Studio Ghibli has released the first previews of their first animated film Aya and The Witch (Aya to Majou) with a series of new key visuals featuring scenes from the movie.
As reported by media news blog Comic Natalie, Studio Ghibli has released multiple images giving fans a first look at the studio’s first ever 3D animated film.
You can find the new key visuals below.
As reported here on Nicchiban, Studio Ghibli officially announced the new project earlier this year. Aya and The Witch is based off the book Earwig and The Witch by Diana Wynne Jones, who also wrote the original novel for Howl’s Moving Castle, a previous Studio Ghibli film.
Hayao Miyazaki’s son Goro Miyazaki will be directing Aya and The Witch, with Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki producing. Goro Miyazaki had this to say about the upcoming release of Aya and The Witch.
“Now, in our country, there are many adults and few children.
I think the current children will be tough because we have to deal with many adults with that small number.
When I was thinking about that, I met Aya. Then I thought, “Yes, should I do that?”
What would Aya do with the annoying adults?
Please see ‘[Aya] and the Witch’.
I hate to say that our cute Aya encourages children and cheers up adults.”
Translation: Google Translate (Adjusted)
A summary of the book via publisher Harper Collins is available to read below.
” ‘I would like to declare Diana Wynne Jones an international treasure,’ proclaimed Neil Gaiman, Newbery Medalist and best-selling author. In this enchanting introduction to Diana Wynne Jones’s magical and funny work, Earwig is a fearless young orphan. When she finds herself in a house of dark magic, she does whatever she can to adapt—especially if it means that she’ll learn a little magic herself! A young middle grade novel by World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement‒winner Diana Wynne Jones, beautifully illustrated in black and white by Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky.
‘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.”
Aya and The Witch will be Studio Ghibli’s first full length CG film when it premieres this winter on NHK TV in Japan.
Images: Comic Natalie
