Studio Ponoc (the spiritual successor to Studio Ghibli) launched its debut in 2017 with the film Mary and the Witch’s Flower (メアリと魔女の花 — Meari to Majo no Hana), directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The work is based on the British children’s novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, and presents a colorful fantasy adventure about a girl who discovers only one night of magical power... but it costs more than it gives.
Film Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Hiromasa Yonebayashi |
| Screenplay | Riko Nagaki, Hiromasa Yonebayashi |
| Production Studio | Studio Ponoc |
| Japanese Voices | Hana Sugisaki (Mary), Ryohei Suzuki (Peter), Yuki Amami (Madam Mumblechook) |
| Duration | 103 minutes |
| Genre | Fantasy, Adventure, Family |
| Music | Takatsugu Muramatsu |
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Mary spends her boring summer vacation in the English countryside until she finds a rare purple flower called the “Witch’s Night Flower”. For a limited few hours, the flower grants her magical energy to fly on a broomstick to a magical school called “Endor.” There, she discovers mysterious genetic experiments on animals and witches alike; she finds herself responsible for breaking a dangerous ambition that manipulates nature.
Highlights
Rich Color Animation: Neon forest scenes, glowing broom clouds, and the design of the floating school blend the classic Ghibli feel with a modern digital touch.
A Realistic, Flawed Heroine: Mary is not born brave; she stumbles and makes mistakes, making her victory a result of willpower, not fate.
Critique of Scientific Manipulation: Ethical questions about the boundaries between discovery and meddling, presented in a way suitable for young audiences without oversimplification.
A Bridge Between Generations: Director Yonebayashi (key animator on Howl’s Moving Castle and Arrietty) proves Ghibli’s pupils can carry the torch forward.
Discussion Questions
How does “Endor” resemble Howl’s Castle or Kiki’s Academy in blending magic and technology?
Does the film successfully balance faithfulness to Ghibli’s style with its own visual identity?
The significance of magic lasting only one night: a metaphor for adolescence or a reminder of the cost of reckless science?
Reception
Grossed over $42 million worldwide, with critics praising background art though the story is less complex than Ghibli classics.
Nominated for the Annie Award for Best Independent Animated Feature.
Boosted public confidence in Studio Ponoc, paving the way for later works like Modest Heroes.
Official Poster
To embed the image on your site, use a high-resolution version showing Mary flying on a broomstick with the magic school behind her, an illustrative example:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/08/Mary_and_the_Witch%27s_Flower.png
📜 “Power does not lie in the flower, but in who chooses how to use it.”