Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Class Superlative: Chameleon
Source Material
Title: Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle #1)
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Published: 1986
Series: Howl’s Moving Castle
In a Land of Pure Imagination
After a curse transforms young hatmaker Sophie into an old woman, she finds herself living at the aforementioned moving castle of the wizard Howl. And wouldn’t you know it — the castle just might hold the key to breaking her curse.
Adorable Child Alert
Markl has his brekkie routine DOWN.
Lovable Anthropomorphic Sidekicks
Calcifer sometimes veers a little too close to annoying for my liking, but he’s still way lovable.
The only thing that can match the greatness of a mouthy anthropomorphic sidekick is one that’s king of the deadpan — Heen!
And Turnip Head, OBVS.
Wait, WTF?
Why’s Howl freaking out about being a ginger!? Gingers are so hot right now.
Famous Voices
- Emily Mortimer as Young Sophie
- Jean Simmons as Old Sophie
- Christian Bale as Howl
- Lauren Effin’ Bacall as the Witch of the Waste
- Billy Crystal as Calcifer
- Josh Hutcherson (whose first “Known For” credit is still Bridge to Terabithia — suuure, IMDb) as Markl
- Blythe Danner as Madame Suliman
- Jena Malone as Sophie’s sister, Lettie
Class Superlative: Chameleon
I’m not just talking about Howl’s hair styles (although that’s certainly applicable as well), but how I feel about this movie. At first, I was lukewarm about it, and I didn’t think it lived up to the hype. But I’ve grown to appreciate it more upon rewatches. Howl’s still hasn’t captured my heart, but it’s at least memorable. Plus, that score is THE BOMB DOT COM (composed by Ghibli heavy hitter Joe Hisaishi, obvs). Like that main theme song? Anyone who’s seen the movie: you can already hear it, right? SO GOOD.
Exploring the Studio Ghibli Vault
