Earwig and the Witch

Name: Earwig and the Witch
Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Family
Released: February 3, 2021
Duration: 82 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Alex Cartañá, Gaku Hamada, J.B. Blanc, Kokoro Hirasawa, Logan Hannan

2021

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Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Ratings

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4.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Ratings

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Earwig And The Witch (US Subtitled Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: February 3, 2021 | PG

Starring: Alex Cartañá, Gaku Hamada, J.B. Blanc, Kokoro Hirasawa, Logan Hannan, Pandora Colin, Richard E. Grant, Summer Jenkins, Taylor Henderson, Thomas Bromhead

Summary: Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells andGrowing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.
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Director: Goro Miyazaki

Genre(s): Fantasy, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 82 min

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Critic Reviews

Lillian Crawford

Dec 29, 2021

Doing his part to keep his father’s work alive and relevant, Gorō Miyazaki steers the Ghibli ship even further away than Yonebayashi dared, resulting in the studio’s most cheerily radical film to date. Read full review

Polygon Tasha Robinson

Jan 31, 2021

Purists could well complain at how far Howl’s Moving Castle departs from Jones’ terrific story in order to wedge in Hayao Miyazaki’s longstanding personal obsessions, like flight, the destructive and horrific nature of war, and the way courage conquers evil and love saves lives. But at least the film has a point of view, and the benefit of its creator’s highly specific and recognizable voice. Earwig, by contrast, often feels generic. Read full review

Nick Dent

Jun 2, 2021

The way Earwig (which was actually made for Japanese TV) sacrifices Ghibli’s visual USP is less of a problem than the way it surrenders the studio’s accustomed emotional beats. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Feb 1, 2021

Dispiritingly generic in both appearance and tone. Read full review

Steven Scaife

Feb 2, 2021

The problem with Earwig and the Witch has more to do with its confused plotting than its more or less serviceable animation. Read full review

Andrew Crump

Feb 10, 2021

Frankly, Earwig and the Witch looks ghastly enough that storytelling merit doesn’t even matter. It’s a movie almost too ugly to consider beyond the surface. Read full review

The Times Kevin Maher

Oct 28, 2025

Ultimately, bar some tedious spell-making scenes, nothing happens. Harrowingly poor. Read full review

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User Reviews

GreatGriffin

Feb 14, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. TLDR: if you dont like it, then odds are you missed the fact Ghibli did the book well and added some CRAZY DEEP additions to it giving us a whole new universe to explore.

This is an amazing take on an old story and an age old trope of the evil adopting parents, that also has an added bonus of a *heavily* implied 70s "free love" polyamory trouple.

Honestly, the only reason you wont like this is if youre holding onto your fondness of ghiblis 2d style, or found the original book to be a master piece that couldnt have been improved, and if you go into it wanting to learn another Ghibli universe: this story is expansive, intriguing, and leaves you wanting to know more.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

OwtDaft

Nov 4, 2021

I really enjoyed this film. I love the main character, I love how cunning she is and how her cunning isn't in an entirly innocent kinda way you might expect. All the characters are really good especially the Mandrake. I actally liked how the film looked too, it worked for this film and II really enjoyed this film. I love the main character, I love how cunning she is and how her cunning isn't in an entirly innocent kinda way you might expect. All the characters are really good especially the Mandrake. I actally liked how the film looked too, it worked for this film and I don't think the Mandrake would have been as intimidating in 2D with how the special effects are. I did have to mark the film down a point because of the ending which is too abrupt. I want this review to be spoiler free so I won't explain why it's a disapointment. It's such a shame because it's otherwise a fantastic film and would of even been one of my favourite Ghibli films had it not been for this big issue. I did still really enjoy the film despite that though.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DatLOLBoi

Feb 6, 2021

When I watched Earwig and the Witch, I didn't compare it to any of the other works from Ghibli and I was fairly surprised. I had seen Goro Miyazaki's other works and, while impressed with his directing style, did not enjoy them. However, this changed with Earwig. I haven't read the originalWhen I watched Earwig and the Witch, I didn't compare it to any of the other works from Ghibli and I was fairly surprised. I had seen Goro Miyazaki's other works and, while impressed with his directing style, did not enjoy them. However, this changed with Earwig. I haven't read the original material that this is based off of, but this movie has a style all it's own and gives it all it's got. However, I do have some complaints. 1) the lighting in some scenes is a little off, but not terrible. 2) The story felt a like it ended a little early. What was there I did like, but I wished for a little more. Overall, I highly recommend this movie and I'm glad that I was able to see it in theaters with my family.
8/10… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

nkuk

Feb 4, 2021

Most obviously this doesn't look like a Ghibli film, it looks like your average low budget Saturday morning kids-channel animation. The 3D animation looks off, flat and oddly shaded, it has a kind of "uncanny valley" look that I just couldn't get over. The story isn't much better, and isn'tMost obviously this doesn't look like a Ghibli film, it looks like your average low budget Saturday morning kids-channel animation. The 3D animation looks off, flat and oddly shaded, it has a kind of "uncanny valley" look that I just couldn't get over. The story isn't much better, and isn't interesting or charming or captivating like the Ghibli classics.

I really hope Studio Ghibli continue with their wonderful hand-drawn animation that they are famed and loved for. I think if they continue down this dull CGI path they will end up as just another anonymous CGI animation studio and will throw away what made the studio so famous.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

TFK-

Jun 19, 2021

It’s bad.. too bad that the studio created something that out of touch and boring considering their amazing history

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

peacengeez

May 18, 2021

this film is an insult to ghibli's and miyazaki's names. goro miyazaki should get a restraining order so he can't come near ghibli's headquarters

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Chey123

Feb 9, 2021

I hate the 3d animation. It doesn't work for the Ghibli style. It also looks very similar to Scary Godmother which is infamous for being the most poorly animated Halloween movie. The story is cute. While the characters have flaws, there's always a part of them you can come to like. The storyI hate the 3d animation. It doesn't work for the Ghibli style. It also looks very similar to Scary Godmother which is infamous for being the most poorly animated Halloween movie. The story is cute. While the characters have flaws, there's always a part of them you can come to like. The story ends abruptly, which will catch any viewer off guard and makes them think: "Why the hell have I been watching this the whole time for zero payoff?" Overall, It wasn't worth watching. You're better off watching Ghibli films from when Hayao Miyazaki was still working.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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