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Hauru no ugoku shiro
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Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) More at IMDbPro »

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Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) -- 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 home.
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) -- Clip: Are You Moving the Castle
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) -- 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 home.
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   38,553 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Hayao Miyazaki
Writers:
Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay)
Diana Wynne Jones (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Howl's Moving Castle on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 November 2004 (Japan) more
Genre:
Animation | Adventure | Fantasy | Romance more
Plot:
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 home. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(21 articles)
Studio Ghibli's New Film... and More Miyazaki
 (From Cinematical. 29 September 2009, 4:15 PM, PDT)
Movie Reviews: “Ponyo”
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 14 August 2009, 4:16 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Beyond Expectations more (244 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)
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)

Josh Hutcherson ... Markl (voice: English version)

Billy Crystal ... Calcifer (voice: English version)

Jena Malone ... Lettie (voice: English version)
Crispin Freeman ... Prince Turnip (voice: English version)
Mark Silverman ... King (voice: English version)
Jane Alan ... Honey (voice: English version) (as Mari Devon)
Liliana Mumy ... Madge (voice: English version)
Carlos Alazraqui ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Newell Alexander ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Rosemary Alexander ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Julia Barnett ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Susanne Blakeslee ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Leslie Carrara ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Mitch Carter ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)

David Cowgill ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Holly Dorff ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Moosie Drier ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Ike Eisenmann ... Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Iake Eissinmann)
Will Friedle ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Bridget Hoffman ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Richard Steven Horvitz ... Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Richard Horvitz)
Sherry Hursey ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Hope Levy ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Christina MacGregor ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Joel McCrary ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Edie Mirman ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Peter Renaday ... Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Pete Renaday)

Kristen Rutherford ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Warren Sroka ... Additional Voices (voice: English version)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cornelia Dahlgren ... Lettie (voice)
Shigeyuki Totsugi ... (voice) (as Shigeyuki Sato)
Daran Norris ... Additional Voices (voice: English version) (uncredited)
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Directed by
Hayao Miyazaki 
 
Writing credits
Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay)

Diana Wynne Jones (novel "Howl's Moving Castle") (as Daiana Win Jônzu)

Produced by
Rick Dempsey .... producer
Tomohiko Ishii .... assistant producer
John Lasseter .... executive producer
Ned Lott .... producer
Hayao Miyazaki .... executive producer
Toshio Suzuki .... producer
 
Original Music by
Joe Hisaishi 
 
Cinematography by
Atsushi Okui 
 
Film Editing by
Takeshi Seyama 
 
Art Direction by
Yôji Takeshige 
Noboru Yoshida 
 
Production Management
David Candiff .... post-production manager
Ryoichi Fukuyama .... executive production manager
Cory Hansen .... post-production supervisor
Seiji Okuda .... executive production manager
Nozomu Takahashi .... production manager
Hiroyuki Watanabe .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ryosuke Kiyokawa .... assistant director
Yosuke Toba .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Kô'hei Endô .... color management system
Wataru Matsumoto .... color management system
Fumiko Numahata .... color key
Kanako Takayanagi .... color key
Kazuko Yamada .... color key
Tetsuya Yamai .... color management system
Michiyo Yasuda .... color designer
 
Sound Department
Atsushi Aikawa .... DTS mastering
Petra Bach .... supervising adr editor: English version
Randy Coppinger .... adr recordist: English version
Mariko Hamada .... DTS mastering
Suminobu Hamada .... sound recording engineer
Yukio Hokari .... foley artist
Takeshi Imaizumi .... dialogue recordist
Shuji Inoue .... sound
Mizuki Itou .... foley artist
Michihiko Iwana .... dialogue recordist
Bobby Johanson .... adr recordist: English version
Tooru Kadokura .... dialogue recordist
Doc Kane .... sound: English version
Yuuichi Kaneko .... sound recordist: ABACO Creative Studio
Hiromi Kimura .... sound effects assistant
Masaya Kitada .... foley artist
William Komar .... adr recordist: English version
Jiro Miyazawa .... dialogue recordist
Kazuaki Narita .... sound effects assistant
Toru Noguchi .... sound effects
Akihiko Okase .... foley artist
Brandon Proctor .... sound mix technician: English version
Gene Radzik .... stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Ronald G. Roumas .... sound re-recordist: English version
Michael Semanick .... sound re-recording mixer: English version
Mari Shinohara .... sound recordist: ABACO Creative Studio
Naoto Takeshima .... sound recordist: TOHO Sound Studio
Kazuhiro Wakabayashi .... sound director (as Kazuhiro Hayashi)
Nobue Yoshinaga .... sound production
 
Visual Effects by
Tatsuko Ishii .... digital animator
Masaru Karube .... digital animator
Susumu Masuuchi .... digital animator
Tomoka Matsumura .... digital animator
Norihiko Miyoshi .... digital animator
Chikara Nomoto .... digital animator
Miki Sato .... digital animator
Yoichi Senzui .... digital animator
Ichiro Uehara .... digital animator
Hiroki Yamada .... digital animator
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Wataru Takahashi .... digital photographer
Atsushi Tamura .... digital photographer
Junji Yubata .... digital photographer
 
Animation Department
Akihiko Adachi .... inbetween animator
Seiko Azuma .... inbetween animator
Kaori Fujii .... assistant animation checker
Maya Fujimori .... inbetween animator
Youko Fujioka .... digital ink and paint artist
Yuuko Fujita .... inbetween animator
Yoshikazu Fukutome .... background artist
Daisuke Furuya .... inbetween animator
Makiko Futaki .... key animator
Kenji Hachizaki .... key animator
Hideki Hamazu .... key animator
Keiji Hashimoto .... key animator
Yoshie Hayashi .... inbetween animator
Sayaka Hirahara .... background artist
Takeshi Hiramatsu .... inbetween animator
Shunsuke Hirota .... inbetween animator
Waka Hirota .... inbetween animator
Akira Hosogaya .... inbetween animator
Hiroshi Iijima .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Takeshi Imamura .... animation director
Junko Ina .... background artist
Ryouko Ina .... background artist
Hiroaki Ishii .... digital ink and paint artist
Kunitoshi Ishii .... inbetween animator
Keiko Itogawa .... background artist
Kaori Itou .... inbetween animator
Yoshitake Iwakami .... inbetween animator
Sumie Iwata .... inbetween animator
Emiko Iwayanagi .... inbetween animator
Megumi Kagawa .... key animator (as Ai Kagawa)
Tsutomu Kaichi .... inbetween animator
Masatoshi Kai .... background artist
Yukiko Kakinuma .... inbetween animator
Junko Kanauchi .... digital ink and paint artist: Trace Studio M
Yukie Kaneko .... inbetween animator
Masashi Karino .... inbetween animator
Naomi Kasugai .... background artist
Mitsunori Katâma .... digital animation director
Fumie Kawamata .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Shigeru Kimishima .... key animator
Haruna Kiryu .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Yumiko Kitajima .... inbetween animator
Mayumi Kitamura .... inbetween animator
Yasuyuki Kitazawa .... inbetween animator
Katsuya Kondô .... animation supervisor
Katsuya Kondô .... key animator
Rie Kondou .... inbetween animator
Ken'ichi Konishi .... key animator
Fumie Konno .... inbetween animator
Kitaro Kosaka .... animation director
Masahiro Kubota .... background artist
Akane Kumakura .... digital ink and paint artist
Tsutomu Kurita .... key animator
Daisuke Makino .... inbetween animator
Kiyoko Makita .... inbetween animator
Hiroshi Masuda .... key animator
Toshihiko Masuda .... key animator
Osamu Masuyama .... background artist
Tetsuaki Matsuda .... inbetween animator
Mariko Matsuo .... key animator
Masaru Matsuse .... key animator
Atsuko Matsushita .... inbetween animator
Osamu Miwa .... inbetween animator
Tomoko Miyata .... inbetween animator
Ayako Mori .... inbetween animator
Naomi Mori .... digital ink and paint artist
Kazuo Nagai .... background artist
Rie Nakagome .... animation checker
Hiroaki Nakajima .... inbetween animator
Hideo Nakamura .... inbetween animator
Katsutoshi Nakamura .... inbetween animator
Masami Nakanishi .... inbetween animator
Yohei Nakano .... inbetween animator
Mai Nakazato .... inbetween animator
Kumi Nanjo .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Sumie Nishido .... inbetween animator
Hiromi Nishikawa .... inbetween animator
Youichi Nishikawa .... background artist
Mitsu Noguchi .... inbetween animator
Kazuo Oga .... background artist
Minoru Ohashi .... inbetween animator
Shin'ya Ôhira .... key animator
Mayumi Ohmura .... inbetween animator
Kumiko Ohta .... inbetween animator
Rie Okada .... digital ink and paint artist
Masashi Okumura .... key animator
Fumino Okura .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Takashi Omori .... background artist
Kazuyoshi Onoda .... key animator
Makoto Oohara .... inbetween animator
Masako Osada .... background artist
Norihiro Ôsugi .... key animator
Shinji Otsuka .... key animator
Hiroko Otsuki .... digital ink and paint artist: Trace Studio M
Akihiro Oyama .... digital ink and paint artist
Kiyoko Saitô .... digital ink and paint artist
Saho Saito .... inbetween animator
Masaya Saitou .... assistant animation checker
Masako Sakano .... inbetween animator
Chikako Sasagawa .... inbetween animator
Hiromi Sasaki .... inbetween animator
Yuuko Sasaki .... inbetween animator
Masako Sato .... inbetween animator
Tsutomu Shibutani .... inbetween animator
Atsushi Shigeta .... key animator
Akiko Shimizu .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Masayuki Shimizu .... inbetween animator
Keisuke Shimohira .... inbetween animator
Masako Shinohara .... key animator
Yumiko Suehiro .... inbetween animator
Takahiro Sugawara .... inbetween animator
Sachiko Sugino .... key animator
Ayano Suzuki .... inbetween animator
Makiko Suzuki .... key animator
Mariko Suzuki .... assistant animation checker
Masashi Suzuki .... digital animator: Gonzo Digitmation
Hiromi Takahashi .... digital ink and paint artist
Kanako Takahashi .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Kentaro Takahashi .... digital animator: T2 Studio
Moyo Takahashi .... inbetween animator
Yohei Takamatsu .... background artist
Nobuyuki Takeuchi .... key animator
Atsushi Tamura .... key animator
Setsuya Tanabe .... inbetween animator
Atsuko Tanaka .... key animator
Naoya Tanaka .... background artist
Yuichi Tanaka .... key animator
Yukie Tanaka .... digital ink and paint artist
Junichi Taniguchi .... background artist
Kumiko Tanihira .... inbetween animator
Hitomi Tateno .... animation checker
Kumiko Terada .... inbetween animator
Akiko Teshima .... inbetween animator
Akiko Toba .... inbetween animator
Yoyoi Toki .... inbetween animator
Kaori Tokunaga .... inbetween animator
Keiko Tomizawa .... inbetween animator
Masashi Toriyama .... digital animator: T2 Studio
Jinko Tsuji .... inbetween animator
Ryuji Uchida .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Kimitoshi Ueno .... inbetween animator
Yukari Umebayashi .... inbetween animator
Satoe Usui .... inbetween animator
Youichi Watanabe .... background artist
Alexandra Weihrauch .... inbetween animator
Hisako Yaji .... inbetween animator
Katsuya Yamada .... key animator
Ken'ichi Yamada .... key animator
Shinichiro Yamada .... inbetween animator
Yukinobu Yamada .... inbetween animator
Hirômi Yamakawa .... key animator
Eiji Yamamori .... key animator
Rie Yamamoto .... inbetween animator
Akihiko Yamashita .... animation director
Masakiyo Yamashita .... inbetween animator
Yukari Yamaura .... inbetween animator
Kikuyo Yano .... background artist
Kenji Yazaki .... key animator
Masafumi Yokota .... key animator
Yuki Yokoyama .... digital ink and paint artist: T2 Studio
Hiromasa Yonebayashi .... key animator
Mitsuo Yoshino .... background artist
Hideaki Yoshio .... key animator
 
Casting Department
Motohiro Hatanaka .... casting coordinator
Ayumi Sato .... casting coordinator
Naomi Yasu .... casting coordinator
 
Editorial Department
Chris DeLaGuardia .... color timer
Hiroaki Hirabayashi .... color timer
Kashiko Kimura .... assistant editor
Rie Matsuhara .... assistant editor
Megumi Uchida .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Joe Hisaishi .... music arranger: "Sekai no Yakusoku"
Youmi Kimura .... composer: theme song "Sekai no Yakusoku"
Simon Rhodes .... music mixing: English version
 
Other crew
Stephen Alpert .... overseas promotion
Shokichi Arai .... production administration
Koichi Asano .... merchandising development
Naomi Atsuta .... merchandising development
Cindy Davis Hewitt .... adaptation: English version
Rick Dempsey .... dialogue director
Pete Docter .... dialogue director
Masako Fujita .... production accountant
Eiko Fujitsu .... production accountant
Donald H. Hewitt .... adaptation: English version
Hiroaki Hirabayashi .... film development
Akio Ichimura .... production accountant
Tomomi Imai .... merchandising development
Kenji Imura .... production assistant
Keiichi Itagaki .... film preview production
Kyohei Ito .... production assistant
Nozomu Ito .... public relations
Hisayo Itou .... production accountant
Rieko Izutsu .... overseas promotion
Atsushi Kamimura .... production desk
Takehisa Kawamata .... laboratory manager
Noriyuki Kitakawachi .... systems manager
Kaoru Mano .... titles
David Midthunder .... voices
Yuichiro Mochizuki .... production desk
Nao Morisaki .... overseas promotion
Yoshiaki Nishimura .... production administration
Junichi Nishioka .... public relations
Shinsuke Nonaka .... chief of production administration
Sueko Numazawa .... production accountant
Kristy Ryan .... promotions manager: Australia
Junya Saito .... production assistant
Satomi Sasaki .... systems manager
Yuuko Shimura .... laboratory coordinator
Nobuko Shiraki .... production administration
Satoshi Takabatake .... background layout assistant
Noriko Takaya .... harmony process
Mikiko Takeda .... overseas promotion
Chieko Tamura .... public relations
Chiyoshi Tanaka .... production desk
Eiichiro Tashiro .... production assistant
Masaya Tokuyama .... special media advisor
Kiyoko Tsuge .... production accountant
Chihiro Tsukue .... public relations
Yumiko Ukai .... public relations
Masaru Yabe .... special media advisor
Tamami Yamamoto .... production accountant
Mika Yasuda .... merchandising development
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Howl's Moving Castle (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
El increíble castillo vagabundo (Argentina) (Mexico) (dubbed version) [es]
Le château ambulant (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
Das wandelnde Schloss (Germany) [de]
Det levande slottet (Sweden) [sv]
Det levende slot (Denmark) [da]
Det levende slottet (Norway) [no]
El castillo Ambulante (Spain) (working title) [es]
Howli liikuv kindlus (Estonia) (festival title) [et]
Howlui umjikineun seong (South Korea) [ko]
Il castello errante di Howl (Italy) [it]
Liikkuva linna (Finland) [fi]
O Castelo Andante (Portugal) [pt]
O Castelo Animado (Brazil) [pt]
Ruchomy zamek Hauru (Poland) [pl]
To kinoumeno kastro (Greece) [el]
Yürüyen sato (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Zámek v oblacích (Czech Republic) [cs]
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for frightening images and brief mild language.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Japan
Language:
Japanese
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital EX | Dolby Digital EX (English-language version) | SDDS (English-language version) | DTS-ES (English-language version) | DTS-ES
Certification:
Mexico:A | Finland:K-7 | Australia:PG | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/6 | Netherlands:MG6 (DVD rating) | Peru:PT | South Korea:All | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | New Zealand:PG | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | France:U | Singapore:G | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:PG | Ireland:G | Brazil:Livre | Germany:6 (bw)
Company:
Buena Vista Home Entertainment more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Although the film was not released in the United Kingdom until 23 September 2005, director Hayao Miyazaki personally traveled to England in the summer of 2004 to give a private showing of the film to Diana Wynne Jones. more
Quotes:
Young Sophie: Calcifer.
Calcifer: Sophie, I'm so tired.
Young Sophie: If I give Howl back his heart, what will happen to you?
Calcifer: I'll be okay if you do it, I think. I mean, you dumped water on me and Howl and we both survived.
Young Sophie: I'd better try then.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Sekai no Yakusoku more

FAQ

Are the "Wizard Jenkins" and "Wizard Pendragon" doors in the same kingdom?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
Was Diana Wynne Jones involved?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
74 out of 84 people found the following comment useful.
Beyond Expectations, 2 July 2005
10/10
Author: thereisnospoon_101 from United States

About a decade and a half ago, Hayao Miyazaki, the mogul of Japanese cinema, burst into the Hollywood scene with the delightful 'Castle in the Sky.' Since then he has been recognized world wide as one of the globes finest film makers with his most recent successes, 'Princess Mononoke', and his Oscar winning masterpiece, 'Spirited Away.' I have always loved Miyazaki, and have seen all of his films, but never one in the theater. When news of a new Miyazaki film reached my ears I was delighted to get the chance to see the master's work on the big screen. Let's just say that 'Howl's Moving Castle' did not disappoint.

'Howl's Moving Castle' was greeted with not so enthusiastic reviews as that of 'Spirited Away,' which is understandable. Miyazaki tells his tale outside the parameters of common western storytelling. He takes liberties with everything, telling it how he wants it to be told, and at first it is a little strange because of the failure of recognition of classic plot points we are so used to seeing, and critics such as Roger Ebert have marked it as below par Miyazaki because of this. I find this ridiculous, and so does Miyazaki. In a recent interview Miyazaki said "The fact that you would expect a story to be told a certain way is ridiculous." I quite agree Mr. Miyazaki. The film is one of his best, abundant in rich imagination and delightful characters set in a world of fantastical sights and sounds, Where everyone has a fly-machine (Miyazaki is an aviation fanatic), and wizards walk among the common folk.

Young Sophie Hatter is cursed by the Witch of the Waste, and turns into an old hag. Ashamed of how she looks, she flees into the hills where a moving castle roams the hills. It is said to belong to the young and handsome wizard Howl, who has a bad reputation. Within the castle, Sophie befriends the fire demon Calcifer who promises to help her become young again. One catch, she must help Calcifer to be free of Howl, and Calcifer cannot tell her how. However, Sophie agrees to stay and try and find out about the contract threw other ways. Still, Howl can see that Sophie is under a spell (like Calcifer can) and falls in love with her for who she is and not what she looks like. Sophie manages to bring life to the moving castle, and help Howl to face his former tutor, Madam Sulimen.

'Howl's Moving Castle' is riddled with classic Miyazaki: strong women characters, open landscapes, flying machines that are so fantastical you don't care whether the make sense or not, and the horridness of war. These add strength to the love story of Howl and Sofi. Miyazaki uses his wonderful power to take classic, almost mythological and fairy tale stories we all know, and archetypal characters and make them his own, until we don't even recognize the stories we have hear a thousand times, and it feels as if we are seeing and hearing them for the first time. He does this with a host of wonderful characters. More strange creatures play prominent role here then any other Miyazaki film.

The film surpasses even 'Spirited Away' in sheer scope and majesty. There is Calcifer, the wonderfully comic fire demon, on Turniphead, the Scarecrow that leads Sofi to Howl's magical moving castle. The castle itself is one reason to see the film. Miyazaki succeeds in giving the castle personality. It lumbers along on its thin chicken-like legs, everything pushing, pulling, pumping and gyrating in perfect synchronization.

What is truly amazing about 'Howl's Moving Castle' is how it reaches the imagination and delightfulness of 'Spirited Away' with the sublimity of 'Princess Mononoke,' while standing on its own, perfectly unique. There have been complaints of lack of proper character development, but like the point before this is no ordinary story. The characters are thrust into a world they do not know, and there they must adapt, and live outside what they have known all their lives. It is not a story of who they were, but what they have become, or what they must become. It does not dwell on the past, and gets right into the story, not pausing for cheesy back stories we have come to get used to. It is like nothing I have ever seen before.

On a final note: the American voice casting is brilliant, possibly the best ever on a Miyazakie film, which is saying quite a lot. Billy Crystal, Christian Bale, and others provide perfect performances. Also I encourage you to see this film on the big screen before it leaves, this may be the master of animations last film, and seeing this film in the theater, or any Miyazaki film is a wonderful experience, and not to be missed. I hope it is not Miyazaki's last, for that would be a true lost to cinema, but even if he does leave, 'Howl's Moving Castle' is a wonderful parting film.

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