This week sees the North American release of
Earwig and the Witch, the first feature Studio Ghibli has produced in-house in six years. The storied anime studio is back in a new guise, and critics are a little thrown.
Earwig and the Witch is the first cg feature from Ghibli, which built its reputation on lavishly produced hand-drawn features. This fact has excited a lot of commentary in the run-up to the film’s release. It debuts on HBO Max today, having opened in select theaters on Wednesday. Watch the trailer and read the synopsis below:
Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.