Howl's Moving Castle

Year

2004

Duration

119 minutes

Genres

Action and Adventure, Animation, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Language

Japanese

Member rating

3392 Reviews

Members rating breakdown

5 Star

1701

4 Star

855

3 Star

477

2 Star

174

1 Star

185

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Leader rating

6 leader ratings

Leaders rating breakdown

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

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Synopsis

In this Japanese animated epic, Howl is the crotchety wizard who lives in a castle that not only stands on chicken legs - it can also grow and shrink in size. When Howl sees young hat-maker Sophie being persecuted by soldiers, he intervenes and saves her - but this makes the Witch of the Waste jealous, so she turns Sophie into an old crone. We follow Sophie's story as she struggles to make her way to the castle to get her curse reversed - while at the same time, the country begins preparing for a war. A fantastic and imaginative treat from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Director/s

Hayao Miyazaki

Cast (in alphabetical order)

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Classification

Find out more on the BBFC website

Resources To Use With This Film

Fantasy & Adventure

Activities to support engagement, debate and reflection for titles within the Fantasy & Adventure strand of the Into Film Festival.

Suitable for 5–11

1 pdf

1 ppt

View resource

Howl's Moving Castle: Film Guide

A film guide that looks at Howl's Moving Castle (2004), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

Suitable for 5–11

1 ppt

View resource

Kiki's Delivery Service: Film Guide

International Day of the Girl Child, 11 Oct

A film guide that looks at Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), exploring its key topics and themes through informal...

Suitable for 5–11

1 pdf

View resource

When Marnie Was There: Film Guide

A film guide that looks at When Marnie Was There (2014), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

Suitable for 7–11

1 pdf

View resource

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As the BFI continues its Japan season with a new collection of five titles released on BFI Player, we take a look at the unique world of Japanese animation.

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Kenneth Branagh at the 2016 Into Film Festival

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05 Sep 2019

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Reading time 5 mins

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02 May 2018

Reporter Aarony sat down with actor Ruby Barnhill, who voices the lead in new Studio Ponoc animation 'Mary and the Witch's Flower'.

Viewing time 4 mins

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When Marnie Was There and the magic of Studio Ghibli

15 Jun 2016 BY Joe Ursell in Film Features

With the release of When Marnie Was There, Studio Ghibli's poignant final film, we take a look at what makes their animations so widely adored.

Reading time 5 mins

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Howl's Moving Castle

Year

Duration

Genres

Language

Member rating

Leader rating

Synopsis

Director/s

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Classification

Resources To Use With This Film

Fantasy & Adventure

Howl's Moving Castle: Film Guide

Kiki's Delivery Service: Film Guide

International Day of the Girl Child, 11 Oct

When Marnie Was There: Film Guide

Related Films

Spirited Away(2001)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind(1984)

Princess Mononoke(1997)

Laputa - Castle In The Sky(1986)

Rate this film

Reviews (3389)

Into Film Clubs

Do I Need a Licence?

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Training

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What our educators say