Happy New Year, kids and caregivers! Here at Collider, we cover a lot of stuff, be itStar Wars, superheroes, or cinephile fare, and everything from movies and TV, to video games and web series. There’s something for everyone. But there’s so much stuff out there that sometimes our younger audience members get left out. So every once in a while, we’d like to shine a spotlight on some family-friendly content that parents and caregivers can confidently watch with the little ones.
In today’sCollider Kidssegment, I wanted to call your attention to a magical new animated adventure that’s heading to theaters in the U.S. on January 19th. GKIDS is bringingHiromasa Yonebayashi’sMary and The Witch’s Flowerto the States after its debut in Japan and a festival run last year. (Don’t worry, it’s got an excellent English dub with the voice talents ofKate Winslet,Jim Broadbent, andRuby Barnhill.) Fans of animation, anime, and Studio Ghibli-like movies in general should be super happy that they did, because this adaptation ofMary Stewart’s children’s book “The Little Broomstick” is an absolute delight. For more on the movie, be sure to check out theU.S. trailerand our ownHaleigh Foutch’sreview here. And below, I’ll share a spoiler-free breakdown of whyMary and The Witch’s Floweris a fun fantasy adventure for the whole family that makes for a magical moviegoing experience this January.
Just to clarify, this isn’t a Studio Ghibli production but rather the inaugural film from Studio Ponoc, an independent animation studio that was started by former Studio Ghibli animators. This pedigree definitely shows in the animation and storytelling ofMary and The Witch’s Flower, but the film also stands on its own merits. Centering on the young, bored, and adventurous Mary, the story follows along with her excursions into the countryside where she stumbles upon a flower that grants magical powers, ultimately leading to her discovery of a hidden world that hides a dark secret at its heart.Mary and The Witch’s Floweris a light, bright, magical adventure that features a feisty protagonist who’s sure to be a fan-favorite.
If you like magical adventure stories with fiery, red-headed, female leads (thinkBrave), then you’re going to loveMary and The Witch’s Flower. The same goes for those of you who like quizzical cats (even if their meowing gets to be a bit much), magical mythology, and family-focused stories set in a small peaceful town in the countryside. This is simply a whimsical tale with a lot of magic and heart on display, and a little bit of peril thrown in for good measure; it shouldn’t be too awfully scary for the young ones, though there is definitely some creepy imagery on display when it comes to the villains and their corrupted magics. (There’s also one particular scene that stood out to me for its rapid succession of flashing lights, so if you have epilepsy concerns, you might want to pass.)
That being said, there are many more scenes that are absolutely joyful, whether it’s Mary’s romp through the wilderness (which reminded me of the excellent animated seriesRonja the Robber’s Daughter), stunning flights on the back of a broomstick, interesting depictions of the interface between nature and technology, or an all-out animal frolic that’s pure fun. The story is simple and straightforward, allowing for the animators to play with all of the magical elements involved, which in turn allows the audience to just sit back and enjoy the experience.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly movie that’s entertaining for kids and kids-at-heart alike, be sure to check outMary and The Witch’s Flowerwhen it opens on January 19th!
