Studio Ghibli’s next movie appears to be coming sooner than many of us thought, and no, it’s not the one from Hayao Miyazaki – that’s apparently years away.
As reported by New Type, the new film from the acclaimed animation studio is coming later this year. The film is titled Aya to Majo (Ayo and the Witch) and shall air on NHK Synthesis this coming Winter, which might make it a lovely Christmas movie for those in Japan.
Aya and the Witch is being directed by Goro Miyazaki who’s previous films for the production house are Tales from Earthsea & From Up on Poppy Hill. This will be the first feature production to come out of Studio Ghibli since 2014’s release of When Marnie Was Here.
The most glaring factor about the film is that it’s being made entirely in CG, the first time this has happened for a feature from Studio Ghibli.
Aya and the Witch is based upon the book Earwig and the Witch written by Dianna Wynne Jones. Fans of the studio will probably recognise that name it is the same author who wrote Howls Moving Castle, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most famous films, and an adaption.
Here’s the synopsis for the Earwig and the Witch:
Most orphanages are horrible, but Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone at St Morwald’s Home for Children, and loves it there. The last thing she wants is to be adopted by the very strange Bella Yaga, demon-attended Mandrake, and talking black cat Thomas. Earwig wants to learn magic, but will need all her ingenuity and help from a familiar to survive. Expressive big eyes, twisty mouths, on stick figures flesh out the characters, action, and ravens and spiders adorn the margins.
I’d take all of that with a grain of salt as most of Studio Ghibli’s adaptations have been very loose thus far.
There is, of course, no Western release date for a subbed or dubbed version of the film just yet, but it’s exciting none-the-less.
Make sure you check out the podcast series we currently have airing, Studio Ghibli’s Animated Wonders, where we’re discussing each film from Studio Ghibli in release order.
Let me know if you’re excited for this upcoming Ghibli film in the comments section below.
