. I appreciated the wonderully drawn Shropshire landscapes. I found it entertaining observing all the Ghibli signature tropes. I'm pretty sure they included every Miyazaki film somewhere: broomsticks and cats, the ponyo sea worm/droplets, the red elk, the laputa style school guards, authoritative older baddy, redemption/infantilisation of baddies, egg-man lookalike, delicious food shots, floating land islands, cute dog, and clouds. I thought that the depiction of the school was absolutely fabulous, and really a location that I would love to explore more of, the time alloted was not sufficient, understandably.

The film is so rich, let me list all the specifics I loved: the school janitor Flanagan, cats, magic spells, all the various animals stampeding, the botanical focus, the remote house, the song at the end 'rain', laputa style school guards, the various gadgetry of the Kamaji type professor, and did I mention Flanagan?

Sequel, please!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

marymaebennett

Jan 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 high stakes, what's not to love? The exposition is soFor 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

JLuis_001

Mar 30, 2018

While I had higher expectations for this film, the truth is that despite that, the animation is very good and overall the movie itself is more imaginative, emotional and fun than many other animated films and I really fell in love with the soundtrack.

Highly recommended.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wkallao

Jan 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 not introduced until a good portion through the film. TheThis 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

DoniJr

Nov 8, 2018

It seens like a Ghibli movie, but don't feel like one. I know we are talking about a different studio, but if Ponoc was decided to go with a Ghibli approach and feeling in it's debut it should at least have the same charm and heartfelt feeling. I must say it's a good start, but Ponoc have aIt seens like a Ghibli movie, but don't feel like one. I know we are talking about a different studio, but if Ponoc was decided to go with a Ghibli approach and feeling in it's debut it should at least have the same charm and heartfelt feeling. I must say it's a good start, but Ponoc have a long track to trail.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

valixt

Sep 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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