Name: Earwig and the Witch
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Family, Music
Released: 2021-02-03T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Kokoro Hirasawa, Shinobu Terajima, Gaku Hamada, Sherina Munaf, Etsushi Toyokawa

The moment Earwig, a spirited 10-year-old orphan, discovers her adoptive mother Bella Yaga is a witch, you expect magic to unfold. Instead, Studio Ghibli‘s first foray into CGI animation delivers a limp spell.

Based on Diana Wynne Jones’ novel, Earwig and the Witch follows Earwig as she’s adopted by the selfish Bella Yaga (Shinobu Terajima) and her partner Mandrake (Etsushi Toyokawa). The film’s premise is promising—a headstrong child navigating a world of spells and potions—but it stumbles in execution. The CGI animation, while technically competent, lacks the warmth and texture of Ghibli’s hand-drawn classics. The character designs are stiff, and the world feels uninspired, more akin to a low-budget video game than a Studio Ghibli production.

What works is Kokoro Hirasawa’s performance as Earwig. Her voice acting brings genuine mischief and charm to the role, making Earwig one of the few engaging elements in the film. The dynamic between Earwig and Bella Yaga has moments of tension that could have been compelling, but the script (co-written by Keiko Niwa and Emi Gunji) squanders these opportunities with predictable plot twists and underdeveloped characters.

The film’s pacing is another issue. Ghibli films are known for their leisurely, atmospheric storytelling, but Earwig and the Witch feels rushed in places and dragging in others. The transition from Earwig’s orphanage life to her new home with Bella Yaga happens abruptly, and the subsequent events—her attempts at magic, her rebellion against Mandrake’s control—lack cohesion.

The film’s originality is further hampered by its reliance on familiar Ghibli tropes: a strong-willed child protagonist, a quirky mentor figure, and a magical world that feels eerily similar to Kiki’s Delivery Service or Howl’s Moving Castle. The music, composed by Satoshi Takebe, tries to infuse some energy into the proceedings but can’t compensate for the film’s structural shortcomings.

Earwig and the Witch is not without its moments. The scene where Earwig discovers Bella Yaga’s past as a musician in the band Earwig adds a layer of intrigue, and the reveal of her mother’s connection to the band is a highlight. However, these moments are too few and far between to salvage the film from its mediocrity.

In the end, Earwig and the Witch feels like a missed opportunity—a step backward for Studio Ghibli rather than a bold new direction.