Howl's Moving Castle is one of Studio Ghibli's most successful films and is based on the children's fantasy novel of the same name by Welsh author Diana Wynne Jones. The film is a high fantasy romance about the fickle wizard Howl Pendragon and the pragmatic haberdasher Sophie Hatter.

Hayao Miyazaki was so passionate about making Howl's Moving Castle that he traveled to England to give a private screening of the author. There is no wasted footage in Howl's Moving Castle. Every moment (even the quiet ones) advances the plot, complicates the characters, and engages the audience. Some scenes are achingly beautiful landscapes, and others are full of sulfur and anti-war themes.

10 The Witch of the Waste casts her spell

Sophie Hatter doesn’t expect much from her life. She’s an introvert and seems to prefer to keep her head down, working hard at her creative job making hats for her family’s company. Her sister, Lettie, tends to get all the attention and seems to be headed somewhere great in life.

Everything changes when the Desert Witch bursts into Sophie's shop and insults her. Before Sophie can process her confusion, dark magic spreads throughout the room as the Desert Witch curses her out of pure jealousy. The animation is whimsical and dark, and serves as the film's inciting incident, kicking off Sophie's unexpected adventure.

“The best part about this spell is that you can’t tell anyone about it. My compliments to Howl…” –The Witch of the Waste

9 Howl sees the real Sophie

Sophie is quite brazen when she hitches a ride to Howl's castle, and it's all because she feels she doesn't have much to lose. After all, she might as well go seek her fortune. When she finally sees Howl at his castle, she seems a little nervous. It's understandable that he was so dashing when she first met him, and because he has a fearsome, Bluebeard-like reputation.

Howl is not offended by Sophie's presence, and strangely enough, seems to accept her explanation in stride. She simply tells him that she is his new cleaning lady, and he doesn't really ask any more questions. Although Sophie seems to think he dismisses her because she is just an unassuming old lady, Howl's actions just a few scenes later suggest otherwise. When Sophie falls asleep, she returns to her old self, and Howl sees the change. Again, he doesn't seem surprised, nor does he ask any more questions. It's almost as if he knew who she was all along.

“You can call me Grandma Sophie. I’m your new cleaning lady. I started work today.” –Sophie Hatter

8 Howl rescues Sophie from some nefarious soldiers

Two soldiers invade Sophie's space and blatantly harass her in an alleyway early in Howl's Moving Castle. So much happens in this scene. Howl sneaks up behind Sophie, puts his arm around her, and says, “There you are, darling… I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Howl plays it out of line, as if he said it to fool the soldiers, but in fact he meant his first words to Sophie literally.

Howl built his moving castle because he's been searching for Sophie for years. Now that he's found her, he gleefully rescues her and literally sweeps her off her feet. The soldiers aren't the only antagonists in the scene, as Howl's presence attracts the Desert Witch's henchmen. To escape them, Howl takes Sophie on a magical skywalk. Not only does he want to make sure she's safe, but he also can't help but show off a little for her.

“There you are, dear. Sorry I’m late. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” –Pendragon Howl

7 Howl Beast Form and Calcifer's Warning of War

Howl Pendragon is caught between a rock and a hard place, as the royal powers that gave him magical training expect him to participate in their senseless war games. Howl also travels under several different magical aliases, so he is expected to participate three times. Howl takes the form of a beast and flies through the air to see the king's fiery attacks. All he witnesses is senseless violence, and he refuses to take part in any more pain and destruction.

If Howl were to participate, his magical powers would be formidable indeed. When Howl returns to his castle, he grimaces as he sheds his beast form, and it is the first time he appears nearly defeated. Calcifer watches him struggle to return. For the first time, the cheeky fire demon is solemn; he warns Howl that if he continues to assume beast form again, he may not regain his humanity. Calcifer also laments how the other wizards are consigning themselves to a pointless fate. The scene underscores how pointless and dehumanizing war is, and that it is worth making sacrifices to avoid being drawn into it. Howl demonstrates great scruples as a powerful wizard.

“These wizards will regret having done this. They will never be human again. After the war, they will not remember that they were ever human.” –Calcifer

6 Howl Gifts Sophie the Field of Flowers

Some suitors give bouquets of flowers to their crushes, but sensitive Howl always goes the extra mile and takes the gift of flowers to a whole new level. Sophie loves the beautiful, lush field of flowers that Howl brings her to. She is delighted when Howl tells her that the field and the house in the middle of it are very special to him – and that he is giving them to her. Howl may be vain and flighty, but he is also quite thoughtful and calculating when he wants to be.

He shows Sophie his best when he gives her the field and the house. He tells her that he is doing his best to secure her and Markl's future with the house and the raw materials from the field. Howl suggests that she open a flower shop, because he understands her and values her creative skills; a flower shop is very close to his experience as a haberdasher. The scene is not only a beautiful landscape study, it is an extremely thoughtful and romantic gift that brings the main couple closer together.

“I’m just setting things up so that you can all live a comfortable life, Sophie. With all the flowers you have in this valley, you could easily open a flower shop.” –Pendragon Howl

5 Howl's Hair Dye Mix and His Magical Tantrum

Each character-focused scene showcases the main characters’ flaws and virtues—and hints at even more complex details. When Sophie cleans the castle, she accidentally mixes Howl’s beauty potions. When he goes to get ready, his platinum hair turns red. Howl is, of course, beside himself and has a full-on magical-level tantrum.

The hair dye tantrum scene is hilarious and shows the difference between Howl and Sophie. She takes his nonsense in stride, while Howl's tantrum shows some of his deeper insecurities. Howl says there's no point in living if he can't be beautiful. Even though that's not true, he honestly believes he has little to offer other than his looks. Over the course of the story, he grows as a character as he realizes that he does has much more to offer the world and Sophie besides her beauty.

“I don’t see the point of living if I can’t be beautiful.” –Pendragon Howl

4 Howl disguises himself as a king and saves Sophie

Howl is a notorious coward and is afraid of the Royal Wizard's summons. He hatches a scheme and begs Sophie to answer the summons for him, pretending to be his mother. Sophie hesitantly agrees and tries to convince the Royal Wizard that Howl would be of no use to her. The Royal Wizard is powerful and cunning, and she sees through the ruse. Howl may be a coward, but he will not leave Sophie in danger.

He summons all his bravery, intelligence, and optimism and comes to her rescue. He first disguises himself as the King of Ingary to get close to Sophie, then reveals himself. Howl confronts the Royal Wizard and gets Sophie out of the castle using all the skills he has. He also gives her a ring that will always show her the way home. The scene is not only a wonderful display of Howl's magic, it is a major turning point in his character development.

“I’ve had enough of running, Sophie. And now I have something I want to protect. It’s you.” –Pendragon Howl

3 Calcifer grumbles as he prepares breakfast

There is both plot significance and humor in the scene where Sophie forces Calcifer to cook breakfast for them. Howl's poor apprentice Markl doesn't get many hot meals because Calcifer won't let anyone but Howl cook over his fire, and Howl is often busy and away from the castle. Sophie takes matters into her own wrinkled hands and bullies Calcifer into cooking bacon for her and Markl.

Howl arrives home just as Sophie cracks some eggs and remarks that Calcifer is being particularly "obedient" and that not just anyone can force Calcifer to do anything. He eats breakfast and prepares a beautiful meal that is unique to Studio Ghibli. There is a lot of meaning in Howl's remark, but he is not telling the whole truth, of course. Calcifer acts as Howl's heart, and Sophie can "bully" Calcifer because Howl's heart has always belonged to her, even if she doesn't know it yet.

“Calcifer? You’re being so obedient!” –Pendragon Howl

2 Howl and Sophie's true love's kiss

Howl's Moving Castle may not be a beat-for-beat retelling of any fairy tale, but it incorporates many fairy tale tropes and archetypes. The ending subverts the “true love’s kiss” trope and the Prince Charming archetype. When Sophie Hatter kisses the scarecrow, Turniphead, on the forehead, he transforms into his true princely self. It turns out that Sophie is Prince Justin’s true love, and her kiss was the only thing that would save him from his curse.

Sophie, of course, is in love with Howl, not the former scarecrow and current prince, Justin. Prince Justin accepts this realization with grace and sets out to seek his own fortune. After returning Howl's heart, Sophie throws herself into his arms and the two confess their love for each other. Subverting the trope of true love's kiss seems to suggest that there are many types of love. Howl and Sophie's love is more of an active choice and a path of evolution, rather than a prescriptive ending.

“Your hair… is like the color of the stars… you are beautiful.” –Pendragon Howl

“I love you!” –Sophie Hatter

1 Sophie travels through time

Just when Sophie thinks all is lost, the ring Howl gave her begins to glow, guiding her through the castle's ruins to the past. She travels back in time and witnesses a young Howl surrounded by shooting stars. She witnesses Past-Howl making his deal with the fallen star/fire demon, Calcifer. Howl sees Sophie, which proves that Howl does indeed recognize Sophie from their first meeting in the alley.

The time travel scene may be a little confusing, but it explains Howl's curse. and how deep his feelings for Sophie are. Present-Sophie tells Howl to find her in the future and that she will help him. And indeed, Howl he does find Sophie. She is the reason he has taken on so many wizard aliases and why he has made a traveling castle. It seems that Howl is chaotic and utterly cowardly, but there is a method behind much of his chaos. The beautifully animated scene shows how Howl and Sophie are connected from the very first moment.

“Howl! Calcifer! I know how to help you now! Find me in the future!” –Sophie Hatter