Aya to Majo (Earwig and the Witch)

With large windows adorning its spick-and-span halls, St. Morwald's Home for Children serves as a warm refuge for displaced orphans. For 10-year-old Aya, she is perfectly content living without a normal family, especially since she has everyone at the orphanage wrapped around her finger. However, to her dismay, she is one day selected by a peculiar couple, Bella Yaga and the Mandrake.

Aya soon learns that she has, in fact, been adopted by a real witch who wanted her solely as an assistant and had not even considered being her foster mother. As if that was not enough, Aya is told the one rule she must obey at all times—never disturb the Mandrake. To win the hearts of this seemingly heartless witch and the grumpy Mandrake is no easy task; but unlike other children, Aya accepts this challenge without hesitation.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Aya to Majo is based on Diana Wynne Jones' 2011 children's novel Earwig and the Witch. The film is the first full 3DCG animated feature done by Studio Ghibli.

The film was set to have its worldwide premiere at the 73rd Cannes Film Festival in May 2020, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the movie premiered at the Lumière Film Festival on October 18, 2020. The film debuted in Japan on NHK General TV on December 30, 2020, and in Japanese theaters on August 27, 2021. GKIDS released Aya to Majo on Blu-ray and DVD in North America on April 6, 2021.

A children's cookbook inspired by the food featured in the film titled Kodomo Ryouri Ehon Jiburi no Shokutaku Aya to Majo was released by Shufunotomo on April 28, 2021.

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Characters & Voice Actors

Aya

Main

Hirasawa, Kokoro
Japanese

Mandrake

Supporting

Toyokawa, Etsushi
Japanese

Yaga, Bella

Supporting

Terashima, Shinobu
Japanese

Thomas

Supporting

Hamada, Gaku
Japanese

Sally

Supporting

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Staff

Suzuki, Toshio

Producer

Morishita, Kentarou

Producer

Miyazaki, Gorou

Director

Kasamatsu, Kouji

Sound Director

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Opening Theme

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Ending Theme

"tashi no Sekai Seifuku (あたしの世界征服)" by Sherina Munaf (シェリナ・ムナフ)

Reviews

Jan 5, 2024

Tanikaze

Recommended

General review: 9/10
I have read all the negative reviews and watched so many YouTube videos about why the story is disappointing and the animation is terrible. In my opinion this movie was great! I laughed so much. I loved the direction Ghibli took with this movie's animation it looks incredibly detailed very heartwarming, clean and pure. I can feel the texture of everything and also the smell. I will never understand the harsh criticism. Please consider the hard work which is going into these type of things. I think this was amazing. I enjoyed so much.

Art: 10/10
Call me mad for this but one of the ...

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Dec 19, 2023

PitBoy

Mixed Feelings

First, this is not Hayao Miyazaki, This is Gorou Miyazaki, let's not compare Hayao's movies with Gorou, I don't think is fair. Second this is Studio Ghibli 1st full CGI animated feature, meaning that everything, from animation to assets had to being done from scratch, and I remember hearing that the crew was also new with 3D software and It shows, there are things aesthetically that could be better, but I don't think they are in a bad direction and if Studio Ghibli decides to make another CGI movie I do have hopes that they did learn something from their first experience and they'll make ...

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May 22, 2021

Morpheus935

Not Recommended

This film is an embarrassment and a hideous stain on Studio Ghibli's mostly immaculate track record, the same way Cars 2 is for Pixar. Goro Miyazaki isn't anywhere near his father in talent but I at least enjoyed From Up on Poppy Hills and somewhat enjoyed Tales From Earthsea but this is just too much. I am genuinely astonished at how awful this film was and couldn't wait for it to end. The characters are bland and uninteresting, with the Mandrake having the most potential but he barely gets any screentime. The animation is absolutely putrid to watch and I was dearly wishing it was ...

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Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for April

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for April Week 1: April 6 - 12 Anime Releases Aya to Majo (Earwig and the Witch) Blu-ray & DVD...read more

Apr 5, 2021 2:12 PM by ImperfectBlue | Discuss (5 comments)

PV Collection for Dec 21 - 27

Here is a collection of promotional videos (PV), television ads (CM), and trailers for the last week. This thread excludes videos that have already been featured in ...read more

Dec 27, 2020 2:32 PM by Snow | Discuss (1 comment)

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Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Aya to Majo Episode 1 Discussion tsubasalover - Dec 30, 2020	44 replies	by Titadou »» Mar 9, 11:43 AM
Is this coming to Netflix? MrYandereFan26 - Feb 5, 2021	2 replies	by bluefire35 »» Oct 14, 2021 3:29 AM
Why is duration 1 minute? Zestiria - Jan 23, 2021	1 replies	by Supercuecaaa »» Jan 26, 2021 9:31 AM
New information about the movie azertz99 - Jun 18, 2020	14 replies	by MichaelJackson »» Dec 27, 2020 9:22 PM

Aya to Majo

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