Howl's moving castle
Howl’s Moving Castle: Director’s Vision Statement (2002)
Director Miyazakis’ overarching vision, themes, and guiding framework for the film.
The Most Challenging Work in Miyazaki FIlms
Toshio Suzuki retells a humorous story of the production challenges, Miyazaki’s involvement, castle design creation, casting choices, and successful box office performance of Studio Ghibli’s “Howl’s Moving Castle.”
What is True Beauty?
Risa Wataya explores the concept of beauty in “Howl’s Moving Castle”. Howl’s pursuit of external beauty contrasts Sophie’s understated self-image, reflecting different values of beauty. Sophie’s contentment as an older woman suggests inner growth, while Howl’s transformation highlights the internal significance of beauty. Their journey towards balance and mutual understanding uncovers the true beauty in embracing individual flaws, creating harmony and happiness.
Animation Director Akihiko Yamashita discusses working on the film “Howl” with director Miyazaki, emphasizing the director’s intense personality, unique vision, and attention to detail in creating dramatic and expressive scenes.
Animation Director Takeshi Inamura discusses their thoughts on joining the project, collaboration process, challenges with Western customs, character growth, and the difficulty of drawing beauty and capturing Howl’s presence.
Animation Director Kitaro Kousaka discusses his impressions of “Howl,” the theme of resilient living embodied by the character Sophie, Miyazaki’s less explanatory approach, and Miyazaki’s direction to always move forward in storytelling and character animation.
A Playboy has No Heart
The author is conflicted by “Howl’s Moving Castle,” finding elements of the plot and character development puzzling. She questions the purpose of Howl’s involvement in the war, Sophie’s transformation into an elderly woman, and Howl’s love for Sophie. Despite these doubts, she appreciates how the film subverts the societal fears around aging and embraces an elderly woman’s freedom and candidness. Sophie’s maturation is seen as liberating, allowing her to escape societal expectations and express herself freely.
What is the Magic of “Howl’s Moving Castle”?
“Howl’s Moving Castle” presents a girl’s self-liberation through magic, merging fantasy and reality. Sophie, cursed to become an old woman, navigates a world of common wizards and war, embodying both her humble, elderly self and her romantic, youthful persona. This fantastical narrative underlines a plea to break the spell normalizing war and appreciate the often unrecognized key players in society.
