WARNING: *This review will have spoilers for “Howl’s Moving Castle”
Every year, the distribution company Fathom Events partners with the Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli to rescreen their classic films in theaters for a limited time. Most recently, Fathom Events put “Howl’s Moving Castle” back in theaters from Sept 26-Oct 3.
The film follows Sophie Hatter, a hat shop owner, who is transformed into an elderly woman by a scorned witch. Seeking a cure, Sophie boards the titular moving castle where she finds herself thrown in the center of a destructive war between two opposing kingdoms.
“Howl’s Moving Castle” still feels new and fresh despite being 20 years old. Director Hayao Miyazaki’s vision comes to life in a way that is hard to describe. The animation is mesmerizing, focusing on cinematography to get a visual pleasing shot.
A scene from the film that proves this point is the infamous garden scene. Everything about this scene is well executed. The scene further develops Sophie and Howl’s relationship by making Howl’s care and love for her undeniable. The animation and design of the scene are captivating; the flowers, mountains, and grass are constructed immaculately. The viewer cannot take their eyes off the scenery. This scene may be one of the best put to the screen.
The most recognizable aspect of the film is the romance between Sophie and Howl. Miyazaki wrote a beautifully crafted romance that ensures that both characters have arcs outside of the other but still bring out the best in each other. Howl treats Sophie like a princess even when she does not have any confidence in herself. Howl recognizes her despite her curse and does everything he can to help break it. He goes out of his way to protect her, even if it endangers his safety, which as a result leads to him overcoming his cowardice. Overall, Howl Pendragon creates a high standard for men and even more so for those in romantic films.
An aspect of this film that should not be overlooked is the anti-war themes. Miyazaki’s idea for the film came out of frustration with the US invasion of Iraq. With this in mind, Miyazaki deviates from the original novel by Diana Wynne Jones by making the war between the two kingdoms a larger part of the story. Howl fights on both sides of the war, which allows Miyazaki to express anti-war sentiments. The war impacts the character’s views and decisions, adding to their complexity.
“Howl’s Moving Castle” is still worth watching as it is relevant today even after 20 years have gone by.
