I recently watched the Studio Ghibli movie, Earwig and the Witch on HBOMAX,  This was so different from the moviemaker's usual work, that I decided to read the book and compare the two works.  Sadly, neither were very good.

Movie:

I was so thrilled when I saw that HBOMAX advertised a new Studio Ghibli film!  Earwig and the Witch is done in a 3-D animation style similar to what Pixar does.  So it was immediately apparent that this was a different sort of film for the studio.  Despite it's break from the usual style, I was eager to watch this movie.  However, I found the movie very disappointing.  

What I Liked:

Animation:

While the animation is done in a completely different style from what the studio usually does, they did do a wonderful job.  I loved how the animators did the hair for each character. Earwig (Erica) has high ponytails that look like the pincers of an earwig bug!  The hair for the two female witches, are also beautifully done.  The witch that must be Earwig's mother has giant corkscrew curls that are used in spells.  The voluminous hair of the other witch, Bella Yaga, look heavy and foreboding.

Settings:

The movie did spend time at the orphanage, where it seemed as though Erica was very happy. I really loved the moments when the children were pretending to be ghosts.  It was charming.

The house where Bella Yaga and The Mandrake live has a magical charm to it..  Like the TARDIS in Doctor Who, rooms can be bigger on the inside, and don't follow the laws of physics.  Walls change to suit the needs of Bella Yaga.  It almost seemed like the house had it's own personality.

What I Didn't Like:

Characters:

Erica (Earwig) starts out as a manipulative child in an orphanage, and ends up as a manipulative child in a home.  There is no growth for this main character.  Shouldn't she have learned to see others as people, rather than as tools to get what she wants? I really wanted Erica to view her new family as individuals, and form actual attachments.  Instead, the only thing she learns is to find ways to cow Bella Yaga, and use The Mandrake.  And Bella Yaga doesn't change either. She is abusive (actually hitting Erica at one point), and berates her at every opportunity.  The only reason she is less abusive at the end is because she is afraid of The Mandrake.

Story:

There really isn't any story.  At the beginning of the film, Erica is left on the doorstep of an orphanage with a cryptic note.  There are twelve witches after Erica's mother. She will return to claim her when she has gotten rid of the witches.  With such a strong lead in, it was a huge disappointment when nothing comes of this.  And I mean, NOHTHING!  We never hear about it again.  I really wanted to see a parallel storyline where we follow the adventures of Erica's mother.

The story goes something like this:  Erica (Earwig) gets left on a doorstep of an orphanage, she learns to charm (or is it spell) others to do as she wants.  Then she is adopted by a strange couple.  She goes to their home and learns how to manipulate them.  The End!  Literally, nothing else happens.  There are some enticing moments where we see the origins of Erica and her possible connection to the couple.  But, again, it is never fully fleshed out.  A missed opportunity. 

Book:

I found the movie so strange, that I had to read the original children's book by Diana Wynne Jones, to see if I missed anything.  Maybe there was more to the story?  But, again, the story didn't go anywhere,

What I Liked:

Illustrations:

The children's book does have many whimsical illustrations.  They reminded me of drawings one might see in a Roald Dahl book.  

What I Didn't Like:

Lack of Story:

As with the movie, there are hints of an exciting book at the beginning with the note attached to baby Erica.  But it is never mentioned again!  Earwig simply goes from the orphanage to Bella Yaga's home, and continues to be rude and manipulative.  Nothing really happens in the book.

Movie Differences:

There is a significant difference between the movie and the book.  In the movie, the witches belong to a band called, Earwig.  In flashbacks, we see a relationship between Bella Yaga, The Mandrake, and Erica's mother.  Could The Mandrake be Erica's father?  There is lots of music which helps Erica begin a connection with The Mandrake.  But this is never fully developed in the movie. I can only think that Studio Ghibli added this to try and have something happen in the movie, as the book's story is so slim. 

I can only think that Studio Ghibli made this movie on the strong reputation of Diana Wynne Jones.  She did write Howl's Moving Castle, one of Studio Ghibli's most successful films.  This movie had potential.  But with a children's book so slim, the movie was doomed from the beginning. 

Ratings:

Movie: ⭐⭐⭐

Book:  ⭐⭐