EARWIG AND THE WITCH
Japan, 2020, 82 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Goro Miyazaki.
This is very much a 21st-century film from the famed Japanese Ghibli Studios. It has been directed by the son of the celebrated veteran director, Hayao Miyazaki.
It is of interest that the son was originally not interested in animation because of the reputation of his father but, asked to design the Studio Ghibli Museum, he did move into animation with Tales from the Earthsea, 2006, followed by Up from a Poppy Hill. He directed a television series on Rhonda, the Robbers Daughter, followed by this film.
This reviewer prefers the films of the father, Studio Ghibli has a long tradition of imaginative fairytales set in a magical world. Like the Oscar-winning, Spirited Away, or Pondo or Howl’s Moving Castle. As with other Studio Ghibli films, this one is based on a book by a British author, Diana Wynne Jones, and has some British settings, especially the religious orphanage.
While the film is in a world of magic, it is a mysterious magic of witches. It is also set in a modern world of pop stars, concerts, cars and motorbikes…
A mysterious redheaded singer leaves a baby on an orphanage steps and disappears, indicating that she has to flee the curse of 12 witches. The little girl grows up, rather dominating, especially with a studious boy who reads science-fiction called Custard. Then the little girl is adopted – as it turns out by the two mysterious members of the pop group, the talented drummer and the mysterious tall writer.
The little girl adapts to the life in the house but encounters a magic talking cat whom she befriends. A lot of magic follows, some of it the kind of thing that pleases the little girl, worms and other tricks. She experiences the talent of her two guardians, eventually winning them over, the drummer performing, the writer getting praise from the little girl and being successful.
It is very brief, geared for television audience, very colourful, lots of special effects and magic, a different Studio Ghibli film.
