Earwig and the Witch

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Studio Ghibli's first CG film about an orphan witch-in-training that critics universally panned and even die-hard fans struggle to defend.

28%

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Earwig and the Witch

movie

PG, 2021

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Studio Ghibli's first CG film about an orphan witch-in-training that critics universally panned and even die-hard fans struggle to defend.

28%

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28%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is Studio Ghibli's first fully CG film and... it shows. Not in a good way.

The critical reception is brutal (28% on Rotten Tomatoes, 4.7/10 on IMDB, 2.1/5 on Letterboxd), and even the 68% audience score feels generous. This is the studio that gave us Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke—and then they delivered this.

The premise is fine: headstrong orphan, magical household, spells and potions. But the execution is flat, the CG animation lacks the warmth of classic Ghibli, and most viewers report being bored. It's safe and has some wholesome elements, but if your kid is going to spend 82 minutes watching something, there are dozens of better animated films that will actually hold their attention and deliver meaningful magic.

It's not offensively bad—it's just forgettable and disappointing, which might be worse.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-11 who are curious about magic and witches. The Common Sense Media age 8 rating feels right—younger kids might find it slow, older kids will likely find it boring and poorly executed compared to other animated offerings.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Features a headstrong orphan protagonist learning to navigate a new living situation with a selfish witch. While the premise involves cooperation and problem-solving, the 'selfish' witch dynamic and orphan storyline may present some emotional complexity. Common Sense Media rates it for age 8, suggesting some mature themes but generally appropriate content. The low audience scores suggest execution issues that may affect emotional resonance.

Imaginative

A world of spells and potions offers magical elements and fantasy world-building. The premise of an orphan discovering magic has creative potential. However, the extremely low critical reception (28% RT critics, 4.7 IMDB, 2.1/5 Letterboxd) suggests the execution falls flat and fails to deliver on its imaginative promise. This is Studio Ghibli's first fully CG film, which represents a creative risk but appears to have missed the mark.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 8, suggesting mild content appropriate for elementary-aged children. No indicators of graphic violence, sexual content, or disturbing imagery. The 'selfish witch' may present some mildly tense moments but nothing that would constitute a serious safety concern. As an animated family film on HBO Max, content appears predictably safe for the target demographic.

Enriching

The premise of a headstrong orphan learning to navigate a difficult living situation could offer lessons about resilience and adaptation. Magic and spell-casting elements might spark curiosity. However, the abysmal critical reception (28% critics, 46 Metacritic) and poor audience scores suggest the film fails to deliver meaningful takeaways or engaging storytelling. The 4.7 IMDB and 2.1/5 Letterboxd ratings indicate most viewers found it neither enriching nor particularly entertaining.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

It's Studio Ghibli, so even their worst effort has some visual creativity and magical world-building DNA
The headstrong orphan protagonist models independence and resourcefulness in a tough situation
Safe, non-scary magical content appropriate for elementary-aged kids
Some kids might enjoy the spells and potions elements if they're into magic

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What to Watch For

The 'selfish witch' living situation may feel emotionally tense for sensitive kids
Orphan storyline touches on themes of abandonment and not belonging
Honestly, the biggest concern is that your kid will be bored out of their mind—4.7/10 on IMDB is rough
The CG animation style is a jarring departure from classic Ghibli and may disappoint fans expecting their signature look

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you had to live with someone who was really selfish? How would you handle that?"
"If you could learn one spell or potion, what would it be and why?"
"Earwig is pretty confident and headstrong—is that always a good thing, or can it sometimes get you in trouble?"

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Earwig and the Witch – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise