The Second Death of Studio Ghibli
You’ll remember in 2014 when Studio Ghibli stopped production after the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki that fans everywhere were nervous for the future of the studio, but did that worry ever really go away? With the announcement of Earwig and the Witch, the first 3D animated Ghibli movie, the worry only escalated that the beloved studio would never return to it’s former glory.
The endearing qualities of Studio Ghibli movies have a lasting impact on viewers long into adulthood. Even if you watch a Studio Ghibli movie as an adult, it’s just as touching and charming. So what makes a Ghibli movie, a Ghibli movie? From the delicately crafted environments, heartwarming character relationships, fantastical creatures and the universally important lessons incorporated in each film, there is magic in every detail of a Ghibli movie. The Romance in Howl’s hair, the mouthwatering food in Spirited Away and the childlike spirit throughout My Neighbor Totoro are a few of my favorite details, but where did all that enchantment go in Earwig and the Witch?
The return of Studio Ghibli happened with the release of Earwig and the Witch on February 3rd, 2021 (in the US) and the harsh reviews started rolling in right away. Earwig and the Witch follows the story of an orphan girl who gets adopted, against her wishes, by a witch and a demon. Once adopted, the plot continues through her journey of learning magic, as she helps with chores in her new family’s home.
Aside from the complaints of the plot — which were abundant to say the least — this film lost the Ghibli charm. In a review on Thrillest, writer Emma Stefansky emphasizes, “all the characters look totally flat, no matter how exaggerated the shading is on their faces or wild hairdos”. What happened to the clothing that seemingly had a life of its own? Or the magical immersion we all felt seamlessly in every film? The switch from the hand-drawn, filled-with-care animation style to 3D animation seems reckless given the impact these films historically maintain. Sure CGI is cost effective and can aid positively in character creation, but what went wrong here? The stiffness in the movement of the characters, and the — quite honestly — downright unlikeable qualities displayed by them, have failed the studio enormously.
Youtube content creator, Karsten Runquist, evaluates why 3D animation just isn’t going to work for Ghibli in this video below:
So what’s next for the legacy of Studio Ghibli? With Hayao Miyazaki’s return from retirement with How Do You Live?, a film still without a release date, should we be hopeful for what lies ahead? Being optimistic for the upcoming films from the studio seems worth it. Although the future is unknown, the spellbinding magnetism of Studio Ghibli’s films, lives on in the classics. If anything, we should hold out hope that the future films could have the same impact.
