Distribution company GKIDS began streaming a brand new English-dubbed version of the trailer for Earwig and the Witch on Tuesday, December 22nd. The trailer also premiered alongside an English subtitled version. Earwig and the Witch is the first fully CGI film by Studio Ghibli. Directed by Goro Miyazaki, the anime film is an adaptation of Diana Wynn Jones’ novel of the same name. The video features the movie’s lead, played by Kacey Musgraves, and the English cover of the film’s theme song “Don’t Disturb Me.”
So far, the English dub cast includes:
- Kacey Musgraves as Earwig’s Mother
- Pandora Colin as Matron
- Alex Cartañá as Assistant Matron
- Taylor Paige Henderson as Earwig
- J.B. Blanc as Mr. Jenkins
- Logan Hannan as Custard
- Summer Jenkins as Phyllis
- Vivienne Rutherford as Sally
- Tom Bromhead as Cook
- Eva Kaminsky as Assistant Cook
- Vanessa Marshall as Bella Yaga
- Richard E. Grant as The Mandrake
- Dan Stevens as Thomas
Additional dub cast members include:
- J.B. Blanc
- Tom Bromhead
- Alex Cartañá
- Pandora Colin
- Summer Jenkins
- Eva Kaminsky
- Vivienne Rutherford
Sherina Munaf is performing the theme song in Japanese.
Diana Wynn Jones originally published the novel back in 2011, to critical success. Publisher HarperCollins describes the story as follows:
“Not every orphan would love living at St. Morwald’s Home for Children, but Earwig does. She gets whatever she wants, whenever she wants it, and it’s been that way since she was dropped on the orphanage doorstep as a baby. But all that changes the day Bella Yaga and the Mandrake come to St. Morwald’s, disguised as foster parents. Earwig is whisked off to their mysterious house full of invisible rooms, potions, and spell books, with magic around every corner. Most children would run in terror from a house like that . . . but not Earwig. Using her own cleverness—with a lot of help from a talking cat—she decides to show the witch who’s boss.”
Son of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, Goro Miyazaki is directing the anime as the studio’s first full-3D/CGI feature. Goro himself is an accomplished director, most notably directing 2011’s From Up On Poppy Hill. His father and studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is credited for the movie’s planning and development. The other Studio Ghibli co-founder, Toshio Suzuki, is producing the film, which is being distributed internationally by French-based distributor Wild Bunch International.
Further production crew members share incredible movie-making clout: Keiko Niwa of Ocean Waves, Tales from Earthsea, The Secret World of Arrietty, From Up On Poppy Hill, When Marnie Was There; and Emi Gunji, known as the assistant director for From Up On Poppy Hill, are both tackling the screenplay. Miho Satake, known for Moribito – Guardian of the Spirit, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and who illustrated the original book in the novel’s Japanese edition, is heading the original character and setting designs. Finally, Katsuya Kondo will be lead character designer, in adapting the characters for animation. He is best known for Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, and From Up On Poppy Hill.
Yukinori Nakamura is head of supervising the CGI and is known for his work on Ghibli Museum’s Boro the Caterpillar and Expelled from Paradise. Tan Seri is serving as animation director, and Yuhki Takeuchi is in charge of the backgrounds. Satoshi Takebe is composing the film’s music (known for his work in From Up On Poppy Hill and Ronja the Robber’s Daughter). Koji Kasamatsu is in charge of directing the movie’s sound design, and Eriko Kimura is directing the dialogue recording. Kentarō Morishita is producing the animation, and Isao Yoshikuni, Keisuke Tsuchihashi, and Koji Hoshino are production managers for the film.
The 82-minute film will premiere on television channel NHK General on Wednesday, December 30th from 7:30 to 8:53 pm Japanese time. The notable Cannes Film Festival chose Earwig and the Witch as part of its prestigious official selection for this year’s festival. The film is planned for a North American theatrical release by GKIDS in early 2021. Notably, this will qualify the movie for the Oscars.
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