Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki have announced their first ever CGI film, Aya To Majo and is scheduled to premier in winter.

The film is based on the novel Earwig and the Witch, written by the late Diana Wynne Jones, who also wrote the source novel of Howl’s Moving Castle. The story is of an orphan girl named Aya as she’s adopted by a witch and taken to her unsettling home. The movie is an entirely 3D production, which is a real departure from the norm for Ghibli.

Miyazaki has once again teamed up with his son Goro, as he takes up the role of directors. The duo is joined by Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki as well.

In a statement Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki said he was worried as to whether the upcoming movie could be set in the new post-corona environment. “I thought that a number of times while watching the rushes,” he said. “Then I realized that one stand-out feature of the film is Aya’s cleverness. And if you are clever you can survive in any period of history. Thinking that, I felt relieved.” This was reported by the Variety. 

The film is a co-production between Ghibli, NHK and NEP (NHK Enterprises).