Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writers: Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay)
Diana Wynne Jones (novel)
Release Date: 12 January 2005 (France) more
Genre: Animation - Adventure - Fantasy - Romance


* Cast :

Chieko Baisho ... Sofî (voice: Japanese version)
Takuya Kimura ... Hauru (voice: Japanese version)
Akihiro Miwa ... Arechi no Majo (voice: Japanese version)
Tatsuya Gashuin ... Karushifâ (voice: Japanese version)
Ryûnosuke Kamiki ... Marukuru (voice: Japanese version)
Mitsunori Isaki ... Koshô (voice: Japanese version)
Yô Ôizumi ... Kakashi no Kabu (voice: Japanese version)
Akio Ôtsuka ... Kokuô (voice: Japanese version)
Daijiro Harada ... Hin (voice: Japanese version)
Haruko Kato ... Sariman (voice: Japanese version)
Jean Simmons ... Grandma Sophie (voice: English version)
Christian Bale ... Howl (voice: English version)
Lauren Bacall ... Witch of the Waste (voice: English version)
Blythe Danner ... Madame Suliman (voice: English version)
Emily Mortimer ... Young Sophie (voice: English version)


* Plot :

A young woman named Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste, turns into an old woman, and is unable to tell anyone of her plight.


Unable to continue her job at her mother's hat shop, she goes to the ambulatory castle of the notorious wizard Howl and insinuates herself into his household. Sophie befriends Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle and who is bound to Howl by a contract, the terms of which Calcifer cannot reveal.


They promise to help each other with their problems. Like Calcifer, Howl can also see through the Witch's spell, and he and Sophie fall in love. Sophie helps Howl confront his former teacher, and the Witch of the Waste.