A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
-
Positive Messages
a lot
Strong anti-war message running throughout. Compassion wins over cruelty and selfishness. Being old isn't interpreted as a negative but instead a state where you are wiser, more peaceful. Beauty is initially coveted but ultimately becomes irrelevant.
-
Positive Role Models
a lot
The central female character, Sophie, starts out timid but evolves over the course of the film into a strong, confident, loving person. The fact that she's been transformed into an old woman helps rather than hinders her character's growth. Central male character Howl is kind but struggles with selfishness, which he overcomes.
-
Diverse Representations
a lot
Audiences encounter the magical world through the eyes of Sophie, whose journey as a young woman provides the story with its emotional core. While temporarily transformed into an elderly woman, Sophie learns to speak her mind. Old age is depicted in a positive light, accompanied by acceptance and freedom. The film's pacifist stance and appreciation for the natural world, recurring themes in Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki's work, offer a non-Western perspective.
Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.
-
Violence & Scariness
some
Explosions and war scenes (no bodies). Some potentially scary blob-men who chase after the main characters. Several moments of peril. One early scene where two soldiers intimidate and ogle the main female character.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Background chatter about romance; some romantic tension between central characters and discussion of being in love.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Language
none
A few colorful insults.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
A character smokes a cigar, which is called a "pleasure."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Howl's Moving Castle -- based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones -- is a gorgeous animated fantasy from famed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki that includes mildly scary images (featureless blob-men, wraithlike wizards, explosions, and background war scenes) and a couple of dark night scenes. There's a bit of peril/tension when main characters seem to be in danger or possibly injured. The movie's primary imagery is magical and whimsical, including the rather charming titular castle, which clatters and wheezes, walking on mechanical legs. Compassion emerges as one of the film's major themes. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, Howl (voiced by Takuya Kimura in the original version and Christian Bale in the English dub) is a wizard who's had his heart stolen by a demon. His efforts to recover himself include assembling a ragtag "family" to live with him in his moving castle. These include a friendly fire demon named Calcifer (Tatsuya Gashuin/Billy Crystal) and young apprentice Markl (Ryūnosuke Kamiki/Josh Hutcherson). The newest member is Sophie (Chieko Baisho/Jean Simmons), a 90-year-old housekeeper who's really an 18-year-old hat-maker (Chieko Baisho/Emily Mortimer), cursed by the large and lumpy Witch of the Waste (Akihiro Miwa/Lauren Bacall) so that she can't tell anyone that she's been transformed. Sophie has been led to the castle by a hopping, turnip-headed scarecrow. And here she finds not only acceptance but also a crew in need of care.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Howl's Moving Castle's messages and themes. Do you agree that appearances can be deceiving, that your inner self is more important than what you look like, and that generosity (aka "heart") ensures that good will, eventually, be done?
What parts of the movie did you find frightening and/or scary? Why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
How do the characters in Howl's Moving Castle demonstrate compassion? Why is this an important character strength?
How does the movie treat being old? When Sophie was put under a spell, how did she react to her new appearance? Was her reaction different from what you expected?
Why do you think this movie is considered an anime classic? How is it different from the majority of Hollywood animated movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 10, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: May 21, 2013
- Cast: Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer, Lauren Bacall
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Inclusion Information: Asian directors, Female actors
- Studio: Buena Vista
- Genre: Anime
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Fairy Tales
- Character Strengths: Compassion
- Run time: 119 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: frightening images and brief mild language
- Last updated: May 28, 2024
Inclusion information powered by 
