Studio Ghibli has bravely departed from its animation’s signature look to adapt a new computer-generated film, Earwig and the Witch.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki’s son, Goro Miyazaki, Earwig and the Witch is based on a novel by Diana Wynne Jones. It is a far cry from the usual 2D images of Studio Ghibli’s iconic animated movies, and fans have something to say about it.
The movie’s plot
The film company dropped the first look at the now-controversial film. It tells the story of a 10-year-old girl named Earwig, who is a witch’s daughter, per Polygon.
Unaware of her real personality, the kid grows up in England in the 1990s in an orphanage. A strange couple will then adopt her and she will begin to discover her magical abilities.
They take Earwig to a mysterious house, filled with a lot of invisible stuff, from rooms, potions, and spellbooks. From here, her colorful journey is about to begin.
The controversial trailer and
It cannot be denied that Studio Ghibli has managed to maintain its iconic “childlike wonder” in Earwig and the Witch.
However, it is a big leap from its traditional animation of “hand-drawn frames,” adapting today’s computer graphics.
Who will ever forget some of its most signature films, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and more?
For the first time, the studio will feature a computer-generated film, Epic Dope noted.
Fans’ reaction
Fans now air their reaction to the new CGI-animated Studio Ghibli film. By the looks of it, it is not sitting well with some.
“I don’t mean to sound rude, but 3D animation does not vibe with Studio Ghibli’s 2D style,” a YouTuber said, via Creative Bloq.
“I’d say it’s the stiffness. The trailer lacks the animation fluidity that Ghibli is known for,” one fan added.
“Me too, I’m excited about the story, but I’m not looking forward to watching it. CGI always gives me motion sickness,” another Twitter user continued.
With the bold move, some fans noticed the animation’s problem. Some said the 3D effects looked “rough.” Others added “magic and nostalgic sense” the studio is known for is now gone.
Earwig and the Witch will drop this month, so it cannot afford to undergo last-minute redesigns, like what Sonic the Hedgehog did, if there will be a lot of complaints.
Earwig and the Witch will hit the Japanese theaters on Dec. 30. It is initially set to be out at the Cannes Film Festival, but the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncs4AGA8Sfc
Featured images used courtesy of OTAQUEST in Japan/YouTube Screenshots, video used courtesy of IAMAG/YouTube Channel