Studio Ghibli's "Aya and the Witch" will hit American theaters in early 2021

For the first time in six years, the American public will see a brand new film Studio Ghibli in theaters next year. Aya and the Witch it will be released in early 2021 by Gkids, a longtime distributor of the studio's works.

The film follows Aya, a girl who grew up orphaned, unaware that she is the daughter of a witch and ends up being adopted by a witch, no less. Ghibli's first fully animated feature film is directed by Goro Miyazaki, who directed two studio films: Tales from Terramare e From up on Poppy Hill. The first images, released last month, mark rather a deviation from the style of the house.

Goro's father, Hayao, is credited for "planning" the film, which suggests he was instrumental in developing the narrative, while longtime Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki is again producing. NHK and NEP (NHK Enterprises) are co-producers. Aya and the Witch was one of four animated films selected as part of the official Cannes line-up this year.