Mary And The Witch's Flower is director Hiromasa Yonebayashi's first feature film after he left Studio Ghibli, so there are still many style that follows Studio Ghibli's tradition, but there are so much more. The film begins with a young girl Mary arriving at a magic school after she found the Witch's Flower in the forest. At first, magic is good and fascinating. As she finds out more, there is a big darker agenda.
At first glance, it may look like Kiki's Delivery Service, but it feels more like Harry Potter. The film tells you both pros and cons of magic, as a subtext to any technology. When Mary says no to magic, it may be the director saying no to nukes. In between that, it also raises awareness on ethics of laboratory animal use.
Even if we do not look into the subtext, the film offers a magical adventure about a girl coming of age.