When Earwig (Taylor Henderson) was just an infant her mother (Kacey Musgraves/Sherina Muaf) dropped her at the front door of an orphanage. While that sounds terrible, she made friends there and loved what her life had become. When she is finally adopted by a witch, Bella Yaga (Vanessa Marshall) and her husband, the Mandrake (Richard E. Grant), she realizes that her life will be something extraordinary. This is the story of Earwig and the Witch.
My experience with anime doesn’t run deep, with the only animated Studio Ghibli film I’ve ever seen being Grave of the Butterflies. However, I understand that this particular film studio (almost solely dedicated to anime) has excelled in nearly every one of its endeavors and has entertained millions of viewers around the world since the 1960’s. With that being said, expectations for the films they produce are high, but even when things don’t play out as well as expected there is a lot to love about their creations.
Earwig and the Witch is a story about love and resilience which has the ability to resonate with viewers around the world. The film is subtle in its approach toward conveying its messages, and it takes time for those viewers to understand what the film is truly about. With the film only being approximately an hour and twenty minutes in length, taking its time to develop backfires a bit as the final act of Earwig and the Witch flies by at warp speed once everything has been established. Once viewers understand what has been unfolding the pace picks up and nearly leaves them in the dust. The most interesting act of the film begins and ends before viewers even realize that it’s taking place, and that makes this aspect of Earwig and the Witch difficult to appreciate. Better pacing would have gone a long way in helping viewers to appreciate the film and its meaning, but sadly, the potentially most entertaining moments of the film are rushed through, leaving viewers feeling indifferent at those times.
Grave of the Fireflies set the standard for anime and Studio Ghibli productions very high (for me), as the story was fluid and cohesive; I never felt that anything was missing or that transitions between major parts of the film were frumpy or antagonistic in any way. As far as Earwig and the Witch goes, however, there are multiple instances when the story seems to jump around from place to place without any notice, making it difficult for those watching to appreciate what is transpiring. These transitions seem abrupt and poorly executed, often leaving viewers confused and less than satisfied.
Sure, there are issues with Earwig and the Witch that are major turn offs to viewers, however, there are aspects of the film that are endearing and warrant praise. The animation, from beginning to end, is flawless; the movements of each and every character are seamless and mirror the movements of the real world. Many of the scenes are difficult to express without great precision, and every moment plays out as expected in terms of the animation. In addition to the animation, the story, once viewers understand the true meaning behind Earwig and the Witch, resonates with them. The ideas of love and perseverance/resilience are ones that sit well with viewers and allow them to look past the film’s shortcomings and appreciate the film as a whole.
It would be unfair to look at the disappointing aspects of Earwig and the Witch and determine, based on those issues alone, that the film was less than adequate. The most important aspects of the film, the visuals and the story, are what ultimately drive the film forward, and they are done incredibly well. Some digging is required to understand and appreciate the story; but just a bit of dedication and effort permits those beautiful details to shine through and entertain. While Earwig and the Witch did not live up to the expectations that I had, the film as a whole is well done and enjoyable.
Directed by Gorô Miyazaki.
Written by Diana Wynne Jones, Keiko Niwa, Emi Gunji, & Hayao Miyazaki.
Starring Taylor Henderson, Richard E. Grant, Vanessa Marshall, Kacey Musgraves, Alex Cartañá, Pandora Colin, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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