Howl's Moving Castle | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

Is Sophie's spell broken in Howl's Moving Castle? ›

Sophie runs outside, fully young as she has unknowingly broke her own curse, and watches as Howl saves the shop from a falling bomb. He emerges from the wreckage unscathed, and the two embrace. Howl heals Calcifer, and Sophie begs him not to go out into the war again.

The grudge of a jilted lover results in mistaking Sophie for her sister, Lettie, who she had seen Howl flirting with (Howl never seems to learn).

The irony of Howl's Moving Castle is the supposed curse put on Sophie. Old age is first seen by Sophie as an obstacle to overcome but later she realises it's more freeing than she knew. It portrays youth as a burden rather than a blessing and highlights the trials that come with such a burden.

"They say that the brightest spark burns best when circ*mstances are their worst" (Sofie Hatter, Howl's Moving Castle). Howl: I feel terrible, like there's a weight on my chest. Young Sophie: A heart's a heavy burden.

After her spell is broken, Sophie turns back into her original young appearance, though her hair stays grey due to the side effect of the spell.

Everyone has had a bad hair day. However, few people gave up on life over an easily fixable mistake. Thanks to Sophie's cleaning, Howl's potions got mixed around, leading his hair to change from blond to ginger. Howl accuses Sophie of ruining him and proceeds to throw a tantrum as his hair changes to black.

Howl, who the rest of the country perceives as a devious womanizer eating the hearts of young maidens, falls in love with Sophie's empathy and her kindness.

He is also the first one to recognise Sophie's incredible ability to talk life into the world around her, which is the reason he allowed her into the castle in the first place and was so eager to make a bargain with her – if anyone but she were to break the contract he had with Howl, then Calcifer would die.

Witch of the Waste. As the jealous ex-girlfriend of Howl, this witch is the initial antagonist before Madame Suliman and is the woman who not only curses Sophie but Howl as well.

However, he does keep his word when he promises to lift the spell of Sophie if she breaks his contract with Howl, doing it as soon as she nips Howl's heart off Calcifer's body.

Why did Calcifer eat Sophie's hair? ›

When Calcifer asks Sophie for something of hers he can consume to move the castle, Sophie gives him her hair. The cutting of hair is often symbolic of coming of age in Japanese media. It's a final representation that Sophie is never going back to the person she was, and that she's moving forward.

We also learn that even though Howl is very handsome, he is quite insecure about his appearance. In an instance were Sophie accidentally messes with his charms, resulting in him dyeing his hair black instead of blonde, Howl suggests that life isn't worth living if he can't be beautiful.

“There You Are Sweetheart, Sorry I'm Late, I Was Looking Everywhere For You.” Many fans love this quote which is the very first line said by Howl in the film. When they first meet, Howl comes by her side while Sophie is being accosted by two men, calling her a little mouse.

Howl's Moving Castle explores many different themes, and their hidden meanings aren't always easy to pick up on. Exploring humanity, selfhood, compassion, and belonging, it derives its most enduring message from the notion surrounding the evils of war.

Howl met Sophie when he was a child, and since then, he was looking for her. In the end, Howl gave her a ring saying, “For your safe return.” But he meant not only to his Castle but also to his past. Howl knew she would go back to his childhood, and they would meet again!

After Turnip Head saves everyone from falling down the mountain, Sophie kisses him. This breaks his curse and causes him to change back into the prince. The Witch explains that true loves kiss breaks the curse, and says to the prince that it looks like his true love is in love with someone else (Howl).

The old way of life, she will forever be an old woman, and if she comes out of her shell, she will return to a beautiful young girl, simply understood this curse is like a mirror reflecting the soul. So Sophie's. There will be no magic that can undo this curse but Sophie herself.

It is eventually revealed that Sophie possesses magical abilities of her own - she is capable of talking life into objects, though she initially is unaware of her powers and uses them unwittingly. When developed, they become very powerful, and it is assumed she can learn spells and charms as well.

After meeting the famous titular wizard known as Howl, Sophie is cursed into being an old woman by the dangerous Witch of the Waste out of jealousy, prompting her to leave town and set out on a journey to find a way to break the spell.