Howl's Moving Castle

Made by the renowned animation studio, Studio Ghibli, Howl's Moving Castle, is one of the studio's most popular films but also, in my opinion, one of the best. Studio Ghibli relies heavily on hand-drawn animation, yet all of the films, including this one is shown with such fluidity, from the expressions of the characters to the details of the moving background. It really is amazing. I wouldn't normally critic or analyse animated films as there is no solid cinematography in place but the narrative and detail in these animations are too good to ignore.

Set in a town of war, the young protagonist, Sophie (yep my name hehe), is rescued from two harassing soldiers by Howl, a notorious wizard rumoured to eat the hearts of young maidens. Her association with this dashing, dangerous outsider catches the attention and of Howl's enemy, the Wicked Witch of the Waste. The witch casts a spell on Sophie, turning her into an ancient old lady, the hex cruelly intensified by making it impossible for Sophie to say what has happened to her. Sophie, now in love with Howl, begs for his help which then leads the duo onto multiple adventures.

The irony Miyazaki places at the centre of his fairytale is that Sophie is at first horrified to find that she is an old woman, and then sadly and obscurely relieved. Comforting herself, she tells her hideous reflection: "You're still healthy, and these clothes finally suit you." Her face has changed. Her clothes haven't. Later she finds herself grimly empowered by her own growing age: "The good thing about being old is that you have so little to lose."

One of the central reminders in this film is that for many people, youth can be a trial, you don't know who you are supposed to be, or what you are supposed to want, when you have no money or status and when, in all probability, you will fall in love with someone who does not love you back, and have not yet grown the outer skin necessary for dulling the pain.

Now, The Castle. It's a beautiful piece of artistic work, it's drawn as a wheezing, steaming moving metal and junk bits clanking around the landscape on four spindly legs. There are architectural details suggesting human faces, it is clearly handmade, oddly proportioned, funny and sort of creepy. The details in the storyline around just this one castle is so creative, for example a talking, almost irritable, fire and a magical front door opening onto different landscapes with the flip of a knob.

Miyazaki, founder of Studio Ghibli, is known to put plucky, strong young female protagonists that have a elderly figure in his films. (these figures act as wise mother figures for the struggling female heroine ) in this particular film however, one character plays both parts which is interesting and the introduction to more female heroines should be encouraged more in children's films. This is not at all just for children but can easily be watched by them and can, if talked about, can help them with their view of the world in the future. As well as this, Miyazaki turns girl power from the machismo surrounding the idea of 'girl power' in Hollywood films into a stronger, more potent alternative version.

Find it on:

Netflix and Amazon Prime