Earwig and the Witch
The studio's first fully computer-animated feature; coolly received, but a second helping of Diana Wynne Jones.
Overview
Earwig and the Witch is Studio Ghibli's fully CG television film, directed by Goro Miyazaki and adapted from Diana Wynne Jones's novel. Earwig is an orphan who is adopted by a witch and a strange, gloomy household, then sets about manipulating the situation with the confidence of a child who has never knowingly surrendered a power struggle.
The premise has bite. Earwig herself is not a soft-focus innocent; she is bossy, clever and cheerfully self-interested. Unfortunately, the film's execution has often been judged less magical than its ingredients. Ghibli's first major CG outing arrived carrying the studio's reputation on a broom with a loose handle.
Why it matters
It matters because it represents one of Ghibli's most conspicuous experiments with computer animation and one of its most debated late works. The studio built its global identity on hand-drawn craft, so moving into CG was never going to be a neutral technical choice.
It is also another Goro Miyazaki adaptation of a major fantasy author, and a second encounter with Diana Wynne Jones after Howl's Moving Castle. Comparisons are inevitable and not especially kind, but they are part of the film's place in the catalogue.
What to expect
Expect witchcraft, domestic scheming, rock-music backstory and a heroine with more nerve than warmth. The tone is mischievous, but the film can feel visually stiff compared with Ghibli's hand-drawn work.
Some viewers may appreciate Earwig's unsentimental personality. Others may find the film underpowered, especially given the source author and studio name. It is a curiosity rather than a crown jewel.
Adaptations and versions
Earwig and the Witch is a Studio Ghibli CG television film directed by Goro Miyazaki, adapted from Diana Wynne Jones's novel. Release routes and format details should be verified before publication.
It stands alone and does not require Howl, despite the shared author connection.
Where to start
Do not start Ghibli here. It is best watched after one knows the studio well enough to place it as an experiment and a misfire rather than a representative sample.
For Diana Wynne Jones fans, curiosity may be enough. Expectations should be kept on a short leash.
Verdict The SFcrowsnest take
Earwig and the Witch is interesting, prickly and visibly imperfect. Its heroine has spark, but the film around her never quite finds the old Ghibli enchantment in its new CG bottle.