★★★☆☆
THE spirit, if not exactly the unrivalled quality, of Japan’s beloved Studio Ghibli continues in this quaintly charming and beautifully animated fantasy adventure from industry newcomer Studio Ponoc.
Based on the English-language children’s novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, the plot follows Mary Smith (voiced in the dubbed version by The BFG’s Ruby Barnhill) who has just moved to the countryside estate of her Great Aunt Charlotte (Lynda Baron).
Seeking adventure, Mary follows a mysterious cat into the dense forest where she happens across a small broomstick alongside a mystical blue flower that gives her the power to be a witch for a single night. Before she knows it she’s whisked off into a magical world and Endor College for witches and warlocks.
However, she soon realises all is not as it seems and must use her newfound magical abilities to help stop the evil plan of strict headmistress Madam Mumblechook (Kate Winslet) and the ingenious Doctor Dee (Jim Broadbent).
Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Arrietty, When Marnie Was There) is clearly still working from the Ghibli playbook, teaming up with producer Yoshiaki Nishimura for his new anime outlet. This is an encouraging start, endearing to the core and brought to life with a distinctly Japanese animation style that never fails to bewitch the imagination or astonish with its level of detail.
It struggles to reach the same heights as the sadly now-ended Ghibli in either narrative coherence – even the wackiest of that studio’s offerings had sound internal logic – or distinct characterization. The protagonists feel slightly underwritten and pedestrian, while the villains are a little one-note to make them feel like a threat to be toppled.
Still, there’s clearly heart and soul gone into the film. The gorgeous, all-too-rare hand-drawn animation style helps the Hogwart’s-esque Endor College feel like an engaging, slightly sinister place, while a sharp pace keeps things briskly moving as it bounces across visually dazzling set-pieces. It may not truly soar but it’s a promising leap.
The film has been made available in both subtitled and English-dubbed versions.
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