Watching Miyazaki: A Short "Film-Review" Series

Howl's Moving Castle

(2004)

“They say that the best blaze burns brightest when the circumstances are at their worst."

-Sophie to Calcifer

Miyazaki loves castles, and witches.

Hayao Miyazaki sticks fairly close to the things he likes which is why his stories feel a little more personal than other storytellers.

To be honest, Howl's Moving Castle sort of stumped me; meaning I don't really know exactly what I like or don't like about it.

In this animated tale, we follow a girl named Sophie, who is pretty much living a boring life as a hat maker (in order to honor her father's name) and during a time of war. She unwillingly gets involved with an enigmatic wizard named Howl, and gets cursed by an evil witch because of it.

The curse: Sophie gets turned into an old woman.

Now that is messed up. Now you may say: "Well Aaron, looking at the picture of Sophie on the picture she doesn't look that bad for an old lady."

Ha! That's what you think.

Watch the film and watch the most amazingly animated transformation ever put in a film. In case you're doubting me there's Old Sophie. But trust me, she looked older.

And speaking of animation, this is one utilizes 3-D animation amazingly. Yes, it's not the first Miyazaki film to utilize computer generated images-- I think Princess Mononoke was-- but the way the Japanese director utilizes it is subtle and definitely artful. It looks so seamless.

This is a lovely tale about finding adventure even in an old age, and reminds us that you shouldn't wait to have an adventure and live a life (or else time will catch up with you). Howl's Moving Castle, is also, for the most part, a love story in the most unconventional way. I can't help but feel that this tale was inspired by The Wizard of Oz, since there's this idea of a growing family of characters, a witch, a wizard, a dog, and a scarecrow and a tiny flame named Calcifer voiced by Billy Crystal (in the English dub).

My mom loved watching this so I think you guys will love it.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Trailer