Studio Ponoc has released an English trailer for its first animated film “Mary and the Witch’s Flower”.
Founded by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura in 2015, Studio Ponoc also employs several ex-Ghibli animators. This may explain the resemblance of style used for Ponoc’s new film.
“Mary and the Witch’s Flower” drew inspiration from the 1971 book “The Little Broomstick” by British author Mary Stewart.
In the film, the titular character Mary discovers a strange flower which gives her broomstick special powers. She’s then flung into a secret school for magic where she gets recognized as a prodigy in the magical arts.
Nishimura will be joined by fellow ex-Ghibli producer Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The duo last worked together on the Oscar-nominated Ghibli film “When Marnie Was There” which was released in 2015. Nishimura also has an Oscar award under his belt for the 2013 Ghibli film “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”.
“Mary and the Witch’s Flower” had been initially released in Japan last July 8. Anime fans in the United States may look forward to seeing it in local theaters starting Jan. 18, 2018. Its English dubbed version will feature the voices of Kate Winslet, Ruby Barnhill and Louis Ashbourne Serkis. JB
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