IMDb > Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
Hauru no ugoku shiro
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 26 | slideshow) Videos (see all 13)
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) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   38,880 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
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
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:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(22 articles)
Review: Ponyo Aka The Cutest Movie Ever
 (From doorQ.com. 11 November 2009, 2:33 AM, PST)

Studio Ghibli's New Film... and More Miyazaki
 (From Cinematical. 29 September 2009, 4:15 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A wild and surreal trip into the mind of a master. more (244 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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)
more
Create a character page for: ?

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.
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Language:
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)

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:
Markl: [Shadows begin to creep from walls] He's calling the spirits of darkness... I saw him do this once before when a girl dumped him! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Sekai no Yakusoku more

FAQ

A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
Are the "Wizard Jenkins" and "Wizard Pendragon" doors in the same kingdom?
Why is he named "Howl"?
more
162 out of 185 people found the following comment useful.
A wild and surreal trip into the mind of a master., 20 March 2005
10/10
Author: surenm from Los Angeles, CA

I think this is possibly Miyazaki's most intriguing movie. All of his other films are very linear and even though their highly varied worlds may be visually stunning and highly creative, I feel the dreamy world of Howls Moving Castle is by far the most captivating, bizarre, and imaginative of all the worlds Miyazaki has ever envisioned.

What I love about this movie is that it's highly emotional without a great deal of logic or plot or story to get in the way. In this way the film is simple, pure, and extremely beautiful. It is as if the characters go from one emotion to the next, in a world that is as random as one's own dreams. Some people have complained about the lack of plot or story or serious character development, but even though the characters are fairly static, their emotions and the physical changes they undergo as they go through these emotions brings out a higher truth that is seldom given such artistic and natural freedom.

I think this is a very smart movie in many subtle ways and it's one that I look forward to watching again on the big screen and then on DVD. Although it flirts from theme to theme to theme with a kind of animated attention deficit disorder, the landscapes and utter unabated surrealism left me stunned and never bored.

Also, from a quizzical character design perspective, Howl is certainly one of if not the most beautiful characters that Miyazaki has ever created. Howl is an interesting departure from Miyazaki's more classical wabi-sabi anime style that most of his heroes and heroines are drawn in as Howl is definitely a very contemporary bishonen.

If you're looking for quaint settings, dynamic characters and a very involving character or plot driven story, you're not going to necessarily find them here, but you will find an equally stunning and pleasing movie if you let yourself go and enjoy this passionate, heartfelt and surreal Miyazaki dream.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (244 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Markl?! kyost2006
Disney vs. Original Japanese demon-mushroom
'My shawl!' IMissBradAndJen
Can you help me?? littlemissbrill
Christian Bale's scary voice scrabble_babble
If this were a live-action movie... www-MarketGarden5
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi Sleeping Beauty Stardust Enchanted Beauty and the Beast
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Animation section IMDb Japan section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.