Studio Ponoc, the Japanese animation studio founded by former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura (The Tale of Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There) with a number of former Ghibli animators, has their first feature set for Summer 2017. Mary and the Witch’s Flower looks to be a treat for fans of Ghibli as the studio continues the legacy of Hayao Miyazaki (though the retired animator is still going strong with Boro the Caterpillar).
Based on Mary Stewart’s The Little Broomstick, the story follows a young girl named Mary who follows a black cat named Tib into the woods. In Stewart’s book, she discovers a broomstick and enters Endor College–where she discovers terrible things behind the college above the clouds. How closely the adaptation will follow Stewart’s story is unclear, but the visuals look gorgeous. Directing is Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who also did The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There.
Nishimura told the Telegraph that Ponoc wants to share the Ghibli philosophy of “the heroines’ humanity, rather than any special powers” and hopes the film will restore hope to children. Already, I’m reminded a lot of Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away, as a young girl enters a new magical world. What do you think of Mary and the Witch’s Flower so far?
(via Kotaku)
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