Written and directed by Mari Okada, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is a breathtakingly beautiful animation which centres around motherhood and mortality. Belonging to a clan whose members stop ageing in their mid-teens, Maquia has no parents and although her days are peaceful, she can’t help but feel completely alone. Things only get worse when her clan are attacked by an invading army who plan to use the inhabitant’s immortality for nefarious means. After a series of uncontrollable events, Maquia soon finds herself thrown into the mortal realm where she discovers an orphaned baby whose parents have been brutally slaughtered. Locked tightly in his mother’s arms, Maquia is moved by the power of a mother’s love and decides to raise him as her own. Over time she starts to learn what it means to be a mother and the inevitable heartbreak that comes with it.

One of the most prolific screenwriters working in animation today, Mari Okada has finally been able to showcase her directing skills for the first time. Expertly crafted, Okada has created one of the best looking animated films of the year with a universal message that will appeal to audiences of all ages.  Although at times it does venture into the overemotional, it ultimately manages to keep it together thanks to a tight script and strong recurring message. With motherhood being one of its core themes, there’s also a light shone on the fragility of life and self-sacrifice. Whilst these themes are interwoven into the story, Okada is able to carefully balance them as she injects humour into precisely the right moments. The emotions are heightened further thanks to Kenji Kawai’s fantastical score which not only perfectly captures the overall tone of the film but also manages to sweep the viewer into a plethora of emotions.

At just under 2 hours long, there’s enough here to keep one’s attention throughout and although it may not be for everyone, those with a strong interest in animation will appreciate the level of detail that has gone into both the world and the visuals to this epic, high fantasy tale. A film which will stick with you long after the end credits roll, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is a surprisingly effective movie which will appeal to those who follow Japanese animation. Anyone with an affinity for the works of Studio Ghibli will find plenty here that’s thematically similar to their older works and whilst the animation may be stylistically different, there’s just as much love and detail that’s been put into the narrative. Focusing on the hardships one has to go through in order to protect their child, there’s a lot here that will resonate with older audiences and although it may get a little predictable, it should leave even the coldest of hearts, warmed by the very end. Soppy, heartfelt and at times over-sentimental, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is a wonderful animation that manages, for the most part, to hit all the right notes.

MAQUIA: WHEN THE PROMISED FLOWER BLOOMS / CERT: 15 / DIRECTOR: MARI OKADA / SCREENPLAY: MARI OKADA / STARRING: MANAKA IWAMI,  MIYU IRINO,  AI KAYANO / RELEASE DATE: JUNE 27TH