#Earwig and the witch how to#
#Earwig and the witch movie#

However, facial expressions, particularly those made by Earwig when she’s angry, laughing, or disgusted, are solid and entertaining. The character designs have just enough of that familiar Studio Ghibli style to make the film feel like it’s attempting to belong in the same beloved echelon, but the art style is awkward in its transition to CGI animation. Earwig is delighted to learn that Bella Yaga is a witch and that the house she now lives in encases its inhabitants with magic.Įarwig and the Witch’s animation style is off-putting from the start.

Intending to stay at the orphanage forever with her best friend, Custard, Earwig is astonished when she’s adopted by a plump woman named Bella Yaga and her intimidating bespectacled acquaintance known only as The Mandrake. Related: Soul Review: The Art of Jazzing Through Lifeīased on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, Earwig and the Witch takes place in the 1990s in England and follows a a 10-year-old girl named Earwig (Erika in the English dub, Aya in Japanese), who, other than not having any sort of say-so in being off at an orphanage as a baby, has always gotten what she’s wanted. For information regarding this or other stories, email or tweet her or email. Gillian Manning is the Copy Desk Chief for the University Press. The film’s main song, “Don’t Disturb Me,” performed by Kacey Musgraves in the English dub, is extremely catchy and highlights the personalities of the characters.ĭie-hard Studio Ghibli fans may have to adjust their standards before watching the movie, but it has the potential to be an entertaining break from the world for anyone who watches. Though the differences are obvious, viewers can note the similarities in the characters’ dramatic facial expressions, the beautifully detailed scenery, and the whimsical tone.Īn extreme shift from the studio’s typical classical and romantic soundtracks, the powerful and electrifying guitar riffs featured in the film create an exciting new feel while still contributing to the magical and otherworldly ambiance of the story. This change created an incredibly different aesthetic that can be jarring for Studio Ghibli’s long-time fans. Studio Ghibli ordinarily animates in a very stylized 2D format, but for the first time, they animated using CGI. in February, a few days after the original version premiered in Japan.

#Earwig and the witch movie#

The English dubbed movie was released for streaming in the U.S. While most people cannot relate to their initially abusive behavior, their renewal of love and passion is empathetic and incredibly human. The most dynamic characters of the film are Mandrake and Bella Yaga as they experience the most growth and have an interesting yet mysterious past. Instead, the audience is left with a cliffhanger that feels as if there should be a “play next episode” button on the screen. There are so many questions surrounding Earwig’s mother, her connection to Bella Yaga and Mandrake, and the 12 witches-almost none of those questions are answered.

The most disappointing aspect is the ending. But Earwig’s zestful personality and her ability to manipulate and adapt to her surroundings manages to create a movie worth watching.

The plot is much more simplistic when compared to Studio Ghibli’s previous films it isn’t particularly complex nor is there much of a lesson to take away from the story.

#Earwig and the witch how to#

Years later, Earwig, renamed Erica Wigg by the orphanage, is loving her time at the children’s home and hopes to never leave because of her ability to control the other children and the matrons of the home.Ī mystifying couple adopts Earwigg and she soon learns that her adoptive mother, Bella Yaga, is a witch and the man who was with her, Mandrake, is actually a demon.Įarwig must learn how to survive in her new home without being bewitched, cursed, or punished by her new masters. In Britain, a witch is chased by an unknown person to an orphanage where she leaves her infant daughter, Earwig, along with a note saying she will return after she takes care of the 12 witches that are after her. “Earwig and the Witch” is based on the novel written by Diana Wynne Jones who also wrote the novel “Howl’s Moving Castle,” which Studio Ghibli adapted into a film as well. Despite the fact that it is far from being the studio’s best work, it deserves credit for its ability to allure the audience. Studio Ghibli’s latest movie “Earwig and the Witch” has not done exceptionally well amongst critics or fans.