Revisiting Howl’s Moving Castle after 20 years is no hardship, as the seminal film by Hayao Miyazaki from Studio Ghibli isn’t just lush and idyllic, it also takes a stance. Set in another world where magic is real and wizards roam the countryside, Howl follows the ordinary Sophie as she finds herself entangled in the affairs of these sorcerers. There’s something uniquely enduring about the film, as for all of its fantasy elements, the project is accessible to all. Stunning visuals, a timeless love story, and relatable characters are only the beginning of why it will be remembered for generations.
For audiences who have also read the original book by Diana Wynne Jones, it’s obvious the movie is a loose adaptation, but the spirit and heart of the novel’s story are clear. It’s not surprising that Miyazaki was drawn to the book, as it touches upon many elements he frequently incorporates in his work. Though it was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, it ultimately lost, unlike its predecessor, Spirited Away. However, the legacy of a film is rarely determined by the awards it wins, and Howl never fails to connect with its audience.
Howl’s Moving Castle Remains The Most Romantic Ghibli Film
It’s Easy To Be Swept Away By The Film’s Atmosphere
It doesn’t matter whether you’re watching a dubbed version or the Japanese audio; Howl will be charming, enigmatic, and devastatingly romantic in every language. The past few years have seen a resurgence in the popularity of the film, as the internet has made younger audiences aware of it. It helps that Sophie and Howl cosplay is a frequent and adorable couple’s costume. Trying not to fall in love with Howl throughout the movie is a losing game, but despite the space he takes up in the narrative and the frame, there’s an even better love story between Sophie and herself.
Returning to Howl as an adult brings the perspective of seeing how falling for Howl is ancillary to Sophie’s development and her journey to learning to see herself truthfully. While romance is a significant part of her story, it’s a lens through which she can view herself and her power. It’s not Howl who lifts Sophie’s curse; she does it herself, and it eventually falls to her to save Howl and the life she’s built. The curse works as a metaphor for the catalyst that comes in young adulthood, making us leave home and set off on our own adventures.
It’s impossible to talk about
Howl
without mentioning the near-perfect score by Joe Hisaishi.
Ghibli frequently puts strong heroines like Sophie at the forefront of the studio’s stories, and she lives up to every standard set by the other characters. Howl is rarely ranked at the top of Miyazaki’s best movies, but, to be fair, it’s a competitive list. The movie is comparatively straightforward and easy to follow, but this doesn’t make it simple. There was a misconception when the film first premiered that it lacked the depth of Miyazaki’s other work, but it’s there. The striking visuals might beg for attention, but the story is better crafted than the film gets credit for.
The technical aspects of Howl are just as beautiful and compelling as if the film had been animated yesterday, and it’s easy to see why the aesthetics of the movie have inspired many and taken on a life of their own. It’s impossible to talk about Howl without mentioning the near-perfect score by Joe Hisaishi. It doesn’t matter how many times I hear it, the music that accompanies Howl and Sophie’s first encounter walking through the sky will always be seared into my memory, and few other cinematic moments compare.
There’s A Deeper Message Within The Story Of Howl’s Moving Castle
While Sophie & Howl’s Romance Is Key, It Isn’t All Miyazaki Is Touching Upon
Centering an older female protagonist, even if she only spends part of the film in old age, was not something movies were doing back then and is still an underutilized aspect of cinema. However, Sophie’s sudden aging gives her a freedom and vigor that she never had in her youth. Additionally, the political and anti-war sentiments in Howl are anything but subtle, and it’s consistently impressive how Miyazaki addresses these issues head-on. It’s no secret that Miyazaki uses his films to spread messages of pacifism and the dangers of misused technology, and Howl is no exception.
World conflicts may change, but Miyazaki’s work is still relevant regardless of when it’s watched. This is especially true for Howl, which could be criticized for not taking a more complex stance on war, but I don’t think that’s the point. Every moment of the film is incredibly sympathetic to the people caught up in the conflict and chooses to make the people experiencing the devastation of war more nuanced rather than the particulars of the politics involved. By putting the characters in the foreground, Howl can translate to any time and any conflict, preserving its universal message.
Some of the best quotes in Howl’s Moving Castle are about how the other characters sacrifice their humanity to the cause of war but will have nothing left of themselves by the time the battle is over. Though Sophie is the protagonist, Howl is much more than the heart-stealing young man he’s made out to be. He’s the firsthand example of a character so afraid of being forced to be used as a weapon that he would hide his own heart and go on the run. Even the Witch of the Waste becomes sympathetic by the film’s conclusion.
The Timeless Nature Of The Story Makes It Worth Revisiting Howl’s Moving Castle Today
Watching Howl’s Moving Castle In Another 20 Years Will Be Just As Impactful
Miyazaki’s films often end on a bittersweet note, but Howl isn’t afraid to provide an unabashedly happy ending. It’s a fantasy and gives us a taste of escapism while pushing them to acknowledge that there are dark parts of the world that can’t be hidden from in a magical castle. For many, Howl is reminiscent of childhood, but that isn’t to say the narrative doesn’t challenge us. Balancing safety with active discussion and interrogation of contemporary culture isn’t something that most movies achieve.
Howl’s Moving Castle will likely always be one of my, for lack of a better term, comfort movies. It’s as welcoming and warm now as it was the first time I saw it, and this isn’t just because of the nostalgia. There are parts of everyone in Sophie, Howl, and every character in the film, and there’s a lesson about compassion that no one is ever too old to revisit within the story. I expect to return to the movie many times before another twenty years pass, and each time, it will be just as meaningful.
Howl’s Moving Castle will be re-released in theaters October 1st-3rd for its 20th anniversary.
