Howl's Moving Castle

Original title: Hauru no ugoku shiro

2004
U
1h 59m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

478K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer0:31

Adventure Epic Anime Hand-Drawn Animation Supernatural Fantasy Adventure Animation Family Fantasy

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.

Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
Writers
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Diana Wynne Jones
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

478K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

626

210

Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
Writers
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Diana Wynne Jones
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #157

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 14 wins & 20 nominations total

Sophie
(voice)

Takuya Kimura

Howl
(voice)

Tatsuya Gashûin

Calcifer
(voice)

Akihiro Miwa

Witch of the Waste
(voice)

Ryûnosuke Kamiki

Markl
(voice)

Mitsunori Isaki

Page
(voice)

Yô Ôizumi

Turnip Head
(voice)
…

Akio Ôtsuka

King
(voice)

Daijirô Harada

Heen
(voice)
…

Haruko Katô

Suliman
(voice)

Jean Simmons

Grandma Sophie
(English version)
(voice)

Christian Bale

Howl
(English version)
(voice)

Lauren Bacall

Witch of the Waste
(English version)
(voice)

Blythe Danner

Madame Suliman
(English version)
(voice)

Emily Mortimer

Young Sophie
(English version)
(voice)

Josh Hutcherson

Markl
(English version)
(voice)

Billy Crystal

Calcifer
(English version)
(voice)

Jena Malone

Lettie
(English version)
(voice)

Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
Writers
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Diana Wynne Jones
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Upon seeing Spirited Away (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
(Promise of the World)
Lyrics by Shuntarô Tanikawa
Music by Yumi Kimura
Arranged by Joe Hisaishi
Performed by Chieko Baishô
Courtesy of Tokuma Japan Communications

User reviews627

Featured review

8/10

Great provided you are not a huge Diana Wynne Jones fan or watch the film with one!

I went to see this film with my anime and Diana Wynne Jones-loving teenage daughter. And while I enjoyed the film immensely due to its excellent animation, story and overall sense of fun, it was also interesting to see how much my daughter hated it! It was as if we saw two entirely different films. Why? Well, she is a huge Diana Wynne Jones fan and has read and re-read just about everything she ever wrote. And, according to her, the story was so different and so inferior to the book that she disliked the film and said some very nasty things about director Miyazaki. However, my advice is DON'T read the book and just go and see the movie. Then, after enjoying it, read the book ONLY if you are 100% sure you can do this without freaking out because they are so different!! I didn't know the difference and had a great time seeing the film!