GKIDS has announced that they will be bringing Studio Ghibli’s Earwig and the Witch film to digital platforms on March 23, 2021 and Blu-ray and DVD on April 6, 2021 with distribution by Shout! Factory. The film is Studio Ghibli’s first new release in four years, and also their first film entirely animated in 3DCG. Earwig and the Witch is directed by Goro Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder, Toshio Suzuki. Famed Academy Award winner, Hayao Miyazaki, helped plan the film. Earwig and the Witch is based on Dianna Wynne Jones’ children novel of the same name. In addition to the original Japanese, a talented voice-cast helps bring the film’s English dub to life.
The English dub cast is as follows:
- Taylor Paige Henderson as Earwig
- Vanessa Marshall as Bella Yaga
- Richard E. Grant as Mandrake
- Dan Stevens as Thomas
- Kacey Musgraves as Earwig’s Mother
Kacey Musgraves is a six-time Grammy Award winner and sings the English version of the film’s theme song, “Don’t Disturb Me.” This is her debut voice acting role. If you’re interested in what the English cast and theme song sound like, you can check out the official English language trailer below.
GKIDS describes the film as follows:
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.
The film is an official selection for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival and will release in theaters starting February 3. HBO Max will stream the film beginning February 5.
Earwig and the Witch launches physically on April 6, 2021 in three different formats: a Limited Edition Steelbook, a Blu-ray and DVD combo, and a standalone DVD release. The Limited Edition Steelbook and Blu-ray/DVD combo will have exclusive bonus features including feature-length storyboards, behind-the-scenes interviews with the Japanese cast and crew, and theatrical trailers. The standalone DVD release will include almost all of the same bonus features, minus the storyboards.
SOURCE: Press Release
