Howl’s Moving Castle [Hauru no ugoku shiro] ***** (2004, voices of Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya Gashûin) – Classic Movie Review 7423

Writer-director Hayao Miyazaki’s dazzlingly brilliant Japanese anime love story animation Howl’s Moving Castle [Hauru no ugoku shiro] is based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones ((credited as Daiana Win Jônzu). It is a Studio Ghibli masterpiece.

In the delightful and charming story, a spiteful witch curses the 18-year-old heroine named Sofi (voice of Chieko Baishô) with having an old woman’s body. Sofi arrives at Howl [Hauru]’s strange legged, walking castle and meets Howl’s fire demon, Karushifâ (Tatsuya Gashûin). They make a deal. If Sofi breaks Karushifâ’s contract with Howl [Hauru] (Takuya Kimura), he will lift her curse so she can look 18 again.

It is an unforgettable animated movie from the noughties (00s). The animation is glorious and the score by Joe Hisaishi and Yumi Kimura is outstanding too.

It is a family animated adventure, but it is rated PG for frightening images and brief mild language.

Howl’s Moving Castle [Hauru no ugoku shiro] was nominated for an Oscar as Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. At the Venice Film Festival in 2004 it was nominated for the Golden Lion. The big prizes eluded it, but now it is recognised for the gem it is and now it is one of the top-rated movies.

Disney/ Buena Vista prepared an English language version with Emily Mortimer voicing Young Sophie, Jean Simmons voicing Grandma Sophie, Christian Bale voicing Howl, Lauren Bacall voicing Witch of the Waste and Blythe Danner voicing Witch of the Waste.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7423

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com