Japanese iconic animation house leaves fans unhappy

Japan’s Studio Ghibli leaves some fans unhappy after releasing a movie trailer going against the traditional hand-drawn style of the iconic animation house.

Ghibli's first 3D CGI movie ‘Earwig and the Witch’ has failed to meet the expectations of fans as they shared negative comments on social media, implying that the previous animations produced by the studio, known for its beautifully rich painted worlds, do not gel with the new work.

 A YouTuber puts it, "I don't mean to sound rude but 3D animation does not vibe with Studio Ghibli's 2D style."

A tweet from one fan also reads, "I’d say it’s the stiffness. The trailer lacks the animation fluidity that Ghibli is known for. I’d say it’s the stiffness. The trailer lacks the animation fluidity that Ghibli is known for."

‘Earwig and the Witch’ trailer offers a first look at Studio Ghibli's first fully 3D CGI feature film. Often considered the "Pixar of Japan," the studio was founded by animation legend Hayao Miyazaki.

While much of Ghibli's charm comes from the style of hand-drawn 2D animation, the new offering may pose some challenges to the studio before they could convince the fans to watch ‘Earwig and the Witch’.

The movie follows Earwig, a 10-year-old girl in England who has grown up in an orphanage. She's eventually adopted by a selfish witch and must use her wits to escape the terrible circumstances. 

AG/AG