Howl's Moving Castle is a 2004 Studio Ghibli animated film about love, the loss of war, and the value of family and friends. The film's message resonated with audiences of all ages, making Howl's Moving Castle one of the best films produced by Studio Ghibli.
The Love Story in Howl's Moving Castle
Howl's Moving Castle revolves around the love story of Howl and Sophie, both of whom learn to love and accept themselves. Howl, who the whole country considers a womanizer who steals the hearts of young girls, falls in love with Sophie's empathy and kindness. Because Sophie sees Howl for who he really is: a man trying to do the right thing and avoid repeating the vicious cycle of pain.
Howl loved Sophie regardless of her appearance, seeing her inner feelings instead of her old appearance. The curse on Sophie caused her appearance to match her inner feelings, feeling weak, useless, and unworthy of love. Only when Sophie felt ready to let go of her burden and pursue her own path could she be freed from the curse.
Howl helps Sophie step out of her comfort zone, regain her confidence, and find purpose in life. In return, Sophie helps Howl retain the humanity and heart he thought he had long lost. She makes him realize that running away is not the answer to everything, but what he needs to do is face his demons head-on.
Throughout the film, Howl’s narcissism and destructiveness diminishes as he finally finds someone who is more important than himself. They accept each other for who they are. Their relationship doesn’t force them to change, but rather shows them that they are both worthy of love, despite their flaws.
For some viewers, Sophie and Howl falling in love may seem quite unexpected and inexplicable. However, it is rationalized when it is revealed near the end of the film that Howl and Sophie's meeting was not a coincidence from the beginning. They were destined to meet since Sophie told young Howl to find her in the future. That is why Howl's first words when he meets Sophie are: "There you are, sorry I'm late. I've been looking everywhere for you", which is not just a ruse to get her away from the soldiers, but that he really had been looking for her all along. That moment is like a connecting thread, making Howl's Moving Castle a timeless masterpiece.
The director condemned war in his work.
Hayao Miyazaki, who is both the writer and director of Howl's Moving Castle, has always been staunchly anti-war. He grew up in the midst of war and witnessed its horrors firsthand, which has had a significant impact on his work. It is clear that Howl's Moving Castle was inspired by the 2003 Iraq War, as the film clearly shows the devastation and horror caused by conflict.
He does this through his open and purposeful depiction of war. Once war breaks out, there is no such thing as good guys or bad guys. Howl, who uses two codenames in the warring countries, refuses to fight for any king in this meaningless war. Instead, he chooses to disappear into the night and fly around as a bird-like creature to annoy the warships and his wizard friends, who have completely transformed themselves into machines that do the king's bidding.
Not stopping there, the film itself does not allow the audience to feel sympathy for any country. Instead, the film clearly shows the audience the cruelty of war through the port being bombed, causing chaos in the town, followed by propaganda leaflets from the opposing side being dropped on the town.
But despite its dark themes and grim view of violence, Howl's Moving Castle is a film that many people turn to in difficult times. The film's beautiful scenery and peaceful life provide an escape for those who are anxious in their daily lives, bringing a sense of comfort and reassurance. At the same time, the film also partly states Miyazaki's mission statement, which is to send a message of encouragement to all those who are wandering aimlessly through life. Howl's Moving Castle allows us to dream of a world where human altruism leads them to do the right thing. A world where those in power listen to reason, and even the worst villains can change for the better when shown compassion. It also teaches us the importance of prioritizing our dreams over living a life governed by external expectations and taking responsibility for our actions.
