The first trailer for Studio Ghibli’s first CG animated film called Earwig and the Witch has received a mixed reaction of excitement, anger, and curiosity. The film is scheduled to air on the Japanese broadcasting network, NHK on December 30. A dubbed English version is expected to be released in US theaters in 2021.
Many are calling it controversial and dislike the route the studio seems to be taking, while others are curious to see the film and how Ghibli will approach the new style. It was previously reported to be titled Aya and the Witch, and is directed by Goro Miyazaki, who is the son of the well known Hayao Miyazaki. It is based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones.
The story will follow an orphaned girl who grew up without knowing she was a witch’s daughter and is adopted by two strange people.
The primary point of contention stems from the studio’ s decision to go with CGI over their well-known 2D animation that so many fans adore. Despite disappointment from a large portion of fans, many others, including me, are intrigued and want to know the Studio Ghibli 3D experience.
I will not deny that I feel that Earwig and the Witch would have been gorgeous if they did it in their usual 2D art style, but I am interested in the new step they have taken with experimenting with something novel. Before it was announced, I could never imagine them doing a 3D film, and I am still a bit shocked by the fact that it is actually happening.
The recent glimpse of the trailer caused an array of reactions from fans, some of which I understand. As a fan of Ghibli films myself, I fell in love with how they made their characters flow and move in their 2D animated films. The worlds always looked fluid and bright, and I could never take my eyes off the screen when watching a film of theirs. Each Studio Ghibli film is like a dream and every detail put into them never goes unnoticed. Ghibli works have a distinctive nostalgic feel to them and many others know this too, and some are saying they do not get the same vibe from the upcoming film.
My only hope is that they do not stop making the beautiful works that they have always been known for. I do anticipate a fantastic orchestral-like soundtrack as usual to add a thrill to the experience, because that is another component Ghibli never seems to fail at.
If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli movies or a fan of 2D animation in general, what do you think of this bold move?
