Harrold’s children’s novel of the same name. Serving as director on the project is former Studio Ghibli member Yoshiyuki Momose, whose credits include key animation and visual design on Spirited Away, Whisper of the Heart, Pom Poko, Only Yesterday, On Your Mark. The title might sound familiar to fans of children’s literature, as the anime is an adaptation of British author A.F. Now, though, Studio Ponoc is finally returning to feature-length theatrical animation with the announcement of a new anime film, The Imaginary. Since Mary, their only releases have been Modest Heroes, a 53-minute short film anthology, and Tomorrow’s Leaves, an eight-and-a-half minute production to help promote the Tokyo Olympics. Ponoc, though, has since been on a sort of hiatus itself. So during the extended blank that followed the release of 2014’s When Marnie Was There, a number of key creators left Ghibli and banded together to create Mary and the Witch’s Flower, the first anime film from the newly formed Studio Ponoc. There’s a remarkable consistency to the quality of Studio Ghibli’s anime, but the same can’t be said about the pace of their releases. Harrold novel marks Studio Ponoc’s return to feature-length theatrical anime.

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