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Ghibli's 1st CG Feature Earwig and the Witch Opens on February 3, Streams on February 5 in U.S.

GKIDS announced on Thursday that it is working with Fathom Events and independent theater circuits to begin screening Studio Ghibli's first CG feature Earwig and the Witch, Goro Miyazaki's anime adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' novel of the same name, in select theaters in the United States on February 3. The film will screen in Japanese with English subtitles and in English. HBO Max will begin streaming the film on February 5 in the U.S.

The theatrical run will qualify the film for the Oscars.

The English dub cast includes:

• Kacey Musgraves as Earwig's Mother
• Pandora Colin as Matron
• Alex Cartañá as Assistant Matron
• Taylor Paige Henderson as Earwig
• J.B. Blanc as Mr. Jenkins
• Logan Hannan as Custard
• Summer Jenkins as Phyllis
• Vivienne Rutherford as Sally
• Tom Bromhead as Cook
• Eva Kaminsky as Assistant Cook
• Vanessa Marshall as Bella Yaga
• Richard E. Grant as The Mandrake
• Dan Stevens as Thomas

Additional dub cast members include:

• J.B. Blanc
• Tom Bromhead
• Alex Cartañá
• Pandora Colin
• Summer Jenkins
• Eva Kaminsky
• Vivienne Rutherford

Kacey Musgraves is also performing the English version of the film's theme song “Don't Disturb Me.” Sherina Munaf is performing the theme song in Japanese.

Jones published the novel in 2011, and publisher HarperCollins describes the story:

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.

Goro Miyazaki is directing the anime as the studio's first full 3D CG feature, and his father and studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is credited for the movie's planning and development. Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki is producing. French distributor Wild Bunch International is serving as the feature's international sales agent.

Keiko Niwa (Ocean Waves, Tales from Earthsea, The Secret World of Arrietty, From Up On Poppy Hill, When Marnie Was There) and Emi Gunji (From Up On Poppy Hill assistant director) are writing the screenplay. Miho Satake (Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit, Kiki's Delivery Service), the illustrator of the novel's Japanese edition, is credited with the original character and setting designs, and Katsuya Kondō (Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Ronja the Robber's Daughter, From Up On Poppy Hill) is designing the characters for animation.

Yukinori Nakamura (Ghibli Museum's "Boro the Caterpillar", Expelled from Paradise) is supervising the CG, and Tan Seri is serving as animation director. Yuhki Takeuchi is handling the backgrounds. Satoshi Takebe (From Up On Poppy Hill, Ronja the Robber's Daughter) is composing the music, Koji Kasamatsu is directing the sound, and Eriko Kimura is directing the dialogue recording. Kentarō Morishita is producing the animation, and Isao Yoshikuni, Keisuke Tsuchihashi, and Koji Hoshino are production managers.

The 82-minute feature aired on the NHK General channel on December 30. The Cannes Film Festival chose the feature as part of its Official Selection last year.

Source: Press release