Earwig and the Witch, the first new release in four years from the legendary Studio Ghibli, will be released on digital platforms on March 23, as well as in both a Limited Edition Steelbook™ and a Blu-ray™ +DVD combo on April 6 from GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory. Directed by Goro Miyazaki (From Up on Poppy Hill, Tales from Earthsea) and produced by studio co-founder Toshio Suzuki, with planning from Academy Award®-winner Hayao Miyazaki, the feature is based on the children’s novel “Earwig and the Witch” by Diana Wynne Jones (“Howl’s Moving Castle”), and marks Studio Ghibli’s first entirely 3DCG animated feature. The all-star voice cast for the English dub features the voices of Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Gosford Park), Kacey Musgraves (“Golden Hour” “Same Trailer Different Park”) and Dan Stevens (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, FX’s Legion), as well as Taylor Paige Henderson as “Earwig”. In addition to her debut voice acting role as “Earwig’s Mother,” six-time Grammy Award winner Kacey Musgraves sings the English language version of the film’s theme song, “Don’t Disturb Me.” The Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray™ +DVD Combo is packed with bonus features, including behind-the-scenes interviews with director Goro Miyazaki, producer Toshio Suzuki and Japanese cast and crew, and feature-length storyboards.
Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.
An official selection for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, the film is scheduled for release in theaters beginning February 3, and will be available to stream on HBO Max beginning February 5.
Bonus Features (exclusive to the Blu-ray™+DVD release):
Feature-Length Storyboards
Creating “Earwig and the Witch”
Interviews with Japanese Voice Cast
Trailers & Teasers
