Anime Recommendation: Howl's Moving Castle

A must watch...

...for fans of Studio Ghibli creations.

Trailer

Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城, Hauru no Ugoku Shiro) is a 2004 Japanese animated steampunk fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli and based on Diana Wynne Jones' novel of the same name.

The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2004 and was released in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2004. It went on to gross $231,710,455 worldwide,making it one of the most financially successful Japanese films in history. The film was subsequently dubbed into English by Pixar's Peter Docter and distributed in North America by Walt Disney Pictures. It received a limited release in the United States and Canada beginning June 10, 2005 and was released nationwide in Australia on September 22 and in the UK the following September.

Interesting Fact:
Howl is voiced by Takuya Kimura (Japanese) and Christian Bale (English)

Disney's Official website: Howl's Moving Castle

Type:
Romance, Fantasy
Plot:
The film begins by introducing Sophie, a timid and unconfident 18-year-old girl who works in her late father's hat shop. She has a chance encounter with the mysterious wizard Howl, who rescues her from some menacing soldiers. By doing so, Howl brings Sophie to the attention of the Witch of the Waste (Arechi no majo), who visits Sophie and curses her by transforming her into a 90-year-old woman. Unable to tell anyone of the curse, Sophie sets off on self-imposed exile into the Wastes. Along the way she meets a magically animated scarecrow, whom she names Turnip Head. Together they find Howl's moving castle. What unfolds next is a series of surprises, twists and turns and the unraveling of curses.


Author's note:
I watched the Japanese version and personally rate this better than Spirited Away due to it's unique yet acceptable storyline. It might confuse those who aren't willing to let their imagination loose though.

(But, suckers like those who complain and debate after movies should NEVER watch fantasy to begin with...Heck, they should just stay home and read the newspapers...there's your logical, factual, real-life stories, losers!!!) t(*_*t)