Study earwig and the witch Earwig and the Witch is a children's novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. It was first published in 2011, two years after the author's death. The book follows the story of Earwig, a young girl who is adopted by a witch named Bella Yaga. Unlike traditional witches in folklore, Bella Yaga is not evil or malicious, but she is still stern and grumpy. Earwig quickly learns that living with a witch is not as exciting as she initially thought. Rather than teaching Earwig magic, Bella Yaga uses her as an unpaid servant.
Hard to intimidate, she befriends opinionated talking cat Thomas (Dan Stevens) to engage in whimsical antics. Making sure that Earwig comes across as a young heroine with devious intentions to bend adults to her will and not a helpless victim of her bad-tempered caretakers, is one of Miyazaki’s successes here.
Contained in scope and slim in dramatic depth, the movie originally made for Japanese television hinges on a mischievous girl with horn-like ponytails, Earwig, a. So with the help of the witch s black cat, an adorable familiar a pet with magical qualities named Thomas, she starts attempting some magic of her own to make her life more bearable.
Rather than teaching Earwig magic, Bella Yaga uses her as an unpaid servant. She also forbids Earwig from entering her magical room, which only increases Earwig's curiosity. However, Earwig is not easily discouraged.
Review: ‘Earwig and the Witch’ proves even subpar Ghibli has style
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Eager to learn how to concoct magic potions and spells, the scoundrel in “Earwig and the Witch” must win over her monstrous adoptive parents. Studio Ghibli’s generally subpar first foray into 3DCG feature animation is an adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ British children’s book directed by the cofounder’s son Gorô Miyazaki (“From Up on Poppy Hill”).
Contained in scope and slim in dramatic depth, the movie (originally made for Japanese television) hinges on a mischievous girl with horn-like ponytails, Earwig, a.k.a. Ericka (Taylor Henderson). Despite her efforts to remain at the orphanage where she’s been since infancy, she is taken in as “an extra pair of hands” by Bella Yaga (Vanessa Marshall), a grumpy witch, and the Mandrake (Richard E. Grant), a humanoid creature and prolific writer.
Hard to intimidate, she befriends opinionated talking cat Thomas (Dan Stevens) to engage in whimsical antics. Making sure that Earwig comes across as a young heroine with devious intentions to bend adults to her will and not a helpless victim of her bad-tempered caretakers, is one of Miyazaki’s successes here.
Although there’s plenty of offbeat humor derived from the warped domesticity of this household where flying demons serve breakfast, the plot is slight in conflict and the resolution oddly abrupt. While these structural issues might come from the source material, they make for a contrived film. A subplot set in the past involving a rock band, in which country singer Kacey Musgraves voices Earwig’s mother, remains undeveloped.
Visually, the transmutation from the hand-drawn artistry the famed animation house has mastered into figures with tridimensional volume comes with a tad of awkward rigidness particularly in the character design. Still, flaws and all, humans here at least have style recognizable from 2D anime and manga, as opposed to the mostly homogenous look of animated people in most American studio fare. The textures in the backgrounds and elaborate production design do better at retaining the intricacy typical in their films.
AdvertisementGiven Ghibli is held to a higher standard, the outcome of this entirely computerized experiment lacks the aesthetic and thematic finesse of most productions in its catalog. Yet, if pitted against other entertainment aimed at young viewers with much less panache, “Earwig and the Witch” wins, at least in conceptual adventurousness. Even if far from being top-tier Ghibli, it’s not without its fantastical pleasures.
‘Earwig and the Witch’
In English; also available in Japanese with subtitles
Rated: PG, for some scary images and rude material
Running time: 1 hour, 22 minutes
Playing: In limited release where theaters are opens; available Feb. 5 on HBO Max
2020 NHK, NEP, Studio Ghibli
With her cleverness and resourcefulness, she finds a way to make her life with Bella Yaga more enjoyable, even if it means bending the rules. The main idea of the story is about a young girl navigating a new and sometimes challenging situation with the help of her wit and determination. This novel is a departure from Diana Wynne Jones's usual fantasy genre and is targeted towards a younger audience but still captures the author's talent for creating intriguing and relatable characters. Earwig and the Witch is a delightful read for children who enjoy stories about magic and adventure..
Reviews for "The Real-Life Inspirations Behind "Earwig and the Witch"
1. Alice - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Study Earwig and the Witch". The story felt disjointed and lacking in any real depth. The characters were bland and one-dimensional, and I struggled to connect with them. The animation style also didn't appeal to me. Overall, I found this film to be a letdown and not worth my time.
2. John - 1/5
"Study Earwig and the Witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was confusing and didn't make much sense. The characters were uninteresting and had no significant development. The animation style was subpar compared to other Studio Ghibli films. I regret watching this movie and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2/5
I had high expectations for "Study Earwig and the Witch" since it was a Studio Ghibli film, but it fell short for me. The story felt rushed and lacked the magical charm I associate with their movies. The characters were not as memorable as those in their previous works. Additionally, I found the English voice acting to be somewhat off-putting. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and hope for better releases from Studio Ghibli in the future.