Madman Entertainment has revealed the latest local trailer for EARWIG AND THE WITCH (アーヤと魔女), Studio Ghibli‘s first film in over six years. It hits Australian cinema son 4 February.
Directed by Gorō Miyazaki, it’s based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle). It also represents the animation giant’s first foray into a full 3D CG animated feature.
Set in England during the 1990s, the titular Earwig is a 10-year-old orphan girl who grew up without knowing that she is the daughter of a witch. When she finds herself with a new set of guardians, the world of magic opens up to her.
The Japanese language cast is pretty massive, featuring Shinobu Terajima (Oh Lucy!), Etsushi Toyokawa (Samurai Marathon, Laplace’s Witch), Gaku Hamada (Masquerade Hotel, Samurai Shifters), singer Sherina Munaf and Kokoro Hirasawa in the lead role.
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The cast for the English dub is no less impressive. Richard E. Grant, Kacey Musgraves, Dan Stevens and Taylor Paige Henderson as Earwig.
The return of Ghibli is something to get very excited about, as we all lost a little bit of our souls when they announced their closure in 2014 following the release of When Marnie Was There.
In a calendar year filled to the brim with massive releases, many of which were held over from 2020, this is a welcome way to start the year.
