Howl's Moving Castle

Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 2004, 118 minutes

For those of you already acquainted with anime the name of Studio Ghibli is well-known and respected. Howl's Moving Castle is just another of their wondrous works.

Adapted from Diana Wynne Jones's novel of the same title, Howl's Moving Castle tells the tale of Sophie, a young women working as a hatter in a time of war. In this era it is not only machines that fight, but witches and wizards as well. On her way home one day Sophie encounters one of these wizards, the enigmatic Howl who is reputed to steal the souls of young women and is saved by him from the mysterious 'blob men'. That night Sophie is turned into a 90 year old woman and forbidden to tell anyone about it by the wicked Witch of the Waste and next morning leaves before her sister can discover what's happened. She sets off to make the Witch remove the spell and discovers how much harder it is to be old. In search of a stick to help her walk she discovers 'Turnip-head' a moving scarecrow, who leads her to Howl's home, a house on chicken legs powered by the fire-demon Calcifer. She becomes the housekeeper and whilst keeping his home clean and winning over the hearts of Howl's acquaintances gradually discovers that there's more to Howl than meets the eye...

Like most other Ghibli films Howl's Moving Castle is beautifully animated and even though the subtitles may be a little awkward, the film is able to tell its tale almost without them. The characters are amazing, especially the fire demon Calcifer, the spunky little fireball who drives the castle onward. Young and old alike will love this film, a reminder that things are never what they seem and no matter how impossible they seem, things can always be overcome.

Review by Rachel McKerrow
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2006

Howl's Moving Castle is a brilliant animated film from the Japanese production studios of Studio Ghibli. It is based on a novel by the British author Diana Wynne Jones. Set in a time of war where wizards and witches are called to fight as well soldiers using machines. It is about a girl called Sophie and a wizard called Howl who is said to steal young girls souls. One day Sophie is rescued from a couple of soldiers by Howl who in turn is being followed by the evil blob men. Howl vanishes off somewhere drawing the blob away men with him but that night she is turned into an old woman by the wicked witch of the waste and because of the curse is unable to tell anyone about it. Not wanting her friends to find her as an old lady she goes off to find the wicked witch of the waste to ask her to turn her back but on the way she meets a magic scarecrow, who has a turnip for a head, who helps her by giving her a walking stick and leads her to Howl's moving castle, which walks around on legs like chickens but made of metal. There in Howl's castle she meets Calcifer, a fire demon, who says he will break the spell she's under if she will figure out the secret contract between him and Howl thereby breaking it as he is worked hard by the wizard and forced to keep the castle moving and "waste all his hot water" by having hot steamy baths. She also meets Markl howls young assistant, who disguises himself as an old man with magic when customers come by, and says she is the new cleaning lady. But... what is behind the "black door"? Will she meet Howl? and will he recognise her if she does? What is the secret behind the magic scarecrow? and why does he keep following her around? Who are the blob men that keep following her and Howl around? Will she meet with the witch of the waste? Will she turn her back into a girl again? If she does should she be woried about Howl stealing her soul? Why are there feathers all over the place in the mornings? and what great tradgedy will happen when she cleans howls bathroom? and after all of this where does the funny coloured dog come into all of it?

Altogether this is a fantastic fim with a good score by Joe Hisaishi and great Japanese voice acting from the talents of Takuya Kimura and Chieko Baisho but with slightly dodgy subtitles although they get the meaning across. Any film with over one thousand one hundred lines of text is never going to be completely accurate. If, however, you see the dubbed version you get to hear the vocal talents of Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal, Jean Simmons, Emily Mortimer and Christian Bale (Although I think he sounds too old to be Howl he doesn't act badly and I am a big fan!!!).

But if the animation quality from Studio Ghibli just isnt a good enough reason to see this film and you need one more reason to see it... Howl is hot!!! and for a short time in the film he's naked! What more reasons do you need!!!

Also if your a Studio Ghibli fan look carefully and see if you can spot Pazu from "Castle In The Sky". He is there somewhere...

Review by N. A. Grom
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2006