About


Directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Ghilbi Studios

Miyazaki came out of retirement after the original
director decided to leave (Mamoru Hosoda)

Based on the fantasy novel by Diana Whynne Jones

Did not have an interaction with the movie, but
really liked the film.

Premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Sept. 5, 2004

Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated
Feature in 2005, but didn't win

No CGI – bright colors and spectacular world
About

Film had a gross of
$231,710,455 worldwide.

One if the most
successful films financially
in Japanese history.

Dubbed into English by
Pixar's Peter Docter

Distributed in North
America by Walt Disney
Pictures.
About

English Voice Talent

Howl – Christian Bale

Sophie - Jean Simmons

Witch of the Waste –
Lauren Bacall

Calcifer – Billy Crystal

Markl - Josh
Hutcherson
About

Japanese Voice Talent

Howl – Takuya Kimura

Sophie - Chieko Baishō

Witch of the Waste –
Akihiro Miwa

Calcifer – Tatsuya
Gashūin

Markl - Ryūnosuke
Kamiki

Released into the US &
Canada in 2005 and later
on into Australia and the
UK.
 Plot Summary

Sophie runs into Howl

Attracts Witch of the Waste – she curses Sophie

Sophie runs away, ends up staying at Howl's Castle

Sophie begins to find out that Howl is summoned by the
King to fight for the war that has broken out.

Sophie finds that Howl is stubborn & immature at times.

His views about war are obvious – he doesn't want to
fight.
 Plot Summary

Sophie's mother visits one day under the threat of Sulliman
and leaves a 'bug'

Witch of the Waste finds it and destroys it by feeding it
to Calcifer which weakens him

Sulliman sends troops to the house – Howl draws them
away

Castle begins to fall a part because Calcifer is weakened.

-Witch of the waste notices heart & steals it

Nearly kills Calcifer & the castle

Scarecrow stops the pieces from falling – Sophie kisses
scarecrow

War ends.
 Themes

Anti-War

Flying

a recurring theme in Miyazaki's films. He thinks of
flight as a form of liberation from gravity and how it
keeps you stuck to one place.
− Howl & Sophie soaring above their town in Howl's Moving
Castle.

Redemption

Solving one's own problems

Strong independent young woman
Grandma Sophie/ Sophie

Starts out not knowing
what to do with her life,
she befriends Howl. The
Witch of the Waste,
jealous of their friendship,
casts a spell on Sophie,
turning her into a 90-year-
old woman. After moving
into Howl’s castle, her love
for him makes her turn
young at certain times.
Howl

Howl's negative view of the
war is clear & he refuses to
join the fight in any official
capacity. Despite this, he
frequently participates on
the magical plane of the
war as a demon bird
battling "hack" wizards, in
hopes he might have a
positive impact.
Calcifer

Howl’s fire demon, who
also holds Howl’s heart.
He is the one moving the
castle, and is bound on the
fireplace by a contract he
made with Howl.
Making a deal with Sophie,
he says that if Sophie
breaks the contract, he will
turn her back into her
normal self.
Markl

Howl’s apprentice. He
does not have a
family, and lives in
the moving castle,
and deals with the
people who come to
order potions.
Witch of the Waste

A witch who wants to
pursue Howl. She
had once served at
the Royal Palace in
Kingsbury, but was
sent away for abusing
her powers and now
lives in the Wastes.
Turnip Head (Scarecrow) & Heen

A scarecrow with a turnip
for a head that Sophie
saves in the Wastes, and
wanting to return the favor,
he follows her around,
helping her.

A dog who follows Sophie
around. He is Madame
Sulliman’s errand dog. He
is also Sulliman's “spy.”
Book Differences
 Book Differences

The film is significantly different from the
original novel.

Plot is similar, but it is flavored with many of
Miyazaki's familiar themes.

The focus is still on Sophie and her adventure
while being cursed with old age, but the the
novel is concerned with Howl's womanizing and
his attempts to weasel out of locating a lost
wizard and a prince.
 Book Differences

In book, Apprentice is a teenager, in film, a
young boy.

In book, Witch of the Waste is young &
beautiful, in film, huge heavyset woman.

In book, Calcifer is a scary-looking fire demon,
in film, an adorable little flame.

In book, 'Wizard Suliman' is an ally, in the film,
it is changed to 'Madam Suliman,' a villain
 Top Five Takeaways

Based on the novel by Diana Whynne Jones

Completely hand-drawn, no CGI

Highly detailed fantastical worlds

One of the most financially successful films in
Japanese history

While only limited released in the US, it was
highly praised.
Howl's Moving Castle
Howl's Moving Castle
 Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howl%27s_Moving_Castle_(film)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howl%27s_Moving_Castle

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/castle/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347149/

http://www.onlineghibli.com/howls_castle/char.php

http://www.onlineghibli.com/howls_castle/review-synopsis.php