Ghibli Release A Brand-New Movie “Earwig and the Witch アーヤと魔女”

Studio Ghibli will release a brand-new movie “Earwig and the Witch アーヤと魔女” soon

This is a poster for Earwig and the Witch. The poster art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor of the film, Toho, the publisher of the film or the graphic artist.

1. Who is Studio Ghibli?

Studio Ghibli Inc. (株式会社スタジオジブリ) is a Japanese animation film studio. The studio is one of the most famous film studios, and already produced some popular movies. If you like Japanese animation, you definitely watch following movies already.

2. What is “Earwig and the Witch”?

This film is based on fantasy novel “Earwig and the Witch” written by Diana Wynne Jones and produced by Studio Ghibli. This time, the film was planned by World-renowned film director Hayao MIYAZAKI and directed by Hayao’s son Goro MIYAZAKI.
It was already broadcasted on TV by NHK on 30th of December, 2021, but they added new original scene for the movie. And “Earwig and the Witch” was the first movie for Studio Ghibli to broadcast their films before the movie was shown in the theaters, and also it was the first time to be broadcasted by NHK because only Nihon TV used to do.
What’s more it was also the first time for Studio Ghibli to provide all scene of the movie with 3DCG. There are a lot of the first challenging for Studio Ghibli this time though the ratings on TV was lower than usual(only 6.1%).

3. What is the point on “Earwig and the Witch”?

The genius Hayao MIYAZAKI met the book written by Diana Wynne Jones at his town again

This planning was started when Hayao MIYAZAKI found this book at the bookstore of his town. He loves books written by Diana Wynne Jones, then he picked up “Earwig and the Witch” and he thought that book was so interesting,
then he decided to make a new film based on the book. His former film “Howl’s Moving Castle” was also based on her book. So Ghibli funs were very excited and they are sure that the movie must be fun this time again.

Hayao wants to tell “What is the strength to live ” to future children

Now it’s said that the world is much more difficult to live than before but people should find the way to survive even if they are under tough situation.

You should find people who are on your side and make them help you, and you have to make the way to walk in your life even if you can’t find any paths to go. Hayao MIYAZAKI thinks that people don’t have kind of skills to survive nowadays, so he wants to tell them strength to live. But what strength he mention is different from cunning but more perseverance.

3DCG × Studio Ghibli = The Most Funniest MOVIE Ever

Hayao MIYAZAKI is reluctant to use CG but his son Goro doesn’t care about it. That’s why this time all scene of the film is provided with 3D animation. After creators and staff watched this movie, the word “FUN” was included in all of their comments.
Hayao MIYAZAKI who made many world hit movies is confident how much FUN this movie is and he said that he wanted to praise them without any complaints. Goro MIYAZAKI said that he wanted audience to enjoy not only CG but Sound effects as well, so why don’t you go to the theater and enjoy it with big sound?

Earwig(Āya)’s powerfull action will blow out Corona Virus this spring.
※Earwig(Āya) is a main character of this film

4. The story of “Earwig and the Witch”

In 1990s England, a witch leaves her child Earwig at St. Morwald’s Home for Children. The matron head of the home thinks that the name is unfit for a child, and changes it to Erica Wigg. Years later, Earwig is a rambunctious 10-year-old who is very comfortable in an orphanage where everyone does what she wants. She likes living there with her friend Custard, and doesn’t want to get adopted. One day, a strange couple, Bella Yaga and Mandrake, adopt Earwig against her wishes. When they get home, Bella Yaga tells Earwig that she is a witch, and that she only adopted Earwig for “an extra pair of hands” to help around the house. Earwig agrees to help, only if Bella Yaga teaches her magic in return…. But Bella Yaga never teaches her magic.”
Source Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig_and_the_Witch