This weekend, bring the family to see a new anime film from alumni of Studio Ghibli. Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on a popular 1971 book “The Little Broomstick”, and is recommended by Common Sense as 8+. Here is their review, which awards the title their “Seal”, and commends the film’s beautiful drawing and classic Potter-esque story about an ordinary girl with magical powers.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower is the first release from Studio Ponoc, which was founded by Studio Ghibli veteran Yoshiaki Nishimura (producer of When Marnie Was There and The Tale of Princess Kaguya). Based on Mary Stewart’s 1971 children’s classic The Little Broomstick, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is an action-packed animated adventure full of jaw-dropping imaginative worlds, ingenious characters and the simple, heartfelt story of a young girl trying to find her place in the world. While living in the country with her great-aunt, Mary follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest, where she discovers an old broomstick and the exotic Fly-by-Night flower. Together the flower and broomstick whisk Mary far away to Endor College – a school of magic where some terrible things are happening.
Take a look at an article about the filmmaking in the Los Angeles Times.
Screenings at the Aero are as follows:
January 19th, 7:30 pm show: In Japanese with English subtitles
January 19th, 9:30 pm show: In Japanese with English subtitles.
January 20th, 4:00 pm show: English dubbed version.
January 20th, 7:30 pm show: In Japanese with English subtitles.
January 20th, 9:30 pm show: In Japanese with English subtitles.
January 21st, 4:00 pm show: English dubbed version.
January 21st, 7:30 pm show: In Japanese with English subtitles.
