‘Earwig and the Witch’ a first for Studio Ghibli

Earwig and the Witch,” the first 3DCG feature from acclaimed Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, is about an orphan who is adopted by a witch. Her bratty personality sets her apart from most of the heroes in the famed studio’s films.

“Earwig is this protagonist who talks about controlling people and is someone that always tries to get payback,” director Goro Miyazaki told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published earlier this year. “She is not a proper good kid, really, and I thought that made her very charming.

“I wanted to portray her,” he added, “as someone who is energetic and honest about her wants who just doesn’t fit the ‘good kid’ mold.”

But despite the new ground, the film failed to impress some critics. Variety called this tale “anemic,” adding: “For years, animation mavens have been debating whether Pixar or Ghibli was the more gifted animation studio, which was a fairly abstract argument when the techniques were different. But now that the latter has produced its first fully CG feature, there’s just no comparison. ‘Earwig’ is inferior on nearly every level.”

Also new on DVD Tuesday

■ “The Reckoning”: A young woman struggling with her husband’s suicide is further tormented by her creepy landlord.

■ “Shadow in the Cloud”:

Chloe Grace Moretz stars as a female World War II pilot battling a supernatural foe.

■ “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo play pals from Nebraska who cut loose in Florida in this kitschy comedy.

■ “Giants Being Lonely”: Coming-of-age drama about two small-town high school baseball players in the South.

■ “Son of the South”: Grandson of a Klansman joins the civil rights movement. Based on a true story.

New on demand Tuesday

■ “Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure”: Cartoon canines must save the world.

STUDIO GHIBLI VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS “Earwig and the Witch” is the first 3DCG feature from acclaimed Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, but the film failed to impress some critics.