It is a 2004 Japanese animated feature film . Written & directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is loosely based on the 1986 novel of the same name by British author Diana Wynne Jones. Animated by Studio Ghibli.
The Japanese voice cast featured Chieko Baisho & Takuya Kimura. The English dub version starred Jean Simmons, Emily Mortimer, Lauren Bacall with others.
The film is set in a fictional kingdom where both magic & early twentieth -century technology are prevalent, against the backdrop of war with another kingdom.
It tells story of Sophie, a young milliner who is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop & curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl & gets caught up in his resistance to fight for the king.
It was made on a budget of $ 24 million & it garnered $ 236 million worldwide.
Influenced by Miyazaki ‘s opposition to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The film contains strong anti-war themes. In 2013, Miyazaki said ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ was his favourite creation, ‘I wanted to convey the message that life is worth living, and I don’t think that’s changed’.
It was nominated at the 78th Academy award for Best animated Feature but lost to ‘Wallace & Gromit :The Curse of the Were -Rabbit’. In won several other awards including four Tokyo Anime Awards & a Nebula Award for Best Script.
Soon after it’s release , it became the third most financially successful film in Japan, behind Titanic & Spirited Away!
Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 87 % approval. Averaging at 7.5/10. The critics have praised the scenes with the lake, mountains & greenery. The flowers abound the house where Howl spent his childhood.
The title isn’t catchy. I thought. So I had been putting it off. But one comes across the best leads here. A very handsome Howl, a pretty Sophie & the story. ( Why would someone name him.. Howl! We have so many good names. ) His transformations don’t scare her. So we are okay.
The castle is ugly & the chicken feet, I hated them. But then magic works & the rooms change! Breaking it up felt like a set from a western flick. We don’t go destroying our sets!!
Compassion for the witch who has made you old , is just too good to be true. But she has a pure heart & gets what she wishes!
A fascinating tale of magic. Miyazaki magic works.
Asian Entertainment 