Earwig and the Witch
Studio Ghibli announced its first full 3D CG animated feature in June 2020. Director Gorō Miyazaki revealed images of the project that month. The film adapted Diana Wynne Jones's novel Earwig and the Witch. Screenwriters Keiko Niwa and Emi Gunji crafted the script for this transition. The original voice cast included Shinobu Terajima, Etsushi Toyokawa, Gaku Hamada, and Kokoro Hirasawa. This marked a significant departure from the studio's traditional hand-drawn style. Miyazaki stated he was left to work alone after receiving initial encouragement from his father and producer Toshio Suzuki. He noted that he was the only person at the studio who knew how to create computer-generated animation. Young staff members handled most of the production without consulting older veterans.
A witch leaves her child named Earwig at St. Morwald's Home for Children in 1990s England. The matron changes the name to Erica Wigg because she thinks it is unfit. Ten-year-old Earwig lives comfortably there with her friend Custard until Bella Yaga and Mandrake adopt her against her wishes. Bella Yaga tells Earwig she is a witch and needs an extra pair of hands to help around the house. Earwig agrees to work if Bella Yaga teaches her magic in return. She prepares ingredients for spells and cleans the workroom while waiting for lessons. All exits become magically sealed by Mandrake when she tries to leave. Earwig discovers tapes from an old band called Earwig inside the house. Her cat familiar Thomas can talk to her during these late-night listening sessions. They enter the workroom to create a spell making them immune to magic punishments. The spell succeeds but gives Bella Yaga literal extra hands on her body. Magical worms appear in Earwig's room but remain harmless due to her resistance. Earwig breaks into Mandrake's room and learns he and Bella Yaga were once members of the band Earwig. Their singer was actually Earwig's mother who drops in for a surprise visit later.
Gorō Miyazaki directed the film as Studio Ghibli's first full 3D CG animated feature. He announced images from the project on the 19th of June 2020. His father told him to proceed with the technology while producer Toshio Suzuki offered encouragement. After that initial support, Miyazaki worked independently without consulting older staff members. He stated he was the only one at the studio who knew how to create computer-generated animation. Young employees handled most of the production tasks under his direction. The team faced technical challenges adapting their workflow to new software systems. This approach differed significantly from previous Ghibli productions that relied on veteran animators. The director made decisions about visual style and character movement without traditional oversight. The resulting aesthetic showed clear differences from hand-drawn frames used in earlier films.
Satoshi Takebe composed the music for the entire film. A specially-formed band performed the theme song Don't Disturb Me and ending theme track. Sherina Munaf provided vocals while Hiroki Kamemoto played guitar on the recordings. Kiyokazu Takano handled bass duties and Kavka Shishido played drums during sessions. Takebe himself played keyboards throughout the recording process. The original soundtrack album arrived on the 6th of January 2021. Another release called Earwig and the Witch Songbook: 13 Lime Avenue came out on the 26th of January 2022. This second album credited the fictional band Earwig as its performer. Remi Matsuo joined the project after Glim Spanky received an offer because Miyazaki was a fan. Their track The House in Lime Avenue drew influence from Irish folk songs and Nick Drake's work. Matsuo focused on Aretha Franklin melodies and gospel harmonies for her vocal performance on A Black Cat. The rhythm section took inspiration from The Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil.
The film premiered at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon Metropolis on the 18th of October 2020. It originally planned to appear at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival before that event was cancelled due to the pandemic. Japanese audiences first saw it on NHK General TV on the 30th of December 2020. Toho announced a theatrical release date of the 29th of April 2021 but removed it from the calendar on the 23rd of April 2021. The new theater date became the 27th of August 2021 instead. North American distribution rights went to GKIDS on the 7th of July 2020. They scheduled a limited theatrical run starting the 3rd of February 2021 alongside HBO Max availability beginning February 5. Digital release followed on the 23rd of March 2021 with physical media arriving the 6th of April 2021. Wild Bunch handled international sales while Elysian Film Group acquired British and Irish rights. Netflix secured worldwide streaming rights except Japan and the United States on the 13th of October 2021. The service released the film globally on the 18th of November 2021.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes showed only 28% positive reviews out of 69 critic assessments. The average rating sat at 4.5 out of 10 points according to their data. Metacritic calculated a weighted score of 46 based on 21 reviews for mixed or average reception. David Ehrlich wrote for IndieWire giving the film a C minus grade. He described seeing Ghibli's signature aesthetic suffocated inside a plastic coffin. His review mentioned lifeless backdrops replacing lush green worlds from previous films. Aja Romano gave the film three stars in her Vox article. She noted isolated shots of nature that failed to connect to larger thematic ideas. Her critique highlighted how the muted flat palette made the CGI look absent compared to traditional styles. Kinema Junpo reported domestic gross figures in March 2022 showing approximately 1.2 billion yen earned domestically. Worldwide box office totals reached around 1.7 billion yen as of October 2021.
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Common questions
When was Earwig and the Witch announced as Studio Ghibli's first full 3D CG animated feature?
Studio Ghibli announced its first full 3D CG animated feature in June 2020. Director Gorō Miyazaki revealed images of the project on the 19th of June 2020.
Who directed Earwig and the Witch and what animation style did they use?
Gorō Miyazaki directed the film as Studio Ghibli's first full 3D CG animated feature. He worked independently without consulting older staff members because he was the only person at the studio who knew how to create computer-generated animation.
What is the plot summary for Earwig and the Witch regarding the child named Erica Wigg?
A witch leaves her child named Earwig at St. Morwald's Home for Children in 1990s England where the matron changes the name to Erica Wigg. Bella Yaga and Mandrake adopt her against her wishes and she agrees to work if they teach her magic.
Which band performed the music for Earwig and the Witch soundtrack released in January 2021?
Satoshi Takebe composed the music for the entire film while a specially-formed band performed the theme song Don't Disturb Me and ending theme track. The original soundtrack album arrived on the 6th of January 2021 with Sherina Munaf providing vocals.
When did Earwig and the Witch premiere internationally and when was it released on Netflix globally?
The film premiered at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon Metropolis on the 18th of October 2020. Netflix secured worldwide streaming rights except Japan and the United States on the 13th of October 2021 and released the film globally on the 18th of November 2021.