Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray Movie Review

Studio Ghibli: CG style.

Earwig and the Witch is an CG fantasy film produced as a made-for-television special by Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle). Produced by Toshio Suzuki (The Wind Rises, Spirited Away), Earwig and the Witch featured planning and development from the great Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro). Based on the classic novel by Diana Wynne Jones (Howl's Moving Castle), Ghibli fans will want to check out the fantasy-adventure and share it with family.

Earwig (Kokoro Hirasawa) is a young orphan girl dreaming of a better future. Before long, Earwig becomes adopted by a mean witch and enters a mysterious family full of magic and surprises. Learning everything she can about magic and potions, Earwig sets out on a journey of self discovery: she becomes friends with a kind black-cat and learns how to take care of herself. And a passion for exploring song becomes a key to her future. Can Earwig take control of her destiny?

The production is the first CG animated feature-length effort by Studio Ghibli. Under the animation direction of Seri Tan, fans of the animation studio will surely be conflicted about the animation in Earwig and the Witch. Straying from the traditional hand-drawn animation of the studio, the computer generated animation is a far cry from the masterpieces that Studio Ghibli is renowned for producing. The art looks lazy by comparison – lacking in depth and detail. The facial expressions, hand gestures, and movements of the characters are rigid and lacking realism. The CG supervision by Yukinori Nakamura (Boro the Caterpillar) could have been far better and more detailed.

The first CG animated film by Studio Ghibli.

Despite plenty of flaws in the animation department, Earwig and the Witch has some beautiful and colorful scenes, which were more creative than expected for a CG made-for-television film. The character designs by Katsuya Kondo (The Wind Rises) were well implemented and make a solid impression. The animation will never hold a candle to Studio Ghibli masterpieces but if viewers manage to keep expectations in check, it's above-average for television (and the film clearly had a lower budget).

The music score composed by Satoshi Takebe (From Up on Poppy Hill, After the Flowers) is one of the highlights of Earwig and the Witch. The score and original songs manage to imbue the filmmaking with a whimsy that helps carry the filmmaking. Takebe is a skilled composer and the music never falters. A solid effort.

The screenplay by Keiko Niwa (When Marnie Was There) and Emi Gunji (Ronja, the Robber's Daughter) is creative and engaging. The story is simple but the execution is quite entertaining. The script is better than the animation and one can't help but wish the film had a somewhat bigger budget to work with. Nonetheless, a charming effort.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki (Tales from Earthsea, From Up on Poppy Hill), Earwig and the Witch is entertaining. The film is never a bore. The fantasy elements certainly entertain and engage. The filmmaking is solid – it's just unfortunate that the average CG animation and lower budget managed to hold it back from its full potential. Earwig and the Witch certainly could have been far better. Nonetheless, Ghibli fans will want to check it out. A decent (if occasionally underwhelming) effort.

Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from GKids, Earwig and the Witch is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The presentation of the feature-film is fantastic. The CG animation is vibrant and colorful and the efforts of the animators are well preserved by a exceptional encode. The animation has plenty of beautiful moments to shine as well. The encode manages to capably handle the action without any issues with compression anomalies.

Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two lossless audio options: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (with English subtitles). The lossless, high-resolution audio on the release manages to imbue the film with a powerful ambiance that adds a lot to the experience. The surround effects are outstanding and were extremely well implemented in to the sound mix. There are scenes featuring thunder, rain, and other ambient sounds which are effectively realized with the audio mix. Dialogue is consistently crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The music soundtrack is also crisp and pleasing to listen to: adding to the overall experience. A top-notch audio presentation.

Optional English 5.1 descriptive audio is also provided on the release. The release also comes with optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing).

Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes in a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and includes an o-card slipcover (for the first print run).

Feature-Length Storyboards (HD, 1:22:47)

Creating Earwig and the Witch (HD, 29:46) is an interesting behind-the-scenes documentary which includes interviews with director Goro Miyazaki, producer Toshio Suzuki, and some of the staff involved in the production (on animation and CG effects). The interviews are insightful and are involving: providing information about the production process and the aims of the creative team. Director Goro Miyazaki delves in to his reasons for making the film and also provides details on how Hayao Miyazaki was involved in the project.

Interviews with Japanese Voice Cast (HD, 15:32) includes question-and-answer interviews with the Japanese voice cast, including Kokoro Hirasawa (Earwig), Shinobu Terajima (Bella Yaga), Etsushi Toyokawa (The Mandrake), Gaku Hamada (Thomas), and Sherina Munaf (Earwig's Mother). The interviews are engaging and informative (and will provide fans with a lot of interesting insights).

Earwig and the Witch: English Trailers & TV Spots (HD, 5:16)

Earwig and the Witch: Japanese Trailer & TV Spot (HD, 2:29)

Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Earwig and the Witch is a far cry from an anime masterpiece. Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Ponyo) produced the film as a made-for-television special and it shows. The animation is often lackluster (especially in regards to movement). Even so, Earwig and the Witch features charming storytelling, engaging music, and fun voice-acting. The Blu-ray release features a strong video-audio presentation and a nice selection of supplemental features (including a making-of and interviews with the Japanese voice-cast). Though Earwig and the Witch is a bit disappointing when compared to other Ghibli efforts, it still comes recommended.