Studio Ghibli brought Earwig and the Witch back to a handful of theaters on Tuesday as a warm-up to an October 23 nationwide IMAX push featuring 4K remasters of Whisper of the Heart and The Secret World of Arrietty. Ren Takahashi’s entertainment desk sees the scheduling as a two-step funnel: rekindle interest in Ghibli’s CGI experiment before selling premium large-format tickets for catalog favorites that anchor autumn box-office charts.
This week’s limited run
Earwig’s return targets fans who skipped its pandemic-era debut or want to compare CGI character animation with the hand-drawn Arrietty footage arriving next week. Showtimes are midday and late-night slots in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka complexes that already host Ghibli marathons.
Box-office reporting for the limited run is informal— some venues bundle Earwig with short program notes rather than standalone grosses— but social media check-ins spiked among cosplay communities revisiting the witch academy setting.
IMAX slate details
From October 23, Toho and other exhibitors roll out paired IMAX screenings of Whisper and Arrietty, followed by a wider Dolby Cinema expansion October 30. Ghibli’s marketing emphasizes 4K color timing supervised by surviving layout artists, though directors are not touring.
Ticket preorders opened after Sports Day; premium seats in Shinjuku sold out within hours, mirroring last year’s Princess Mononoke IMAX frenzy.
Merchandise and streaming
Lawson collaboration goods tied to Arrietty sold through parallel channels; streaming rights remain on HBO Max Japan windows separate from theatrical exclusivity. Ghibli Museum in Mitaka stays closed on its regular schedule, pushing tourists toward multiplexes.
Inbound tourists using Visit Japan Web see English-subtitled IMAX showtimes in Yokohama and Kyoto, supporting the government’s autumn culture campaign.
Critical reception context
Earwig divided critics on CGI style; Whisper and Arrietty carry nostalgic goodwill. Exhibitors hope pairing smooths Earwig’s reputation by bookending it with beloved 1990s-2000s titles rather than rereleasing Earwig alone on IMAX.
Anime theatrical revenue overall faces competition from mobile games and concert films; Ghibli remains a reliable tentpole when remasters land on premium screens.
Exhibitor economics
Multiplexes charge premiums of ¥500–¥800 for IMAX 3D double features, padding margins on weeks without Hollywood tentpoles. Concession stands promote themed popcorn buckets timed to Arrietty’s miniature sets, a merchandising loop streaming cannot replicate.
Bottom line
Earwig’s limited return tees up Ghibli’s October 23 IMAX double feature, giving exhibitors a nostalgia-heavy autumn after Sports Day holiday lulls.