British distributor Elysian Film Group is set to bring the latest Studio Ghibli project out with a home video release. The film is Aya to Majo, which is based on the novel Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones, whose previous work of Howl’s Moving Castle was handled by Studio Ghibli. The film is set for a September 27th, 2021 debut where it’ll be available as separate DVD and Blu-ray editions so people can continue their collections in their preferred format. The Blu-ray side gets extra love with a limited edition steelbook edition, a Blu-ray limited edition, and a DVD/BD combo limited edition.
Extras include:
- Feature-Length Storyboards
- Creating Earwig and the Witch
- Interviews with Japanese Voice Cast
- Trailers & Teasers
The project has Goro Miyazaki directing it while Hayao Miyazaki is listed as working on the planning and development. Toshio Suzuki is, once again, producing. Keiko Niwa and Emi Gunji wrote the screenplay for it with Katsuya Kondo adapting the designs from Miho Satake’s original novel.
The Japanese cast includes Shinobu Terajima, Etsushi Toyokawa, Gaku Hamada, and Kokoro Hirasawa.
GKIDS announced in July 2020 that they’ve picked up the North American rights to the film with updates to come in the future. The intention is to release it in theaters in North America in 2021.
Check out the US official site.
Plot Concept: 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.
