In 2014, Studio Ghibli, the globally famed creators behind such classics as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Castle in the Sky, closed their doors with what many thought was to be their final endeavor, When Marnie Was There. With the studio shut down indefinitely and influential director/producer Hayao Miyazaki since bounced in and out of retirement, audiences feared that they would have seen the last of Ghibli’s masterful craftsmanship in the art of animation.
Now, the newly formed Studio Ponoc, which was founded by former Ghibli producer Hiromasa Yonebayash and a team of veteran Ghibli animators, has plans to release their debut feature to the rest of the world.
After opening in Japanese theaters last week, Mary and the Witch’s Flower will receive an expanded theatrical release to some 155 territories around the world, including the United States, England, France, Australia, China, South Korea, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. There is no word yet as to when these releases are slated for or whether there will be an English dub.
Based on the book The Little Broomstick by author Mary Stewart, the film follows a young girl as she gains magical powers from a mysterious and magical flower cultivated by witches.
With Hayao Miyazaki’s 1989 classic Kiki’s Delivery Service returning to limited US screens later this month and the recent Netflix release of the popular Little Witch Academia series, the time is right for Mary and the Witch’s Flower to hopefully become another animated classic.
Check out the most recent trailer in the player below!
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