Mary and the Witch's Flower

"It pains me to say it: the first feature from Ghibli successor Studio Ponoc is underwhelming and unfulfilling in comparison to what we’ve experienced from film masters Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle) and Isao Takahata (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya). Even on its own merits, Mary and the Witch’s Flower lacks a core heartfelt relationship seen in director Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s previous efforts Arrietty and When Marnie Was There. Fortunately, like many of Studio Ghibli’s lesser films, there’s still enough cinematic and literal magic to make this fantasy adventure watchable."

"Director Yonebayashi clearly fetishises the romantic countryside setting of such European stories for Mary's time with her family, the school itself is quite unlike anything we've seen, making it easy to understand why Mary might think she's dreaming."

"Sadly, this film struggles to escape the long shadow of Ghibli's past achievements, not least Kiki's Delivery Service - also about a young witch in training - as well as that of Harry Potter."

"Magic flows freely if not infinitely in "Mary and the Witch's Flower," an effortless animated charmer from the gifted Japanese director and Studio Ghibli veteran Hiromasa Yonebayashi."

"A stirring adventure most suitable for tweens and teens."

"...a wonderful children's film full of fun magic and breathtaking imagination..."

"A whimsical, winsome world of invention, gorgeously translated on screen by the animation team."