Introduction
Howl no Ugoku Shiro is a feature film released by Studio Ghibli in the fall of 2004. The film is two hours long and is based on a novella by Diana Wynne Jones and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film received a kaleidoscope of prestigious awards around the world. Both adults and children are subject to the incredible charm of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies because there are different levels of meanings in his paintings, and everyone notices something different.
Howl’s Moving Castle can be considered both a Classic and Masterpiece being suitable for all the categories in the mentioned definitions. However, the current presentation analyzes the movie from the perspective of being a masterpiece because it provides more extended analysis opportunities. The animated film includes a unique style execution, memorable characters, and profound themes accompanied by special music, leaving a lasting impression.
Reason 1: Style Execution and Themes
Howl’s Castle is what this anime is especially famous for. It is a living creature that changes depending on the situation and Howl’s mood, and life in this semi-magical, semi-technical structure supports the magical fire of Calcifer. The bouncy castle consisted of over 80 3D elements – Miyazaki vehemently refused to use a standard solid 3D model because it would ruin the film’s style. The 2D texture was applied to each element.
All hand-drawn backgrounds and characters of this cartoon were also digitized on a computer (Affatigato). Such a unique style resonates with the audience, allowing them to comprehend the implicit ideas of the director, such as the importance of understanding and acceptance, love, and family. The especially highlighted theme is related to showing the horrors of war.
Reason 2: Memorable Characters
Each character in Howl’s Moving Castle conveys a particular message; if they were removed from the narrative, the anime would lose a piece of its depth and thoughtfulness. Like most of Miyazaki’s other works intended for an older audience (despite the fact that the film has no age limit), Howl’s Moving Castle is a multi-level work in which every viewer can find something of their own. This will be a kind fairy tale with evident morals for children. For teenagers – it is a beautiful love story for which there are no barriers.
A more thoughtful and attentive viewer will find the philosophical and social subtext hidden behind the metaphors, which carry the director’s messages about society and war (Griffin). For example, the main character categorically rejects entering into a world war, which is a brilliant wish for world peace from the great storyteller of the late XX – early XXI centuries (Affatigato). The characters’ inner worlds are reflected through the surroundings, which allows the viewer to plunge into the conflicts the characters bear.
Reason 3: Music
As with most Studio Ghibli productions, Howl’s Moving Castle was composed by the highly accomplished Joe Hisaishi. The New Japan Philharmonic performed the music itself. Hayao Miyazaki’s anime is incredibly musical, featuring a waltz written by composer Joe Hisaishi, the author of the best anime soundtracks from Studio Ghibli (Affatigato).
The music itself is not the only sound design in this masterpiece. Miyazaki noticed long ago that the acoustics of old European cities are unique, thanks to the pavements that reflect the voices of people and the sound of heels. The film crew went to Europe to record the original noises traveling to France, Switzerland, and even London (Affatigato). They hunted for streets and squares with stone pavements and struggled with everyday noises.
Personal Devotion
Among all the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’s Moving Castle is on the short list of my favorites. It is a profound film suitable for absolutely all viewers and can be reviewed many times, each time discovering something new in it. This work is a true masterpiece due to the combination of = fantastic music and graphics, character design, and resounding philosophical theme. However, the most outstanding feature why Howl’s Moving Castle is so essential to me is because a very uplifting film. Every time I watch it, it gives me an emotional lift and a readiness to face life’s difficulties. This feeling is priceless, especially in the realities of the modern world, which are sometimes so complex and gloomy.
Conclusion
Each character in Howl no Ugoku Shiro conveys a particular message, and if they were removed from the narrative, the anime would lose a piece of its depth and thoughtfulness. Like most of Miyazaki’s other works intended for an older audience (despite the fact that the film has no age limit), Howl no Ugoku Shiro is a multi-level work in which every viewer can find something of their own. This will be a kind fairy tale with evident morals for children.
For teenagers – a beautiful love story for which there are no barriers. A more thoughtful and attentive viewer will find the philosophical and social subtext hidden behind the metaphors, which carry the director’s messages. Howl’s Moving Castle, where the main character categorically does not want to enter into a world war, is a brilliant wish for world peace from the great storyteller of the late XX – early XXI centuries.
Works Cited
Affatigato, Carlo. “Howl’s Moving Castle: The Meanings of Hayao Miyazaki Movie.” Auralcrave, Web.
Griffin, Nick. “Howl’s Moving Castle examines war by focusing on its victims.” Counteract, Web.