Mary and the Witch's Flower

A curious girl finds a magic flower and is whisked away to a land of witches in this vivid animated adventure. It's directed by Studio Ghibli alumnus Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Arriety, When Marnie Was There), who takes us on a colourful ride filled with fantastic creatures and dastardly villains, brought to life by an excellent English voice cast including Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent. This sweet and simple story may lack the emotional heft of classic Japanese anime, but it gets the basics right. And, in Mary, the film also has a different kind of hero, one whose journey is as much about self-acceptance as it is saving the day.