Goro Miyazaki is an incredible director. He’s helmed some of my favorite films through Studio Ghibli and Earwig and the Witch is one of them.

Directed by Goro Miyazaki (Tales from Earthsea, From Up on Poppy Hill), this magical coming-of-age tale is the first full 3D CG animated film by Studio Ghibli. Based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones. “Earwig and the Witch” tells the story of a young girl who was left at St. Morwald’s Home for Children in England in the 1990s. Called Erica by the headmistress of the house, she was raised with no knowledge that not only was her mother a powerful witch, but also a famous rock star!

Everything changes though when she is adopted by a strange couple, Bella Yaga and the Mandrake, who, in addition to being magical themselves, were (ironically) a part of the same group Erica’s mother was a part of – Earwig. More or less brought to be Bella Yaga’s slave, Earwig learns magic with the help of the witch’s talking cat Thomas – and little by little starts to worm her way into the heart of the Mandrake – and eventually Bella Yaga as well.

My one gripe with the movie, at a pivotal moment, just fades to black. Otherwise, it’s an incredible film with some GREAT music! The English soundtrack includes songs by Kacey Musgraves (who also voices Earwig’s Mother).

Released in 2021, the film has seen as many releases to home media as some of Ghibli’s previous works, but it was included as part of the collectible steel book releasse through Shout Factory / Gkids. With an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film, clocking in at about 82 minutes is presented in glorious HD. The set includes audio presented in the original Japanese as well as English, each with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Special Features include:

  • Feature—Length Storyboards
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Interview with Director Goro Miyazaki
  • Interview with Producer Toshio Suzuki
  • Theatrical Trailers

Currently available through Shout Factory, GKids, and Amazon, once the set is sold out, it’s gone… so act fast!

More Studio Ghibli Reviews soon so…

Stay Tuned!