Howl’s Moving Castle: A tale of a self-inflicted curse

The unusual beauty that is glaringly familiar in the Ghibli franchise is sonorously present throughout Howl’s adventures as a wizard and the main character’s story is mixed along with it.

Even though there are some changes seen in the movie that is different from the book by Diana Wynne Jones, the movie enraptures the viewers in the beautiful mystery and chemistry of the characters as the story unfolds into a beautiful narrative of perception of beauty, self-doubts and traces the way the main character Sophie changes into a stronger woman with a progressive leap forward.

Sophie’s Arc and how it enriched the Story

Sophie was an orphaned daughter of a famous hatter, whose work she continued, making hats for people who led comparatively contrasted lives apart from hers.

Her low self-confidence tampered with her belief in herself which made her think of herself as a burden and nobody would want her, given she thinks that she is not beautiful enough.

The entire trajectory of her life changes when the Witch of the Waste inflicts her with a curse that turned her into an old woman and thus she sets out to find Howl’s castle, away from the city where people know her, to find purpose in the last few days in her life.

The experiences of an old-aged woman and the frailty in believing in the unethical standards of beauty drain away from her as she starts being more confident and her insecurities about not being beautiful enough fade away from her.

Eventually, she starts to embrace her importance in Howl’s life and his past, the reason he was the subject of hatred and destruction, and how she promptly brought him to his sense and became a subject of desire for Howl to save.

Moments when she would stand up for herself and Howl, the viewers would get the changing and fluctuating curse of Sophie, which indicated that all she needed was a belief in herself as a woman and her insecurities were the only helpful catalyst to culminate into a real curse inflicted by the Witch of the Waste.

The presence of love and self-importance equally portrayed through the characters

Towards the end, when Sophie is hauled into the world that Howl created for his getaway and watches him give his heart to a star by eating it, she asks him to wait for him, screaming from the abyss.

Magically, the first thing Howl says to Sophie when he meets her is, “There you are darling, I have been waiting for you”, the story arc that carried their relationship through a series of coincidences and fateful fantastical progression is a true feast to behold.

Ghibli’s fairytales have such a realistic characterization of the people portrayed and the element of fantasy is really the emotions that are abstract in daily lives.

The symbolism in nature, the scenic beauty, the acts, and the fantasy elements like the fire Calcifer, and the moving mechanism of the castle, opening doors to hell and to escapism, the movie is a beautiful adventure that can be connected to the mundane moments of life.

Hits and Misses

Here's a summary of the reviews for the "Howl’s Moving Castle" anime on myanimelist.net.

Hits

Reviewers praise the movie for its stunning visuals, imaginative storytelling, and memorable characters. The chemistry between the two leads, Sophie and Howl, is also a standout aspect of the anime.

Misses

Some reviewers felt that the plot was convoluted and confusing at times, while others found the pacing to be slow.

Additionally, some fans of the original book by Diana Wynne Jones were disappointed with the changes made in the adaptation.

Overall, the anime is highly regarded by fans and critics alike and is considered a classic in the genre of fantasy anime.

Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises: A Tale of A Poetic Art

The Wind Rises is a bittersweet journey from childhood to an anti-climactic adult, mourning over the lost art of their effort, as well as their lover.

Anime-Internet•Anjana Sanyal

FAQs

What is the soundtrack of the "Howl’s Moving Castle" anime like?

The anime features a beautiful and enchanting soundtrack composed by Joe Hisaishi, who is known for his work on other Studio Ghibli films.

What is the difference between the anime and the book?

The anime differs from the book in a number of ways, including changes to the characters and plot. Some fans of the book have criticized the anime for deviating too much from the source material.