Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
xXDAGGERHEARTXx
This is a pretty average movie story-wise but with a very high production value. There's really nothing in the story or characters that stood out or made a big impression on me, it follows a very safe template yet somehow has a disappointing ending all the same.
The animation is easily the strongest part of it as despite the middling story everything is in a lively Ghibli-esque art style. The soundtrack and voice acting are also solid, I have no complaints in that department. Despite the lack of charm it's worth a watch if you want a very safe movie that won't challenge you but will look consistently beautiful.
Read at the sourceKatherina16
Mary and the witch's flower at first glance had me intrigued and excited for something new that at least had a similar feeling to the Ghibli movies that I've loved since I was little. But by the end of it, I just ended up feeling genuinely upset. It could have been so good, but it lacked so much in it's story and character building that could of probably been solved if the movie was simply a bit longer.
Without going too in depth on how I would actually change the story to make it better, I'll point out the main issues that made the movie much less enjoyable for me.
1. The friendship between Mary and Peter goes from non-existent to BFF's without any buildup what-so-ever.
Mary just meets Peter twice by chance, he mocks her for looking like a monkey so she gets upset and then he just le…
Read at the sourceitschickpea
I watched this movie a while ago, so please excuse the fact that I'm really only writing my opinion here (and not really reviewing the actual art and story line).
This anime really advertised itself as Studio Ghibli, though it really was not. Only previous staff worked on this, which really showed.
This movie felt like it was trying so hard to be Studio Ghibli movie that it just came out a mess. It was a total rip-off of all Studio Ghibli movies, and is not worth watching. I personally don't think that any part of this movie was good, except for maybe the art. On that note, the art itself was not even that good. There were a few things that they did (like the hair bristling thing that you can see in a lot of Ghibli films), that were totally copied from Miazaki's works.
If you're looking…
Read at the sourceYemi_Hikari
There is nothing wrong with being “like” studio Ghibli, which is something one can definitely say regarding ‘Mary and the ‘Witch’s Flower’. Yet, despite all of the similarities Studio Ponoc shares with Ghibli there are also differences which make said studio’s work stand out against that of Ghibli. More importantly, anybody who thinks Ghibli has a monopoly over the given style is actually unfamiliar with older works from studios such as NHK.
The style is definitely softer than a lot of the Anime we seen, yet also has a realistic appeal despite not having the level of realism as seen in some of the newer styles coming out. Instead, said style utilizes a lot of the classic elements while retaining the big eyes which represent innocence, and other similar features without those sharp angles.…
Read at the sourceHardeepSean
In my opinion, this movie could have been great but during the movie the story went downhill.
Story - 5
I think the story at the beginning started strong! It definitely had the potential to be good story-wise but as the movie went on it fell flat to me. It was almost like there was a lot of filler bits or a lot of things just added in but not really thought out properly. It's almost like they had too many ideas and they wanted to include it all but then it made some other bits of the story either making no sense or not being necessary to include.
Character - 3
Probably the biggest let down in the whole movie. As I said at the start of this review, the start of the movie was great but the story and the character development throughout the movie are the things that made me give this movi…
Read at the sourceJonah_Lee
This movie is the first work of Studio Ponoc and honestly I felt that it was living off the Ghibli legacy. For starters, The logo for the studio is literally the portrait of their most famous character shot from the left angle. If that is not obvious that it was desperate to be like Ghibli then I would like to critique the artstyle which is strikingly similar to Ghibli.
Now to bring up the story it sort of follows the source material Mary's little broomstick. But the characters feels so shallow and most of the story is focused on Mary. The screenwriting felt as if being written by a teacher. It's the kind of thing when you write a script and it doesn't sound like a conversation but an essay.
This movie got me excited to watch something that reminded me of Ghibli but it fell flat on it's…
Read at the sourcemai_mai_
Though I am someone who usually does not write reviews, It disappointed me to the negative feedback regarding this film so I had to write something.
While at first look this is a "childish" movie I don't believe that takes anything away from the sheer thrill it is to experience this movie. The obvious connection to Studio Ghibli, of course, can be seen, and the way the world is built is beautiful. But beyond that, the magical spark throughout the movie is sure to strike a chord with anyone who enjoyed daydreaming about fantastic adventures as a kid. And whether you are a young and old, I'm sure many can enjoy that magical ride that is Mary and The Witch's Flower.
Read at the sourceSilverOphelian
Mary and The Witch’s Flower is a 2017 Japanese animated film, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, animated by Studio Ponoc, and produced by Yoshiaki Nishimura, founder of Studio Ponoc. This film is based on the novel, The Little Broomstick, by British novelist, Mary Stewart and is Studio Ponoc’s first feature film. This film is about a young girl, Mary, who has moved in with her Aunt Charlotte without her parents due to them being busy working. Mary has always been an overactive yet clumsy child and this breeds doubt in herself. She spends her time exploring the near empty town and getting use to the area before she starts school. When she follows two cats into the woods, she stumbles upon a magical flower that turns her lackluster summer into a grand adventure that reveals family secrets an…
Read at the sourcektulu007
Mary to Majo no Hana is based on a children's story by British author Mary Stewart. The anime film was Studio Ponoc's premiere work. Basically, they're a group of creators who splintered off of Studio Ghibli, probably because they were mortified by Tales from Earthsea and the only way to distance themselves from it entirely was to start their own studio. With black jack and hookers. Let's see how much of a splash they made.
Story:
We open with a building on fire and a hooded girl scarpering while magical beasts try to chase after her. We then cut to a young girl, Mary, suffering from boredom since her great aunt's house has no games and a broken television. I mean, she has books so maybe read? I know when I was a kid I'd do that literally all day on occasion until my mum caught me and m…
Read at the sourceTakaCode
As a fan of both Kiki Delivery Service and Little Witch Academia OVA + TV, I was really forward for watching Mary and the Witch Flower because I thought it was going to be another magical experience based on the trailers that I saw as well constant advertisements on many Local Underground stations across London. When the movie came out in cinemas in the UK I immediately went to my local cinema and decided to watch it with a big smile on my face. However, as soon as I left the cinema I was not smiling at all. I was pretty sad and disappointed about it. At first, I was shocked at how sad and disappointed I was because I really wanted to love the movie. Then on the following day, I decided to watch the movie again but online this time because why in a hell should I blow another £10 pounds to…
Read at the sourceheychrisfox
You know what you're getting when you watch Mary and the Witch's Flower.
Don't lie to yourself. You know why you're watching this film. This is the post-Ghibli age. We are now in the age of Studio Ponoc. Yes, the quality is the same. Yes, the aesthetic is the same. If you want the "Ghibli" feel, you could come here, or you could play some Ni no Kuni. Instead, you're here. So trying to judge this film against its predecessors is almost unfair. Because although Mary and the Witch's Flower is cut of the same cloth as other Ghibli films, the main takeaway from this review that I want to impart upon the reader is: THIS IS NOT A GHIBLI FILM.
Why is that so important?
The emphasis relies on your acceptance of this film. Many people enter a Ghibli film with nostalgia and glamour on the mind.…
Read at the sourceBajar
Mary and the Witch's Flower is on par with the Ghibli classics. As the first work by Studio Ponoc, Mary serves as the default flagship of the studio. As such, a lot of expectations were placed on this movie. Given Studio Ponoc's unproven nature, I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie. I feared that I would perhaps find this movie to be lacklustre and uninspired. Instead what I got was a film that rivals some of the best works from Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki.
Similar to my favourite Ghibli films, the best part of Mary's story is how her character grows throughout. The story starts with the protagonist Mary Smith, having recently moved, living with her Great Aunt as well as a maid and a gardener. Her attempts to help with housework and gardening go poorly and to add insult to i…
Read at the sourceSIOPAOBUN
The film is another unfortunate example of what could have been.
Studio Ponoc consists of the veteran staff (from Ghibli shutting down) and at it's very best you have the wonderful fluid animation. However, the crucial problem with Mary and the Witch's Flower was the story and script. You have interesting character designs and a ripe world ready for world building. There's some great sequences but without the writing to back it up, it's all flash and no substance.
Characters were all one note. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but when the core drama revolves around a bland main character, there's nothing to grab onto. Mary discovers a witch flower and she only reacts to the events that follow. She doesn't have any motivation so when one does appear, it becomes hamfisted and she changes…
Read at the sourceattempt1
This film is very average, the main character Mary is great however the rest of the movie falls short. This is Studio Ponoc’s first film, which consists of some ex Studio Ghibli members. After hearing that Studio Ghibli is possibly no longer making films, I was excited to see their legacy continue in Studio Ponoc. Unfortunately Mary and the Witch’s Flower is a little disappointing, but not a bad start to Studio Ponoc.
Mary is a fantastic character who’s a lot of fun to watch. She is a care free young girl who doesn’t have a lot of confidence. She is constantly complaining about how she doesn’t like her hair, and she’s quite clumsy like when she accidentally killed some roses when trying to help in the garden, these certainly don’t help with her confidence. And yet she still tries to help…
Read at the sourceGonzyChan
Fun and simple stories are always welcomed. Children’s fantasy as a genre fits these two things correctly. We’ve all grown up with these timeless tales that transformed us at the early stage of our development. There was once a time in anime, specifically in the 70s, when studios adapted old children’s literature from the late 19th to early 20th century. Mary and the Witch’s Flower gives off these vibes from my experience viewing it.
This is the first animated feature by Studio Ponoco, a studio founded by former Studio Ghibli lead producer Yoshiaki Nishimura and several staffers that joined him after Ghibli decided to pause all production for re-evaluation. Mary and the Witch’s Flower shows the real intention of Studio Ponoco to continue the legacy of the Ghibli style of animation in case…
Read at the sourcertil
Mary and the Witch's Flower is the inaugural film from Studio Ponoc and the 3rd directorial effort from Hiromasa Yonebayashi, whose previous films include the respectable Ghibli efforts The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There.
Being essentially an offshoot of Ghibli, you can immediately see the visual cues Ponoc borrows from its roots. In many ways, it is as if nothing changed. From an animation standpoint, this film may as well have been made by Ghibli staff - but I say this not as a criticism, as not only will it take time for Ponoc to develop its own style, but this anime is a fantastic visual feast. Gorgeous backgrounds, excellent attention to every detail and nuance accompanied by fluid and breathtaking animation is what you can expect from Mary and the Witch's Flower…
Read at the sourcezamandzoe
- zamandzoe's Anime Reviews: Season 2 ~ Review 1 -
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
Normally, it would be acceptable for a studio's first film to be far from perfect. However, when you have people from the acclaimed Studio Ghibli working on your film, you're asking to be compared to them from the get go.
As much as I'd want to deny this claim, it seems that Miyazaki was the key to much of Ghibli's success.
Story: 6
On it's own, Mary and the Witch's Flower's story is flat. The pacing is all over the place, and any world building falls flat on it's face. By all means, it's "passable" but it's far from engaging. We are introduced to a "normal" world followed by a magical realm of sorts that exists inside it. Notably, we…
Read at the sourceJex
Mary and the Witch's Flower was produced by Studio Ponoc, formed by former members of Studio Ghibli and directed by Academy Award-nominated Hiromasa Yonebayashi. It is based off of The Little Broomstick by the Scottish Mary Stewart, which is why it has a very Nothern atmosphere. Though originally released mid 2017 in Japan, Mary and the Witch's Flower only reached Australia on the 18th of January with dubs and subs both available.
Quality
As to be expected from former Ghibli staff, the production quality is excellent. The character designs are well done and modern, the artwork and animation is very impressive and the soundtrack, by Takatsugu Muramatsu who also did the music for When Marnie Was There and Yuasa's Lu Over the Wall, is appropriate and grand. The soundtrack and visuals contri…
Read at the sourceAngry_Anime_Nerd
The opening scene was fantastic to watch, too bad Mary's adventure wasn't as wonderful as the first scene. She starts off as a bored, lonely kid who appears to have depression. She has no friends, no parents at the moment, no games, no T.V., nothing to entertain her so she offers to help out around the house instead but she messes everything up. Are these people poor or something? Why doesn't Mary have games or toys to play with?
The characters seem pretty inconsistent and I'll tell you why here. Mary is a petulant and dishonest character. She despises Peter and shows no respect to him after he mocked her red hair. I understand that she is a young girl who is desperate to have friends and when she found herself in conflict with a boy around her age who isn't very nice to her, she lashes o…
Read at the sourcekitbikyuu
Just saw メアリと魔女の花, "Mary and the Witch's Flower". I thought it was a good movie, very good for a studio's first movie, but it leaves me feeling that there could have been a lot more. I also have some major questions. The biggest one is, you are at a magic school, and you showed all of these students... where are they when all this stuff goes down? It's like they are there for the opening, then they are gone. Other than that, it was a beautiful movie visually, and the story was interesting. I would suggest going to see it. I'll buy the blu-ray when it comes out, it I don't think I'll see this movie in theaters more than once.
Read at the source