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