by Shane Conto
What studios do you think of when the conversation of animated films comes up? Disney will always be known as the innovator and the big House of Mouse. Pixar will be known for bringing 3D animated films to the forefront and delivering emotional and mature journeys for the whole family. Laika still breathes life into stop motion while Cartoon Saloon does the same for 2D animation. BUT… if you are a typical cinephile, you just may look to Studio Ghibli for all of your animation needs. Ghibli has been a stalwart of quality and maturity for animation over the past few decades. Whether it is the soaring fantasy of Spirited Away or the devastating emotional impact of Grave of the Fireflies, Studio Ghibli has been at the top of animation quality. Their beautiful – and I mean beautiful – animation is some to cherish. But what if they decided to do something unthinkable? What if they made a 3D animated film?
Studio Ghibli and Warner Bros have teamed to create and first CGI production in the history of the studio, so expectations are high!
But what are audiences getting from this new film debuting in theaters as well as on HBO Max? Unfortunately, they will be getting something quite ugly. When you watch Earwig and the Witch for the first time, you notice very quickly that something is off. Why do none of the characters express emotion with their faces? Why are Earwig’s eyebrows so aggressively arched? Why does this big studio film feel like it has the animation of a low budget TV series for toddlers? Who knows! But it certainly does not live up to the beautiful legacy of Studio Ghibli’s artful and awe-inspiring hand drawn beauty. What is most frustrating is that the film boasts some strong color palettes, production design, and effects but they are poorly realized through poorly administered animation. Goro Miyazaki (son of legendary creator Hayao Miyazaki) takes the reins on this feature but just cannot deliver the magic or energy to make it engaging. What is a film about witches if it lacks magic?
But how well does the script adapt the works of Diana Wynne Jones?
Unlike the other adaptation of her other work (Howl’s Moving Castle), Earwig and the Witch misses the charm and magic that make her work worthwhile. Right at the center of this story you have Earwig. She is an orphan who is a massive brat ruling over the orphanage. This spoiled child who gets everything wants gets adopted by Bella Yaga, a witch, and her warlock companion, The Mandrake. Earwig is such a brat that you struggle to feel for her when Bella Yaga gives her plenty of chores. But is that the worst thing? From Earwig’s perspective, it is pure torture. The film meanders for the 82-minute runtime and never really gets out of first gear. There are no surprises and excitement to be had as the audience sees no growth in Earwig and not progression of substance story arcs. To be honest, Earwig is just enabled to continue being a brat. But the last shot of the film is shocking for all the worst reasons. It leaves you wondering why there was no climax and why the final shots feel so forced and unearned.
But is Earwig and the Witch a total loss? Not quite.
The music is a blast! The great organ playing and prog-rock jams bring some much needed energy and make some strong narrative connections for the audience. But without this music, this movie would be incredibly taxing to sit through. With the English dubbed version, there are some strong vocal performances with Richard E Grant bringing eeriness and power to The Mandrake and Vanessa Marshall bringing a biting nature to her antagonistic witch. But that is really it. There is no clear narrative progression or sense of urgency in this not-so-magical adventure. This is quite the disappointment.
Grade: D