We’ve known for a few years to expect new animated films from Studio Ghibli, one from legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, and another from his son Goro Miyazaki. Details on them have been scarce, however. While Hayao’s is still about three years off, what we knew about Goro’s film was that it would be the studio’s first all-CG feature in 3D. Well, with the recent release of the Official Cannes 2020 selection we now have new information on what the younger Miyazaki has been working on and when we’ll see it.
Studio Ghibli and NHK (via EW) have revealed Goro Miyazaki’s movie is an adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ children’s novel Earwig and the Witch. That title looks to be changed to Aya to Majo, or Aya and the Witch. Jones is the author of Howl’s Moving Castle, which Studio Ghibli adapted into an anime classic in 2004. This will mark Miyazaki’s first film since 2011’s excellent From Up on Poppy Hill.
Here is the synopsis: 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.
Magic spells, mysterious orphanages, mandrakes, a house full of secrets…yep, this is perfect for the Ghibli treatment. The film already has a number of supporters on its side, having been made an official selection of this year’s Cannes Film Festival virtual lineup. Since the festival is canceled it won’t be shown, but it’s good enough for them to make us all aware.
Aya and the Witch will air on Japanese TV this winter, while a stateside release has yet to be determined. The COVID-19 situation complicates theatrical info for the time being, but I would expect some news from GKIDS on that soon enough.
