Anna's Magic Ball Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the rolling hills, lived a young girl named Anna. Anna was an imaginative and curious child, who always had her head in the clouds. She loved to dream and explore the world around her. One day, while exploring the nearby woods, Anna stumbled upon an old abandoned house. The house was rumored to be haunted, but Anna's curiosity got the better of her. She cautiously made her way inside, discovering a dusty old attic filled with intriguing trinkets and treasures.
So keeping that in mind, along with the fact that we're talking about Ghibli, a studio that can do no wrong, I loaded up my review copy of "Earwig and the Witch," (courtesy of GKids) and sat through the latest offering from Goro Miyazaki, son of the legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki.
Companies like Pixar and DreamWorks turn out some really amazing 3D CGI art, but given the choice between that and a traditional 2D animated movie, I ll take the latter every time. Headstrong, mischievous yet hardworking and a brilliant actress to boot presenting herself as an innocent charming young girl , the one thing I like about Earwig is her character design.
She cautiously made her way inside, discovering a dusty old attic filled with intriguing trinkets and treasures. Amongst the items, Anna found a peculiar small crystal ball. It seemed to glimmer and sparkle as she held it in her hands.
FILM REVIEW: EARWIG AND THE WITCH
I am a fan of the art of animation. I find the ability to create moving pictures from still images or objects fascinating. So much so, I studied it in Uni (and earned a BSc on it). When I was studying it, back in early-2010s, 3D animation was the default, with 2D only starting to get the appreciation it deserves, mostly thanks the increasing popularity of anime. Its during this time that I learnt something important about storytelling and the mediums you use to tell it. I can sum this lesson up with this – “You can forgive bad art, but you can’t forgive a bad story.” You can have the best artists to make your animated movie, but if the story is rubbish no one is going to watch it. Trust me. They are many examples of animations that have great art, but lousy story, and bad animations with great stories that make up for it. When I heard that Studio Ghibli (a bastion of 2D animation) was making a 3D animated movie, I was a bit concerned, initially. I seen too many CGI movies with “passable” stories. But, when I finally watched it, I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it was pretty good. I give it a 7 or 8 out of 10. It had some of the Ghibli visual style, but it reminded me more of an Aardman CGI animation, liked Flushed Away or Arthur Christmas. This should not be surprising, as the story is set in England. The story involves Erica “Earwig” Wigg, a 10-year-old child of a witch who was left at a Children’s home as an infant. Think Minnie the Minx meets a pre-Hogwarts Hermione Granger. A bit of a bossy know-it-all who likes getting her way wherever possible. She has had a comfortable life in the home, until get gets adopted (against her will) by Bella Yaga (a well-proportioned stereotypical step-mother character, with wild blue hair) and Mandrake (a tall teddy boy demon-like being, who looks like a posher version of John Cooper Clarke). Bella adopts her to have “an extra pair of hands” in her potion workshop, which hadn’t been cleaned for decades. Yes, it’s a classic story about child slavery, with magic. Earwig is trapped in the house, as magic has sealed the windows and doors and they can move location, like in a house in a cartoon. Until her forced adoption she never knew she was a witch herself and (with some assistance from Thomas the cat familiar) learns how do her own spells that prove useful later. Adapted from the book by Diana Wynne Jones (who also penned Howl’s Moving Castle), and directed by Gorō Miyazaki (son of the Howl’s film director Hayao Miyazaki) this film has a good pedigree to live up to. And, I dare say, it has. The art may be a bit flawed to my taste, but the story makes up for it massively. P.S. I loved the illustrations during the end credits. Classic (2D) Ghibli.
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This entry was posted in: Film Tagged with: animation, Film, film review, Studio GhibliPublished by profgordonwallace
A computer animation and digital art graduate with an interest in . everything really. An experienced artist in multiple mediums with a scientific eye and brain. No stranger to a screwdriver.
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Little did she know, this was no ordinary crystal ball – it was a magic ball that held mystical powers. Excitedly, Anna took the crystal ball home, careful not to let anyone see what she had found. She spent hours studying it, trying to uncover its secrets. One evening, as the moonlight bathed her bedroom, Anna decided to test the powers of the crystal ball. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered a question to the ball. Suddenly, the room was filled with a soft, mysterious glow. The crystal ball began to spin, as if it had a life of its own. Anna watched in awe as images and scenes unfolded within the ball. The magic ball had the power to provide answers to any question Anna had. It revealed hidden mysteries, provided guidance, and even showed glimpses of the future. Anna was astonished by its capabilities and used it wisely, seeking knowledge and understanding. Word of Anna's magic ball soon spread throughout the village. People came from far and wide, hoping to have their questions answered by the mystical orb. Many believed it to be a gift from the heavens, while others were skeptical and thought it was nothing more than a parlor trick. Anna, however, cherished her secret and the bond she developed with the magic ball. It became her trusted companion, guiding her through life's ups and downs. With its help, she was able to navigate challenges, make wise decisions, and bring joy and hope to those around her. As the years passed, Anna never revealed the true source of her knowledge. She remained the village's wise and kind-hearted girl, always ready to lend a helping hand and offer advice. The magic ball continued to serve her faithfully, its powers undiminished by time. And so, the tale of Anna's magic ball became legendary in the village. It taught the importance of curiosity, imagination, and the power of knowledge. Anna's story served as a reminder that magic can be found in the most unexpected places, and that sometimes, we just need to believe in the extraordinary..
Reviews for "Anna's Magic Ball: A Modern Approach to Ancient Wisdom"
1. John Doe - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "Anna's Magic Ball". The storyline was weak and predictable, and the characters lacked depth and development. The concept of a magic ball sounded intriguing, but it was poorly executed. The pacing of the book was also off, with long stretches of boring and irrelevant scenes. Overall, I found the book to be a waste of time and would not recommend it.
2. Jane Smith - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Anna's Magic Ball", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing style was quite average, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with many loose ends left untied. The main character, Anna, was not relatable or likable, making it hard for me to connect with the story. In the end, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wished I had chosen a different book to read.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars - "Anna's Magic Ball" had an interesting premise, but it failed to hold my interest. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked depth. The magic ball itself was portrayed as a central element, but it wasn't explored enough, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. The characters were underdeveloped, and their actions often did not align with their personalities. Overall, I found the book to be dull and unengaging, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Michael Thompson - 1 star - I found "Anna's Magic Ball" to be a complete waste of time. The writing was poorly done, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. The plot lacked coherence, jumping from one event to another without any clear direction. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their outcomes. I struggled to finish this book and was relieved when it was over. I would not recommend it to anyone.