Mary and The Witch's Flower

Mary and the Witch's Flower was released in 2017 as the inaugural feature film from Studio Ponoc, a Japanese animation studio founded by producer Yoshiaki Nishimura. Following the dissolution of the primary production division at Studio Ghibli, Nishimura recruited several former Ghibli animators, including director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, to bring the project to life. The film is based on the 1971 children's novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart and serves as an intentional homage to the visual style and narrative spirit of classic Studio Ghibli productions.

Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi sought to capture a sense of wonder and traditional hand-drawn aesthetics, emphasizing vibrant landscapes and character-driven fantasy. The production aimed to establish Studio Ponoc's identity by focusing on themes of courage and self-discovery through a magical lens. Upon its release, the film was generally well-received by critics who praised its visual fidelity to the Ghibli tradition, though some noted that its narrative structure felt familiar to audiences accustomed to Yonebayashi's previous work on films like Arrietty and When Marnie Was There.