7. 2 9. Despite Earwig and the Witch's obvious departure from classic Studio Ghibli features, Gor Miyazaki did try to bring the essence of the studio's films to this one. WebThe Mandrake is the only good character, and I quite liked him. I did like the little drawings at the end during the credits you could see that they ended up turning into a pretty nice family, Mandrake even got bella flowers for her birthday . Coming Soon. The earwig gets its skin-crawling name from long-standing myths claiming the insect can climb inside a person's ear and either live there or feed on their brain, And in many other animes they use the earwig to insinuate manipulation in some way or another. Something is completely missing. WebWhat do you think the Mandrake from Earwig and the Witch is? Earwig and the Witch-Thomas 4. Earwig and the Witch probably won't make it near the top ranking of Ghibli films, but there's always something to be said for experimentation. [Earwig and the Witch] The Mandrake is Earwig's daughter Aside from one scene where Earwig's mother is shown trying to kiss The Mandrake in a flashback, The Mandrake is shown to be more patient with Earwig and at his least patient he's outright stern, but not cruel or malicious like Bella Yaga. MrDHWong 11 February 2021. Through her new power, Earwig is able to take over the house and have the others do what she wants. All I can think of is, if the book is well known and that's the beloved expected story, maybe for people who are fans it was fine? Appearance. One day, a strange couple, Bella Yaga and Mandrake, adopt Earwig against her wishes. [18] The album Earwig and the Witch Songbook: 13 Lime Avenue, which is credited to the film's fictional band "Earwig", was released on January 26, 2022. [17] The film's original soundtrack album was released on January 6, 2021. Earwig the person is likely the mandrake's kid. He took inspiration from both stop-motion animation and Ghibli's iconic style to create Earwig and the Witch's unique look. Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. The writer of the book passed away so it felt us a little empty. It's hard to imagine the pair of them living together, as Earwig is insistent on telling people what to do and her mother wants nothing more than to do her own thing. Akhdanhyder. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I thought the animation looked cool. How cool was that 70s psyche-punk aesthetic? GiuseppeDiRosso. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! That Freudian slip might be more interesting if Earwig seemed to have some kind of an inner life, based on the evidence of her physical gestures and on-screen behavior. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! It's disappointingly subpar", Australia and New Zealand official web page, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Earwig_and_the_Witch&oldid=1139407552, Anime postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 00:16. Because of Earwig's magical resistance, the worms are harmless; Earwig sends the worms through a hole in the wall, but that angers Mandrake. Custard finally stop feeling so intimated by Aya's new family and got to spend time with her, Bella finally had the second pair of hands, magical hands! Discover more posts about earwig and the witch the mandrake. Much like her daughter, the redheaded witch didn't want to be told what to do, so she sought independence. A magical story for young readers from the author of Howls Moving Castle and Charmed Life, Diana Wynne Jones. It aired on NHK General TV on December 30, 2020. "12/30! Animation Adventure Family An orphan girl, Earwig, is adopted by a witch and comes home to a spooky house filled with mystery and magic. Not every orphan would love living at St. Morwald's Home for Children, but Earwig does. Since he is so easy to anger, he often isolates himself and resents being disturbed. But all that changes the day Bella Yaga and the Mandrake come to St. Morwald's, disguised as foster parents. His hair is short and brown, though during his time as a rock star, it was long and dark purple. But developments involving him come rather too late. It's hinted that he and the redheaded witch were in love, or at least on the verge of a romantic relationship, but her exit from their lives drove a wedge between him and Bella Yaga. GArts05. Question. I enjoyed reading the newspapers to see what pissed Mandrake off, the second time around was about his masterpiece, Earwig and The Witch, which they called a fantasy so I think with his other book The Princess and The Wizard, that was factual too. They also work on a spell to give Bella Yaga a literal "extra pair of hands" on her body so Earwig would be dismissed from her work. GArts05. The spell is a success and Bella Yaga is furious at her extra pair of hands, and casts magical worms that appear in Earwig's room. Earwig and the Witch premiered on October 18, 2020, at the Lumire Film Festival in France. Directed by Gor Miyazaki, this full-length animated feature from Studio Ghibli revolves around 10-year old Earwig, a precocious child who grew up in a unique orphanage where children can practically do things that are always forbidden of them. She was abandoned by her witch mother, but another witch, Bella Yaga, later Even the album art and font on "Don't Disturb Me" reeked of the Grateful Dead or even modern takes like Sugar Candy Mountain. With a story as uninspired as its animation, Earwig and the Witch is a surprising -- and near-total -- misfire for Studio Ghibli. In the prospective sequel, the rock band Earwig might reunite. TV Shows. But developments involving him come rather too late. But all that changes the day Bella Yaga and the Mandrake come to St. Morwald's, disguised as foster parents. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. Male That said, Bella Yaga is just as marred by the past as the Mandrake is. WebThis movie isn't only bad, it's the worst Ghibli movieinspired by: https://youtu.be/B8aH4VJnUd8 Press J to jump to the feed. 2,504 ratings454 reviews Most orphanages are horrible, but Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone at St Morwalds Home for Children, and loves it there. WebNot every orphan would love living at St. Morwald's Home for Children, but Earwig does. His ears are his most identifiable feature, as they are long and pointed. Comedy, Earwig doesn't passively wait for others to rescue her; she takes it upon herself to change the situation. I hope Goro continues to grow in his craft. [Earwig and the Witch] The Mandrake is Earwig's daughter Aside from one scene where Earwig's mother is shown trying to kiss The Mandrake in a flashback, The Mandrake is shown to be more patient with Earwig and at his least patient he's outright stern, but not cruel or malicious like Bella Yaga. Director Gor Miyazaki Writers Diana Wynne Jones (based on the novel "Earwig and the Witch" by) Keiko Niwa (screenplay) Emi Gunji (screenplay) Stars Taylor Henderson (English version) Jazmn While the movie fell flat, I really liked the idea of that band. She brings Earwig to their home so she can have an extra set of hands with spell work. Earwig was left at St Morwald's Home for Children as a baby. Discover more posts about earwig and the witch the mandrake. He even states he expected Yaga to teach Earwig magic. Bella Yaga is the ex drummer of the band Earwig. Throughout Earwig and the Witch, the vaguely demonic Mandrake holds power as a mysterious threat to both Earwig and Bella Yaga. She is taken into her Through flashbacks, we learn that before Earwig was born, the Mandrake was in a band with Bella Yaga and Earwig's mother. Moreover, the film is the screen adaptation of British author Diana Wynne Jones 2011 childrens novel of the same name. The movie ends with Earwig having manipulated the uncomfortable situation to her benefit. Menu. 2,504 ratings454 reviews Most orphanages are horrible, but Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone at St Morwalds Home for Children, and loves it there. Discover more posts about earwig and the witch the mandrake. "Earwig and the Witch" is a CGI animated film from Studio Ghibli based on the book of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones. WebTries but ultimately fails to apply a new style to the legendary animation studio's signature aesthetics. Unlike the other orphans, she loves it there mostly because she has the run of the place and seems to have a surprising ability to persuade people to do as she wants He also said that he is the only one at the studio who knows the method of creating CG animation. GArts05. The storyboarding was just plain awful. When I heard she was singing and doing a voice I was like THIS IS UNREAL. The animation change was a let down and the story felt like at the end it went nowhere and had no purpose. The most striking images and scenes in Earwig and the Witch are the ones where characters are represented as parts of their environment. Bella Yaga is the ex drummer of the band Earwig. [16] Gor said that his father told him to go with it and Toshio Suzuki encouraged him, but after that he was left on his own and made the anime with young staff and "didn't consult with the old guys at all." It has its headquarters in Koganei, Tokyo. The original voice cast includes Shinobu Terajima, Etsushi Toyokawa, Gaku Hamada, and Kokoro Hirasawa. That's probably another reason why Mandrake got so upset when he saw the worms, he noticed she's using the same spell and it's probably still hurt from being left behind by Aya's Mom. Contents 1 Plot 2 Appearance 3 Personality 4 Trivia 5 Gallery Plot The Mandrake was the pianist of the band Earwig before it disbanded. She even manages to invite her friend Custard over for Christmas. I'm pretty sure she also just wanted to make him a little bit more confident of himself and truly cared for him as a friend. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Subarufoxboy. A New Friend. She stars off by running away from her coven of witches, but ends by returning to her daughter. Im not a fan of the ending, but they added more to the movie than what the 84 page book had. Earwigs tune only changes slightly once Bella Yaga puts her to work, completing menial witchy tasks, but never learning spellcraft Later on she adopts Earwig. Based on the 2011 eponymous childrens novel by author Diana Wynne Jones, Earwig and the Witch is the first fully 3-D computer-animated film from Studio Ghibli. Gor Miyazaki (Tales of Earthsea), the son of Ghiblis co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, is the films director. Earwig and the Witch isnt visually dynamic enough to be more than a lumpy cover version of Hayaos greatest hits, which is especially disappointing since so much of the movie is about the frustration one feels when your parents seem to either not notice or care for you beyond a point. A young middle grade novel by World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievementwinner Diana Wynne Jones, beautifully illustrated in black and white by Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky. 0 1. The matron head of the home thinks that the name is unfit for a child and changes it to Erica Wigg. Eventually, Earwig is able to command The Mandrake's minions and even gains a better rapport with Yaga. Instead, the movie "ya and the Witch") is a Japanese CGI anime fantasy film directed by Gor Miyazaki, and is based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones. Gor is the son of the Ghiblis co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. The rest of the film is standard evil stepmother stuff. The last thing she wants is to be adopted by the very strange Bella Yaga, demon-attended Mandrake, and talking black cat Thomas. Earwig begins to listen to tapes from an old band called Earwig and discovers that Bella Yaga's cat familiar Thomas can talk. Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Earwig and the Witch is the latest animated film from Studio Ghibli, a partner of Walt Disney Studios. And when Earwig messes up French toast, The Mandrake admonishes Yaga and not Earwig. Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Bella has started teaching her magic and drumming, while the Mandrake often takes the family out for picnics. 7. In addition to the above musicians (sans Takano), the album also features Glim Spanky vocalist Remi Matsuo and Yoasobi support musician Hikaru Yamamoto. A similar technique was done in an earlier Ghibli movie. Read critic reviews. yessss! Its definitely an offbeat story. Earwig and Thomas. Moreover, the film is the screen adaptation of British author Diana Wynne Jones 2011 childrens novel of the same name. "One of the things I found was that with hand-drawn animation, you have to rely on the hands of a very talented animator to bring out a great performance from the character with facial expressions, emotions, and so forth. WebEarwig and the Witch Traditional Ghibli Style. The film is the first full 3DCG animated feature done by Studio Ghibli. TV Shows. Description. The rest of the film is standard evil stepmother stuff. Although Jones wrote several book series in her extensive career, Earwig and the Witch is quintessentiallyRead More If the sequel ever happens, all members of the main cast are likely to return. Every single one of their other movies is a piece of actual art and this was not even cutting it close. WebThis movie isn't only bad, it's the worst Ghibli movieinspired by: https://youtu.be/B8aH4VJnUd8 Gor is the son of the Ghiblis co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. He lives with Bella Yaga, but they do not seem to be more than just friends. It is not entertaining to watch horrid treatment of children. She's back where she started, though now with two magical adults bending to her will as opposed to those working at the orphanage. I hope he keeps going despite how much people seem to compare him to his dad; it must be rough. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter The film ends as Earwigs mother arrives at her former bandmates doorsteps, likely knowing that her daughter is in there with them. This is Ghiblis second adaptation of one of Jones works, after the 2004 [] Mandrake finally got to explore a new passion and be happy with his own creation. Suatu ketika, Earwig diadopsi oleh pasangan penyihir bernama Bella Yaga dan Mandrake. The Studio Ghibli faithful will unlikely be swept away by Earwig and the Witch a towering, brooding, demonic presence known as The Mandrake (Grant). It is based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones. What do you think the Mandrake from Earwig and the Witch is? Throughout Earwig and the Witch, the vaguely demonic Mandrake holds power as a mysterious threat to both Earwig and Bella Yaga. 0 22. After their disbanding, he becomes an author- however, his books are usually met with poor reviews. It has something of an open-ended conclusion, which has made the audience speculate the possibility of a sequel. WebEarwig doesn't know it, but her mother (Kacey Musgraves) was also a mysterious witch who has a connection to Bella and the Mandrake. He holds power over her, which is how she winds up finally agreeing to teach Earwig magic by the end of the film. Studio Ghibli produced the movie in collaboration with NHK and NHK Enterprises. The company's logo features the character Totoro (a large forest spirit) from Hayao Miyazaki's film "My Neighbor Totoro". She later learns that the woman, Bella Yaga, is actually a witch, while the man, known simply as the Mandrake, is not even human. fan art WebSource: https://twitter.com/yuzunoki_37/status/1347181831553122305. WebBella Yaga is Earwig's adoptive mother and main antagonist in the film Earwig and the Witch. Question. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Share your love of all things Ghibli! To be honest I kinda expected Earwig and the Witch be about yes Earwig being sent to the Orphanage but from there she escapes with her friend Custard (That I thought was going to be a the sidekick that grows on in the movie) and together they discover a whole Wizarding world where The two of them enter the workroom at night to create a spell that will make them resistant to magic, becoming immune to Bella Yaga's punishments. At the orphanage, she has both the other children and the adults wrapped around her finger, showing no shame in playing the part of an overly sweet child to use them to her advantage. (Even Hayao initially disapproved of Goros taking on Tales from Earthsea, Goros directorial debut, though he later offered some guarded praise: It was made honestly, so it was good.). She was abandoned by her witch mother, but another witch, Bella Yaga, later A magical story for young readers from the author of Howls Moving Castle and Charmed Life, Diana Wynne Jones. I don't think there are a lot of CG works that are as serious in their depiction of food, so that was one of the areas I really focused on getting right.". As he told The Los AngelesTimes, "Ghibli films are known for their scenes involving food and cooking and eating. Coming Soon. 8 comments. As the unpleasant witch who immediately puts Earwig to work on grinding up rat bones, Bella Yaga is a clear reference to the Russian fairy tale Baba Yaga. And while being conventional isnt necessarily deadly, Earwig and the Witch is an underwhelming Ghibli retread thanks mostly to its inexpressive 3-D animation style, as well as Goros relative lack of animation experience. The Mandrake was the pianist of the band Earwig before it disbanded. The story line, no. Earwig and the Witch starts high-octane: a mysterious woman with magic powers races to escape a pursuer, leaving a child at the door of an orphanage. This is super interesting, honestly I had no idea. It turns out that Bella Yaga, the Mandrake, and Earwig's mother were part of a band together, as a drummer, pianist, and lead singer, respectively. My guest is that he was a non-user of magic who fell in love with the main singer and their child was probably not something the 12 witches were happy about, causing Aya's Mom to run away with her child. Sadly on the English version of this her name got mixed up a little bit but it also makes sense. The newest Ghibli film, however, immediately stands out from the rest: Earwig and the Witch is the studio's first computer-generated movie. After their disbanding, he becomes an author- however, his books are usually met with poor reviews. Her peaceful and happy existence is suddenly interrupted when an unusual couple adopts her. Earwig and Thomas. In the end, a little life comes back into her when she hears that the Mandrake complimented her skills as both a drummer and a witch. Still, Earwig doesn't lose hope or feel beaten down by their unwelcoming demeanor. Problems inevitably arise whenever characters facial expressions and physical movements have to convey their respective characteristics. There are no featured audience reviews for Earwig and the Witch at this time. Voice actor (English) As for Aya she finally found something she wants to learn and need to work hard to becoming a witch. It's definitely unusual to see a conniving young child as the protagonist of a film particularly an animated children's one. Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Earwig and the Witch is the latest animated film from Studio Ghibli, a partner of Walt Disney Studios. It turns out that Bella Yaga, the Mandrake, and Earwig's mother were part of a band together, as a drummer, pianist, and lead singer, respectively. 0 41. So either way she still has a component that somehow will make her manipulate people around her. Throughout Earwig and the Witch, the vaguely demonic Mandrake holds power as a mysterious threat to both Earwig and Bella Yaga. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. WebSource: https://twitter.com/yuzunoki_37/status/1347181831553122305. On February 5, 2021, the film began streaming on HBO Max. Archived. A New Friend. There's a limited number of very talented animators that can do so," he said. Earwig and the Witch-Thomas 4. As for Aya's dad ( I might be stretching in here) but there was a guy with brown hair in the consert flashback as a guitarist he had brown hair just like Aya's but we never saw anything else of him again. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and
Etsushi Toyokawa (Japanese) and Richard E. Grant (English) are the voice artists for the Mandrake. Akhdanhyder. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The critics consensus on the website is: "With a story as uninspired as its animation, Earwig and the Witch is a surprisingand near-totalmisfire for Studio Ghibli. Gor Miyazaki, the son of Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, took his third round as a feature film director for Earwig and the Witch, basing it off of the English author Diana Wynne Jones' children's novel of the same name. Thats why it looked so different. Advertisement Since it was founded in June 1985, Ghibli has never produced a sequel. Based on the 2011 eponymous childrens novel by author Diana Wynne Jones, Earwig and the Witch is the first fully 3-D computer-animated film from Studio Ghibli. "[43], As of August 2021, Earwig and the Witch grossed $173,704 at the North American box office and $552,333 from other territories, with a worldwide total of $726,037.[5]. Yes, its got some nice moments as Earwig, Bella Yaga and the Mandrake form a very unconventionalbut at times genuinely affectionatefamily unit. fan art Makes a lot more sense. The first 15 minuets were fun but after that it was just oh ok, Earwig is just gonna annoy Bella Yaga and pester her to teach magic and The Mandrake being moody. It was all a play on words, sadly during the dub it was just thought of it as her name and later as the bands name. He is the first to come around to treating Earwig with kindness, as he has good intentions deep down. 3 19. am i the only one who liked Earwig and the witch? Anime yang diadaptasi dari novel Diana Wynne Jones ini mengisahkan tentang Earwig, seorang anak yang tinggal di panti asuhan. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Although Jones wrote several book series in her extensive career, Earwig and the Witch is quintessentiallyRead More It's impossible to say just yet if 3D CG will take off in Japanese animation: Despite its advantages over the traditional method, it has yet to recreate the magic of the lovingly drawn films that made Studio Ghibli internationally adored. Mandrake Earwig has also unwittingly helped heal the wounds left in the adults hearts following Earwigs mothers departure. The Ending Of Earwig And The Witch Explained. All rights reserved. After their disbanding, he becomes an author- however, his books are usually met with poor reviews. Aside from one scene where Earwig's mother is shown trying to kiss The Mandrake in a flashback, The Mandrake is shown to be more patient with Earwig and at his least patient he's outright stern, but not cruel or malicious like Bella Yaga. The matron head of the home thinks that the name is unfit for a child and changes it to Erica Wigg. Studio Ghibli produced the movie in collaboration with NHK and NHK Enterprises. The ending of Earwig and the Wig begs an important question: Does she take Earwig away to live somewhere else? She likes living there with her friend Custard and does not want to get adopted. Eventually, she brings the curmudgeonly Mandrake onto her side by showing interest in his novel writing and lavishing him with compliments. Earwig and the Witch premiered on October 18, 2020, at the Lumire Film Festival in France. At first glance, Earwig and the Witch doesn't look anything like a Studio Ghibli film. To be honest I kinda expected Earwig and the Witch be about yes Earwig being sent to the Orphanage but from there she escapes with her friend Custard (That I thought was going to be a the sidekick that grows on in the movie) and together they discover a whole Wizarding world where (You can confirm by checking the license plate) Another fun fact I noticed is how I Ays's Mom used her hair to turn it into red worms and throw it at the car, which is the same spell Bella used to summon blue worms into Aya's room. WebEarwig doesn't know it, but her mother (Kacey Musgraves) was also a mysterious witch who has a connection to Bella and the Mandrake. In select theaters today, February 3rd, and on HBO Max on February 5th. Instead, it opens up a new niche in the genre: Earwig skews younger, while other Ghibli films are often enjoyed by adults and children alike. I believe this is either her power or a spell her mom put on her so she could have a good life until she finds her again. Here is what we know about it. The 12 witches, who were pursuing Earwigs mother, might serve as the sequels main antagonists. You mean they tried to adapt an unfinished novel? Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. I just felt like there was no point to the whole thing. The film was set to have its worldwide premiere at the 73rd Cannes Film Festival in May 2020, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earwig and the Witch. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Etsushi Toyokawa Characters emotions are often reduced to inexpressive, but broadly over-accented gestures or features, like Earwigs over-arched pencil brows, or Bella Yagas Medusa-like curls. While trapped in the house, Earwig eventually notices a record sharing her name, in addition to finding a cassette tape with the name from her belongings from the orphanage earlier in the film. Throughout Earwig and the Witch, the vaguely demonic Mandrake holds power as a mysterious threat to both Earwig and Bella Yaga. Also, like The Mandrake with Yaga and his minions, Earwig has a strange ability to make people do as she pleases. Welcome to /r/FanTheories! I wasnt a huge fan the first time but after watching it again and again and again, I like it. It ended as if on a cliffhanger. On February 5, 2021, the film began streaming on HBO Max. [25], On April 23, 2021, the film was removed from the release calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [39], On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 29% of 68 critic reviews are positive for Earwig and the Witch, and the average rating is 4.9/10. One element in particular was important to him. Suatu ketika, Earwig diadopsi oleh pasangan penyihir bernama Bella Yaga dan Mandrake. WebThe Mandrake is the only good character, and I quite liked him. I wondered if there was actually a secret link there. Couldn't finish the film for other aspects though. Sherina Munaf (Japanese) and Kacey Musgraves (English) are cast as voiceover artists for Earwig or yas mother. Then the plot felt undeveloped and unfinished for all the reasons you pointed out. The story feels like it starts and ends when Earwig reaches Bela Yaga's house. Movies. As for Mandrake he just fell into depression because all the good moments ended, and bella became overworked And angry. It's a sudden ending, so let's break down what it really means. She is taken into her Akhdanhyder. Earwigs tune only changes slightly once Bella Yaga puts her to work, completing menial witchy tasks, but never learning spellcraft When he arrives, Earwig's mother, another member of the band, drops in for a surprise visit. WebEarwig and the Witch (Japanese: , Hepburn: ya to Majo, lit. 0 41. He added that it makes her charming. Copyright Fandango. It turns out that Bella Yaga, the Mandrake, and Earwig's mother were part of a band together, as a drummer, pianist, and lead singer, respectively. WebTries but ultimately fails to apply a new style to the legendary animation studio's signature aesthetics. What comes after is left open-ended, but there must be either reconciliation or confrontation between her and her old bandmates. One thing I'm still confused of is how Aya's mom still looks so young at the end of the movie and why is she back. Dun Dun Dunnnnn. 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. When she drops Earwig off at the orphanage, she leaves a note saying that she'll be back once she escapes the witches coming after her. Question. Earwig prepares ingredients for spells and cleans the workroom. Richard E. Grant. Earwig the person is likely the mandrake's kid. Fantasy. The Studio Ghibli faithful will unlikely be swept away by Earwig and the Witch a towering, brooding, demonic presence known as The Mandrake (Grant). WebSee a recent post on Tumblr from @clown-abyss about earwig and the witch the mandrake. As a children's movie, Earwig and the Witchdoesn't have a particularly poignant moral, as it's more interested in exploring the antics of an unusual little girl. On December 3, 2020, it was announced that Elysian Film Group had acquired the British and Irish distribution rights to the film, becoming the company's very first film acquisition after it was founded in February that year. Was just honestly so bad and completely disappointing underneath the Ghibli label.