Earwig and the Witch
Studio Ghibli's first full 3D CG animated film.
Earwig and the Witch is a 2020 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Gorō Miyazaki, with a screenplay by Keiko Niwa and Emi Gunji. It adapts Diana Wynne Jones’s novel of the same name. Produced by Studio Ghibli alongside NHK and NHK Enterprises, it marks the studio’s first feature made entirely with 3D computer graphics.
The story takes place in 1990s England. A witch leaves her baby, Earwig, at St. Morwald’s Home for Children, where the matron renames her Erica Wigg. By age ten, Earwig is a lively child who enjoys running the orphanage to her liking, especially with her friend Custard, and has no interest in being adopted. One day, a strange couple—Bella Yaga and Mandrake—take her home against her will. Bella Yaga, a witch, admits she only wanted an extra helper. Earwig agrees to assist in exchange for magic lessons, but she ends up doing chores without learning any spells. When she tries to leave, she finds Mandrake has magically sealed all exits. Frustrated, she discovers old tapes from a band called Earwig and learns that Bella Yaga’s cat, Thomas, can talk. Together, they brew a spell granting Earwig resistance to magic, making her immune to Bella Yaga’s punishments. They also give Bella Yaga a literal extra pair of hands, freeing Earwig from work. The spell works, enraging Bella Yaga, who sends magical worms into Earwig’s room. The worms prove harmless due to Earwig’s new power, and she sends them through a hole in the wall, angering Mandrake. In the chaos, Earwig breaks into Mandrake’s room and discovers he and Bella Yaga were once in the band Earwig, whose singer was her mother. Using her newfound influence, Earwig takes control of the house, gets everyone to do her bidding, and invites Custard for Christmas. During the visit, her mother makes a surprise appearance.
The voice cast includes Shinobu Terajima, Etsushi Toyokawa, Gaku Hamada, and Kokoro Hirasawa. Gorō Miyazaki directed, and he noted that his father and Toshio Suzuki encouraged him but left him to work with a young team without consulting senior staff. He is the only Studio Ghibli member familiar with CG animation methods. Satoshi Takebe composed the music. The theme song “Don’t Disturb Me” and ending theme “Atashi no Sekai Seifuku” are performed by a band featuring Sherina Munaf, Hiroki Kamemoto, Kiyokazu Takano, Kavka Shishido, and Takebe. The original soundtrack released on Januar
- director
- Gorō Miyazaki
- screenplay_by
- Keiko Niwa and Emi Gunji
- based_on
- Novel by Diana Wynne Jones
- production_companies
- Studio Ghibli, NHK, NHK Enterprises
- release_year
- 2020
- box_office
- US$842,744 worldwide
Lore & Background
The film premiered at the Lumière Film Festival on October 18, 2020, after its planned premiere at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aired on NHK General TV in Japan on December 30, 2020, and was later released theatrically in Japan by Toho on August 27, 2021. The film's original voice cast includes Shinobu Terajima, Etsushi Toyokawa, Gaku Hamada, and Kokoro Hirasawa.
The plot is set in 1990s England and follows a witch's child named Earwig, who is left at St. Morwald's Home for Children. She is adopted against her wishes by a witch named Bella Yaga and a man named Mandrake. Earwig agrees to help Bella Yaga with chores in exchange for magic lessons, but eventually uses her wits to take control of the household and discovers that Mandrake and Bella Yaga were members of a band called Earwig, whose singer was Earwig's mother.
Music for the film was composed by Satoshi Takebe. The theme song "Don't Disturb Me" and ending theme "Atashi no Sekai Seifuku" were performed by a specially-formed band. The film's original soundtrack album was released on January 6, 2021, and a songbook album credited to the fictional band "Earwig" was released on January 26, 2022.
Reader's Guide
Earwig and the Witch is significant as Studio Ghibli's first full 3D CG animated feature, marking a departure from the studio's traditional hand-drawn animation. Directed by Gorō Miyazaki, the film was produced with a young staff and without consultation from senior studio members, as noted by the director. The film received negative reviews from critics, with a 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 46 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Critics described the animation as uninspired and the story as a misfire for Studio Ghibli. Commercially, the film grossed US$842,744 worldwide, with a domestic gross of approximately ¥300 million (about US$2.2 million) according to Kinema Junpo. The film's release history includes a television premiere in Japan, a delayed theatrical release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and distribution by GKIDS in North America, Elysian Film Group in the UK and Ireland, and Netflix for worldwide streaming (excluding Japan and the United States).
Did You Know?
- Earwig and the Witch is Studio Ghibli's first full 3D CG animated film.
- The film had its world premiere at the Lumière Film Festival on October 18, 2020.
- The film's theme song 'Don't Disturb Me' is performed by a specially-formed band that includes Sherina Munaf on vocals.
- The film was originally scheduled to premiere at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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