The year is 2009, my 11-year-old self is walking down the aisles of our nearest Video Ave. My mother has prohibited me from renting Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie for the hundredth time, I’m forced to find something new. I couldn’t pick Spirited Away because again, it had to be something new. But then, there it was: Howl’s Moving Castle. It unlocked memory that at the time I couldn’t remember. However, I knew it had some connection to Spirited Away and my decision was made. As we arrived at our one-bedroom apartment, that blurry memory burst, I had seen this movie before, on Cartoon Network, but it didn’t matter because it was like I was entering a new yet familiar world, just like Sophie Hatter. A quiet yet strong female lead, a mysterious castle, a prince-like wizard, a fire that talked and a spell that had to be broken, I fell in love.
It’s been ten years since this movie came back to my life, and as I hold my dear DVD copy to my chest, I swear that I’ve been an advocate of making people watch it ever since. I’ve made all the people I love sit down and watch it. It’s my favorite movie of all time! But if you’re not convinced with my child-like wonder, I’m sure that by the end of this article, you’ll be rushing to watch Howl’s Moving Castle.
The story begins with an opening shot of a castle, if you can even call it castle with its weird legs and mismatched rustic front, it creaks and groans with unexpected charm, fading into the mist. After that, we meet our main heroine, Sophie, who works at her deceased father’s hat shop. At first, she seems quiet, with no clear goal of what she wants in her life. Enter Howl, who encounters her in an uncomfortable situation with two men, with his “There you are sweetheart. Sorry I’m late. I was looking everywhere for you,” proving that not all men are trash. He walks her back to her sister’s job, in a very magical way, ending their meeting with a “That’s my girl”. He saves the day (and now owning our hearts). That brief interaction creates a chain of events, that changes, or more like ages our dearest Sophie and lights up Howl’s hollow chest. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t your typical boy saves girl story, in fact, this is the story of how they both save each other.
The heart of the story lies within the characters, each one with its quirks. Calcifer being flamboyant, The Witch of the Waste with her sass, Markl demonstrating his innocence or Turnip-Head being as helpful as he can. All of them help Sophie and Howl in their respective journeys. Since they too are not perfect. Sophie has low self-esteem, always putting herself down even though all those around her can see how strong she is. Howl is a coward, who cares a bit too much about how he looks. This is what makes them relatable to the audience, we all at some point have doubted ourselves or cried because we don’t look right. But eventually, they (and we) all learn that what matters is what’s on the inside. There’s no spell that can change that.
Howl’s Moving Castle, is based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones, and although the book is wonderful, the movie is its own thing entirely. Unlike the book, it plays with themes of war, sacrifice, and its consequences. It also touches themes of confidence, family and love. Better yet, the story is about the mythical journey both our main characters have. By living in Howl’s Castle, Sophie slowly comes out of her shell. She becomes confident, resolute, sure of herself. She leaves behind the choking flame and embraces the amazing woman that used to hide behind her family’s shadow. Howl, through finally gaining a family, learns that he now has something he wants to protect, and he must stop running away from everything. They transform into better versions of themselves through the catalysis that was their meeting only serving as catalysts to their individual transformations.
If this doesn’t convince you, let me tell you that the production behind it will. Other than the fact that this is a Studio Ghibli production (that should convince you on its own), it has an amazing cast. Jean Simmons steals the show as Sophie, truly showcasing the resilience of the character. Then there’s Christian Bale as Howl… no further explanation is truly unneeded, but it is a swoon-worthy performance for sure. Joe Hisaishi is in charge of the movie’s music, creating a soothing score that will relax you in times of stress and will be stuck in your head for years to come. Then there’s the animation, in classic Studio Ghibli style, giving details with a realistic touch to this fantasy-filled world. It’s truly one of Hayao Miyazaki’s highlights in his many masterpieces, one can truly see all the thought and love that was put into the movie. It may not have won an Oscar, like Spirited Away, (I would argue that it was robbed, but that’s just my bias speaking!) but it’s sure to win your heart.
Howl’s Moving Castle will forever be number one in my heart, my children will watch it and my grandchildren too. No Oscar can top that. In moments where I find myself stressed, the creak of that unusual castle soothes me. That one scene of them eating breakfast will always make me hungry, regardless of how much I hate breakfast. When I look at Howl’s and Sophie’s relationship I see two characters that have shown me what love is. Howl’s Moving Castle has taught me all of that and more. The thing is, I can’t truly put into words the child-like joy this movie gives me, how it fills my heart and makes me want to share it with those that I love. Hopefully, you will enjoy it as much as I have.
So here I give you my heart, I hope you aren’t a demon that wants to take it. After all, a heart’s a heavy burden.