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Earwig and the Witch
アーヤと魔女
2021 83 min Japan PG 6+
★5.2
Animation, Fantasy, Family, Comedy
Director: Gorô Miyazaki
📖 Based on the novel
«Earwig and the Witch»
byDiana Wynne Jones
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
A headstrong orphan discovers a world of spells and potions while living with a selfish witch.
US Gross:
$173,704
Worldwide:
$842,744
Starring
Taylor Henderson
Actor
Jazmín Abuín
Actor
JB Blanc
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Earwig and the Witch is widely considered a disappointing departure for Studio Ghibli, primarily due to its controversial transition to full-3D computer animation. Opinions on the narrative are sharply divided between those who find the protagonist's mischievous energy charming and those who view the storytelling as shallow, incomplete, and lacking the studio's signature soul.
| Production | The film's full-3D animation is frequently criticized as being plasticky, stiff, and lacking the expressive detail expected from Studio Ghibli. | |
| Screenplay | The script is viewed as thin and unresolved, with many reviewers pointing out that the plot feels incomplete and leaves character arcs hanging. | |
| Acting | The protagonist's personality is polarizing; some find her energetic and mischievous nature engaging, while others describe her as hollow and lacking proper development. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is a subject of debate, with some finding the confined, magic-house setting intimate and dynamic, while others find it stagnant and repetitive. | |
| Ending | The narrative's abrupt and open-ended conclusion leaves many viewers feeling that the story lacks a satisfying resolution or meaningful payoff. |