The middle of the film takes place while Ariel is in his teen years. No one, it seems, wants to hire a single mother. She eventually has to leave but while traveling finds hardship in finding work to support herself and Ariel. Things start to become difficult as it is obvious to everyone in her village that her son is growing older while she seems eternally fifteen. She is taken in by a peasant family that helps her cover up the fact that she is a member of the immortal Iorf clan.
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Despite having no idea how to raise a child, she chooses to adopt the child as her own and name him Ariel.
She finds a newborn baby boy clutched in the arms of his dead mother who had apparently been killed in a raid. When her people are attacked by another kingdom seeking their secret of longevity, she becomes separated from everyone as the population scatters and wanders the countryside alone. The world appears to be standard fantasy world that is in transition from medieval to industrialization. Maquia belongs to a race of beings who are not only long-lived but stop showing signs of age at what would appear to others as teenagers. Works Kenji Horikawa who wanted a project from her that was “100 percent Okada.” The result, despite a few flaws, is a piece of work that is both personal and beautiful. It is very out of the ordinary for writers to become anime directors, they usually work their way up from animators.
The director made her reputation as a writer for anime such as Anohana and Anthem of the Heart. It does occasionally fall into some melodramatic traps of coincidence and convenience in order to drive the story to where she wants it at times. Channeling influences from her own relationship with her mother, Okada has crafted a film that is layered in nuance and allegory. Screenwriter and first time director Mari Okada, manages to do something that is beyond impressive for a debut directing effort. It took me a while to process Maquia and it was a good thing I saw it in an English dub as through much of my experience watching it had my eyes filled with tears. So it drove home even deeper how important she was in my life, though sometimes growing up, I did not realize or appreciate it. I briefly mentioned in my coverage of Crunchyroll Expo that this film will make you want to call your mother. And as far as that is concerned, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms left me wanting to curl up in a ball. I’m a sucker for anime that leaves me an emotional wreck.