Review - Howl's Moving Castle: 8 Reasons to Watch

A shy hat maker is cursed into an old woman, and only then does her life begin.

Words by Jamie Harper 11 November 2026

Howl's Moving Castle: the main characters

A shy hat maker is cursed into an old woman, and only then does her life begin.

Howl's Moving Castle is the Studio Ghibli film where a curse is the best thing that ever happens to its hero. We think it is Hayao Miyazaki's most romantic film, and here are eight reasons, one on each slide.

Reason 1 - A hat maker who thinks she is plain

Studio Ghibli: a hat maker who thinks she is plain

Sophie is eighteen and works in her late father's hat store. She is quiet, sensible and sure that nothing exciting will ever happen to her.

Then a stranger in a pink and blue coat saves her from two soldiers in an alley.

Reason 2 - A walk on the air

The stranger is the wizard Howl, and to escape the creatures chasing him he takes Sophie by the arm and walks her across the sky above the town.

It lasts a minute, and it is one of the most beautiful minutes Studio Ghibli ever animated.

Reason 3 - Cursed at eighteen, old by morning

Studio Ghibli: cursed at eighteen, old by morning

That night the Witch of the Waste puts a curse on Sophie and turns her into an old woman of ninety, who cannot tell anyone about it.

Instead of crying, Sophie packs a bag and walks out of town. Being old makes her bold.

Reason 4 - A castle that walks

In the hills she finds Howl's castle: a heap of turrets, chimneys and metal plates that puffs smoke and stomps along on chicken legs.

Its front door opens onto different places, depending on the color you turn the dial to.

Reason 5 - Calcifer, the fire demon who runs the place

Studio Ghibli: calcifer, the fire demon who runs the place

The castle is powered by Calcifer, a grumpy, funny fire demon bound to Howl by a contract he cannot talk about. He makes Sophie a deal: break it, and he will break her curse.

Billy Crystal voices him in the English version, and steals every scene.

Reason 6 - The best breakfast in anime

Studio Ghibli: the best breakfast in anime

Sophie names herself the cleaning lady and cooks bacon and eggs on Calcifer, who complains the whole time.

Thick bacon, eggs sizzling, a whole loaf on the table: the food in Ghibli films is famous, and this scene is the reason.

Reason 7 - A family nobody planned

A young apprentice, Markl, a scarecrow called Turnip Head, a fire demon and an old woman who is not really old end up living together.

Without anyone saying it, the castle becomes a home.

Reason 8 - Where to start

Studio Ghibli made it in 2004 from Diana Wynne Jones's 1986 novel, and it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Joe Hisaishi's waltz, "Merry-Go-Round of Life", runs through the whole film. Hear it once and it stays with you.

Where to watch

Streaming catalogues for Studio Ghibli differ between the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia, and they change from month to month, so check the services you use.