Howl’s Moving Castle is an extremely popular anime that is based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones. It was written as a screenplay and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Howl’s Moving Castle is the story of a young woman named Sophie. Sophie is the oldest daughter in a family whose father has died. Becuase of that Sophie feels that she must stay at the family hat shop to help her beautiful mother run it. Sophie doesn’t seem to mind much as she thinks herself unattractive and more suited for working. Her country is at war and there is also a mysterious moving castle on the loose whose master maybe a heart eating demon so it is better for a maiden to stay indoors anyway.
After Sophie insults the Witch of the Waste she is put under a curse. Sophie leaves home to find a way to lift the curse. She finds herself in Howl’s castle as the new cleaning lady. There she gets to know not only the mysterious Howl but a whole cast of characters. Perhaps there she can lift her curse.
I love Howl’s Moving Castle. It was my first Miyazaki film. The artwork alone is reason to watch the movie. Like all Miyazaki films the pastoral scenes are rich and gorgeous. The design of the castle is whimsical and a basically becomes a character in and of itself. In fact all the characters are really well done. Honestly, Sophie’s snark alone is worth watching for.
I would highly recommended Howl’s moving Castle. There is just a certain feeling you get from a Miyazaki film. Well for all except one that is. It is a feeling that everything will be alright. There is plenty of peril in the movie. Airships are fighting. Demons are also trying to gain supremacy but you know that so long as the castle is moving you are safe.
So give it a try if you haven’t seen Howl’s Moving Castle give it a try. If you have you are probably due for a rewatch.
ALWAYS KEEP SPARKLING!
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