In an age when many animated movies are better than their live-action counterparts, audiences are spoilt for choice when it comes down to what to watch. Admittedly, some of these movies are for junior audiences only, but there are those animation studios that cater to people of all ages.
We are thinking of the animated movies that come from Pixar, for example, which are both stunningly animated in 3D and have storylines that can break the hearts of nearly everyone who watches them.
And we are also thinking of Studio Ghibli, who have produced some of the finest 2D movies ever made, including Laputa: Castle In The Sky, Princess Mononoke, and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away.
But while the majority of Studio Ghibli's movies have been critically well-received, there are some that have fallen below the studio's usual standards. This isn't to say they are as bad as such critical duds as The Emoji Movie or Norm Of The North, but when compared to some of the studio's best movies, including 2004's fairytale adventure Howl's Moving Castle, there is clearly a difference in quality.
1993's Ocean Waves was one such disappointment, largely thanks to the drop in quality of the animation and the distinct lack of magic in the story. And Tales From Earthsea, a 2006 adaptation of the first four books of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series, was also considered a misfire. Part of the problem with these films was the lack of involvement from studio founder Hayao Miyazaki. As the creator of many of the studio's best movies, his absence has been clearly felt by critics of the projects he didn't directly work on.
But which is the worst Studio Ghibli movie? Well, according to IMDb, it is their most recent feature, Earwig And The Witch.
What's So Bad About Earwig And The Witch?
Over the years, audiences have been treated to many beautifully animated movies from the famed Studio Ghibli, and critics the world over have been enamored with them too. But the recent Earwig And The Witch, which currently has a 4.7 rating on IMDb, has not been well-received by those who have seen it.
Directed by Gorō Miyazaki, the son of Hayao, the movie is the studio's first foray into 3D computer animation. Based on the classic children's novel by Diana Wynne Jones, it tells the tale of a headstrong young orphan girl who discovers a world of spells and potions while living with her adoptive mother, Bella Yaga, a selfish witch.
Many movie critics have criticized the animation style of the new movie, questioning why the studio would transition from the hand-drawn animation that Ghibli has become known for to full-on 3D animation. It's a question worth asking, and while Gorō Miyazaki hasn't fully explained the reason behind the decision, he has discussed the benefits. In a recent interview published at The Verge, he said:
"One of the things I found was that with hand-drawn animation, you have to rely on the hands of a very talented animator to bring out a great performance from the character with facial expressions, emotions, and so forth. There’s a limited number of very talented animators that can do so. That’s one of the big challenges with hand-drawn animation. But with 3D CG, you’re able to have different people working on different expressions of one character, which worked well for us."
Sadly, despite the flexibility that 3D animation has given to Gorō Miyazaki and his team of animators, the movie is not on par with Pixar's Toy Story franchise or many of the other movies from that groundbreaking animation studio. Ironically, despite the way 3D technologies are supposed to bring characters to life, many of IMDb's users have criticized the animation style in Earwig And The Witch as being flat and lifeless. One user said the movie was unwatchable because of the awkward and stilted animation and another said the 3D characters looked like something from a cheap TV kids show. Ouch!
It is clear the move into 3D has angered fans of Studio Ghibli, many of whom would have grown up with the enchanting hand-drawn art style that the studio is famed for. Unfortunately, there have been other accusations fired at the movie too. Some have called the plot shallow, there have been criticisms of the movie's ending, and there have been many other bad reactions from IMDb users, movie critics, and social media commenters alike.
There are some great animated movies available to watch at the moment, including Disney's Raya And The Last Dragon and Pixar's Luca. It was hoped that Earwig And The Witch would be up to the standard of these exemplary movies but sadly, critical and public opinion would suggest otherwise.
This isn't to say every review has been a bad one, however. In fact, some users on IMDb have been thoroughly enchanted by what they have seen, even though they have agreed the movie isn't up to par with some of the studio's best efforts. You can find out for yourself as Earwig And The Witch is available to stream on HBO Max and buy on DVD. If you can lower your expectations a little, you might enjoy the movie, even if it doesn't completely spirit you away with its animation style or story.
