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Howl's Moving Castle

Original title: Hauru no ugoku shiro
  • 20042004
  • PGPG
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
380K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
802
4
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer0:31
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Animation
  • Adventure
  • Family

When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions ... Read allWhen an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
380K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
802
4
  • Director
    • Hayao Miyazaki
  • Writers
    • Hayao Miyazaki(screenplay)
    • Diana Wynne Jones(novel "Howl's Moving Castle")
  • Stars
    • Chieko Baishô(voice)
    • Takuya Kimura(voice)
    • Tatsuya Gashûin(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Hayao Miyazaki
  • Writers
    • Hayao Miyazaki(screenplay)
    • Diana Wynne Jones(novel "Howl's Moving Castle")
  • Stars
    • Chieko Baishô(voice)
    • Takuya Kimura(voice)
    • Tatsuya Gashûin(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 529User reviews
    • 240Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #165
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    Official Trailer
    A Guide to the Films of Hayao Miyazaki
    Clip 2:12
    A Guide to the Films of Hayao Miyazaki
    Howl's Moving Castle: BD
    Clip 1:31
    Howl's Moving Castle: BD
    Howl's Moving Castle: BD
    Clip 1:17
    Howl's Moving Castle: BD
    Howl's Moving Castle: BD
    Clip 1:12
    Howl's Moving Castle: BD

    Photos298

    Chieko Baishô and Emily Mortimer in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Christian Bale, Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura, Emily Mortimer, and Albano Jerónimo in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Ryûnosuke Kamiki and Josh Hutcherson in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Christian Bale, Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura, Emily Mortimer, and Albano Jerónimo in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Jean Simmons and Chieko Baishô in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Chieko Baishô and Emily Mortimer in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Jean Simmons, Chieko Baishô, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, and Josh Hutcherson in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Billy Crystal, Victor Emanuel, and Tatsuya Gashûin in Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
    Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chieko Baishô
    • Sofîas Sofî
    • (voice)
    Takuya Kimura
    Takuya Kimura
    • Hauruas Hauru
    • (voice)
    Tatsuya Gashûin
    Tatsuya Gashûin
    • Karushifâas Karushifâ
    • (voice)
    Akihiro Miwa
    • Arechi no Majoas Arechi no Majo
    • (voice)
    Ryûnosuke Kamiki
    Ryûnosuke Kamiki
    • Marukuruas Marukuru
    • (voice)
    Mitsunori Isaki
    • Koshôas Koshô
    • (voice)
    Yô Ôizumi
    Yô Ôizumi
    • Kakashi no Kabuas Kakashi no Kabu
    • (voice)
    Akio Ôtsuka
    Akio Ôtsuka
    • Kokuôas Kokuô
    • (voice)
    Daijirô Harada
    • Hinas Hin
    • (voice)
    Haruko Katô
    Haruko Katô
    • Sarimanas Sariman
    • (voice)
    Jean Simmons
    Jean Simmons
    • Grandma Sophieas Grandma Sophie
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Christian Bale
    Christian Bale
    • Howlas Howl
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Lauren Bacall
    Lauren Bacall
    • Witch of the Wasteas Witch of the Waste
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Blythe Danner
    Blythe Danner
    • Madame Sulimanas Madame Suliman
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Emily Mortimer
    Emily Mortimer
    • Young Sophieas Young Sophie
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Josh Hutcherson
    Josh Hutcherson
    • Marklas Markl
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Billy Crystal
    Billy Crystal
    • Calciferas Calcifer
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Jena Malone
    Jena Malone
    • Lettieas Lettie
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Hayao Miyazaki
    • Writers
      • Hayao Miyazaki(screenplay)
      • Diana Wynne Jones(novel "Howl's Moving Castle")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sophie, cursed by a witch into an old woman's body, and a magician named Howl. Under the curse, Sophie sets out to seek her fortune, which takes her to Howl's strange moving castle. In the castle, Sophie meets Howl's fire demon, named Karishifâ. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie--if she breaks the contract he is under with Howl, then Karushifâ will lift the curse that Sophie is under, and she will return to her 18-year-old shape. —Sophie Ball
    • studio ghibli
    • steampunk
    • anime
    • based on novel
    • milliner
    • 97 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Animation
      • Adventure
      • Family
      • Fantasy
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for frightening images and brief mild language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Upon seeing Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001), Christian Bale immediately agreed to play any role in this film. He didn't expect to get the titular role.
    • Goofs
      Sophie's top ribbon doesn't always reappear when she transforms back into her younger self.
    • Quotes

      Howl: I feel terrible, like there's a weight on my chest.

      Young Sophie: A heart's a heavy burden.

    • Connections
      Edited into Miyazaki Dreams of Flying (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Sekai no Yakusoku
      Written by Yumi Kimura

      Performed by Chieko Baisho

    User reviews529

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A wild and surreal trip into the mind of a master.
    I think this is possibly Miyazaki's most intriguing movie. All of his other films are very linear and even though their highly varied worlds may be visually stunning and highly creative, I feel the dreamy world of Howls Moving Castle is by far the most captivating, bizarre, and imaginative of all the worlds Miyazaki has ever envisioned.

    What I love about this movie is that it's highly emotional without a great deal of logic or plot or story to get in the way. In this way the film is simple, pure, and extremely beautiful. It is as if the characters go from one emotion to the next, in a world that is as random as one's own dreams. Some people have complained about the lack of plot or story or serious character development, but even though the characters are fairly static, their emotions and the physical changes they undergo as they go through these emotions brings out a higher truth that is seldom given such artistic and natural freedom.

    I think this is a very smart movie in many subtle ways and it's one that I look forward to watching again on the big screen and then on DVD. Although it flirts from theme to theme to theme with a kind of animated attention deficit disorder, the landscapes and utter unabated surrealism left me stunned and never bored.

    Also, from a quizzical character design perspective, Howl is certainly one of if not the most beautiful characters that Miyazaki has ever created. Howl is an interesting departure from Miyazaki's more classical wabi-sabi anime style that most of his heroes and heroines are drawn in as Howl is definitely a very contemporary bishonen.

    If you're looking for quaint settings, dynamic characters and a very involving character or plot driven story, you're not going to necessarily find them here, but you will find an equally stunning and pleasing movie if you let yourself go and enjoy this passionate, heartfelt and surreal Miyazaki dream.
    helpful•353
    49
    • surenm
    • Mar 20, 2005

    FAQ8

    • A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
    • Was Diana Wynne Jones involved?
    • Why is he named "Howl"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 17, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Disney (United States)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Lâu Đài Di Động Của Howl
    • Production companies
      • Buena Vista Home Entertainment
      • DENTSU Music And Entertainment
      • Mitsubishi
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $24,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,576,743
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $427,987
      • Jun 12, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $236,323,601
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital EX
      • DTS-ES
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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