I think that it is also important to know that Diana also lived through WW2 as a child. She has said that she wanted to make magical worlds for children to escape into. You can see this clearly in book Howl who is actually from our world. Also, I forget where exactly I heard this from, but Diana said that the book is how Sophie would tell the story and the movie is how book Howl would tell the story. This is my favorite head cannon since book Howl would totally present himself as a tortured prince who only ever had good intentions (and who certainly never cat-called Sophie) and he is exactly the type to just add a war in for flavor.

As a person who saw the movie first and then read the book, I was pretty surprised at how much they deviated from one another. It leaves you feeling surprised but if you watch enough Miyazaki films you’re also kind of not surprised considering how he presents his themes. It makes sense that he would focus on the war more than the book does. And they are both really great works in their own rights. I also encourage everyone to read the book (and the series as well because there was at least one if not two sequel books) as well because it’s a great book. The only thing I liked more about the book as opposed to the film was how funny the book was and I honestly loved the fact that Howl (or Howell) was more of a fuckboy in the book. I also realize that these traits about his character needed to be toned down for the movie because they would’ve conflicted with the war story tonally. Still, I wish they could’ve let him be just a bit spicier for the film. Great review!

@TabyCat12

Жыл бұрын

Just an addition to this post. The book series is 3 books. Howls moving castle, castle in the air, and The House of many ways

@RazorRevenge

Жыл бұрын

I always tell people unaware of Ghibli films that Miyazaki is kinda like the Japanese Disney. You look at Disney movies (like Pinocchio) and they’re different from the source material as well.

@mLBB-x-HoK22savg

11 ай бұрын

For me howl already hve fkboy vibe. The movies focus on certain scenes/situation and the rest is for viewers to understand. N I get it that he is a fkboy

@soyaliovee

10 ай бұрын

@@RazorRevenge I love this kind of take!

This movie was fairly beautiful when I watched it the ending was truly magnificent and the art design reminded me of an old fashioned Disney movie you don't see that often in anime I truly enjoyed it.

@Ms.SpookyLavellan

2 жыл бұрын

Me too

He didn't have to but Axel gave us a grade-A analysis of Howl's Moving Castle. I remember being a young girl sitting on my Grandma's living room floor and watching this movie for the very first time when it premiered on Cartoon Network. And then for years I tried to find that movie, remembering there was a MOVING castle involved. I love this movie. Thanks!

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad that you enjoyed! Thanks for sharing your story too! It'd so cool that the movie reached you :)

The thing I loved about this movie is how she said “find me in the future” Then when the two guys harass her howls ring is glowing like he was directed straight to her 😁

This movie is the perfect representation of how understanding the heart and themes of the story is more important than adapting the source material 1-to-1; it can be the most accurate adaptation in the world in terms of the events, but if it doesn't know what made the original so beloved in the first place, if it just feels lifeless, then it's not a good adaptation. Another example of this is that I think the movie version of A Series of Unfortunate Events captured the soul and emotions of the books far better than the Netflix TV series mostly did, although this is quite an unpopular opinion lol. I read the HMC book when I was younger and was very put-off by how different it was from the movie, the movie being one of my favorites of all time, but I honestly need to reread it now as an adult, and hopefully not be nearly as confused as it left me before and gain a greater appreciation for it. I'm glad Diana Wynne Jones loved the movie as much as we do :)

One of those rare instances where an adaptation is vastly different from its source material but manages to also be good on its own merit. Would still love to get a more faithful live action adaptation of the book one day, like a movie or even a miniseries

Great analysis of the themes of the movie! The idea of the curse the older generations leave on the younger generations forcing them to grow up and face the world is especially prescient. I've been considering reading the book, but now I think I might just take the plunge.

Miyazaki has even more respect from me. Not going to an award because of his core principle is impressive! This is an awesome video

I’m crying 🥺 I really love his work, the depths of it always astounds me. You did a great job talking about it ❤️

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@shantaezon3618

2 жыл бұрын

@@AxelBeats you’re very welcome hun! ♥️

my second favorite ghibli film

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

The book is... a lot lol but I enjoyed it for sure

Howls moving castle will definitely be one of my fav childhood movies to watch over again and it never feels old

This is one of my favorite movies and I'm so glad you covered it.

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed. Thanks for taking the time to watch it!

What I love about the way he depicted war is that the causes are ambiguous and neither side is "right" or "wrong"; in both WWII and the war on terror, both sides committed atrocities and both sides had legit (or at least understandable) reasons for going to war. But in the movie as in life, people suffer because of the choices made by the powers-that-be.

As a kid, I honestly never even thought about how different the book and the movie were because of how amazing of a job Miyazaki did adapting it into something unique, but it still also felt so connected to the source material. HMC is one of the only books I have ever read more than once! I still need to finish reading Castle in the Air which is also phenomenal.

Axel amazing as always thank you for the hard work you put into this.

I adore Howl's Moving Castle, it made me discover the book through it and loved it so much that I read all her works. They are different, yet both lovely

Howl's Moving Castle was my first Miyazaki movie, and it will always be my favorite. You can see the influence that growing up during World War 2 had on Miyazaki in all of his films, however, Grave of the Fire Flies was not directed by him. It was directed by Isao Takahata while Miyazaki worked on Totoro simultaneously. The two films originally premiered as a double feature, with Grave of the Fireflies coming first and Totoro closing the night.

To people hesitant in reading the book, read it and you will not regret it! The book is actually like an isekai. It’s not time travel. There’s an audio book here on youtube and it was read so wonderfully that i cant help but enjoy it from start to finish. I love the book more than the film. Even when i’ve seen the anime first, i cant, for some reason like it. I’ve seen it 3x before I’ve listened to the audio book but when i finally did listen to the book, i was i love. So in loved that i’ve re listened to it a 2 days after. I actually watched the anime again 2 weeks ago. The difference is more than I remember and i still dont like it as much as the book. There are times i’m like so bored. I sped it up on the last quarter cause i got bored. The animation is great and very memorable but i just cant get into the story. After rewatching it i was a bit disappointed that they made Fanny into that. She might not be the best mother but she love all of them, not just her biological daughter. Making Howl’s teacher be the villain was not to my liking. I’ve not know this when i first seen the anime but after reading the book, i’ve not like it even more. She’s supposed to be good. Some things i like is how they disarmed Witch of the Waste so fast. I hate her in the book but she’s kinda pitiable in the anime. Another thing, though it’s a mix for me is Michael turned into a kid (Markl), he’a adorable but in the book he’s not bad either and is very kind to Sophie too. I get that they need to change the book to fit the film duration but it picked the more serious and less explored topic in the book. The book is so much fun and hilarious. If you love Howl in the anime, you’ll love him even more in the book. Their interaction is so funny. Sophie too. I love her so much in the book. Wish this will be remade into a series.

Cool analysis. I’m a fan of the book and film. It is one of my fave Miyazaki’s. However, Miyazaki didn’t do Grave of the Fireflies. In my experience, one of the darkest animated films I’ve seen. Really haunting, but beautifully told.

While I love the movie, I honestly enjoy the book just a tad bit more. It’s been my go to book whenever I’m feeling down in the dumps. Also, the sequel “House of Many Ways” is a pretty fun read. I almost like it more than the first book lol. Great video!

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you friend!

I love that instead of this grand battle with the Queen, she just decided to "end this foolish war."

What a fantastic analysis. Great work!

@AxelBeats

Жыл бұрын

Thank you friend :)

after seeing you edit this I think it paid off nicely

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much :) I'm glad you enjoyed!

I really loved the movie

And once more you did a tremendously good job at diving really deep into the themes of an anime gem. I've always loved this movie and enjoyed your analysis. The ever present theme of war in Miyazaki's movies never fails touching me. It's heartbreaking how obviously deeply impacted him. And thousands of other people too. Other than most he just happens to be a genius filmmaker with the gift to make people feel it too. And watching this analysis right now where there is a war in Europe (in 2022 and thus closer than I would ever have imagined to be possible) just hit me extra hard. Also the theme of the older generation leaving their mistakes and bad impacts to the younger one is always important, but in the context of climate change maybe burning hotter than ever. Also the lack of positive adult characters in this movie. I never realised it this much until you pointed it out. And just hits hard again. I absolutely love the whole idea of calcifer having Howl's heart, and thus keeping him "stagnant" in his development. The end is so beautiful. Having his heart back feeling weird, possibly scary at first, but with a loved one at your side being able to grow. And also to love deeper. Like you may not feel the bad things, but miss the good ones too. Dealing with depressions and thus often feling stuck and numbed and "empty" I can relate so much. It can feel tempting to give your heart away. Things seem easier to bear. But you risk loosing yourself in the proces (very much true for eating disorders as well). Makes me cry just how painfully relatable all of that feels. I love how much depth there is in these movies. You can watch them all over again and still find new aspects from new perspectives. And you are brillant at unveiling them. (also, I have to admit I never read the book. But I still agree that the core message seems to be sherished which I guess is the reason for any original author not to feel "betrayed") Thank you, and keep up the good work!

Hellow :) So first, I'm just gonna say, your video is amazingly edited!! Luv how you're using a new style that fits perfectly for these types of videos ^^ Second, I have a faint memory of watching this movies before when I was younger, I actually never knew the name to the movie, but would have clips of it in my memory that I remember from watching it. Only like about 2 years ago I found out the movie's name was "Howl's the moving castle" then decided to rewatch it :D This movie was absolutely amazing and I enjoyed it ^^ thanks for doing a video about ut Axel!! Hope you're doing well btw :))

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the kind words

The book is part of a series, by the way.

Another excellent video Axel! You truly pay attention to detail and left no stone unturned in your analysis 😊❤

4:32 Small error I noticed. Howl wasn't drafted into both sides of the war. Just the one. The different locations his castle is connected to are just different places in the same country, Ingary. One was the capital and the other looked to be just some river town.

although there are some scenes from the book i would have loved to see in animation (sophie throwing weed killer at howl, the transition between ingary and wales) i think the movie adapted the core themes and message of the book really well!

You and Breadsword should colab on a video. Like him you make AMAZING movie deep dive videos, and this video is the one that got me to subscribe to your channel. It's also the first video of yours that I've watched =3

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed :)

Howl’s moving castle is one of my favorites

Howls moving castle is always my fave!

Speaking as an aspiring author and a huge Ghibli fan, I wouldn't hesitate if Studio Ghibli wanted to adapt one of my books, adaptation differences be dammed.

This was super interesting. it's one of my favourite films. it was so interesting to hear so much nuance and information about it.

Love the video keep up the great work

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks fam

That is a beautiful essay

This has to be my absolute favorite video on this channel! And now i am going to re watch the movie!

I love howl moving castle ❤️❤️❤️

If I never experience true joy in my life ever again I’ll never forget the feelings I felt while watching this movie and all of Miyazaki’s work.

I’ve watch hallow moving castle 🏰. It my personal favorite of chibli films. After watching this I’m going to buy the audio book 📖 . Because I’m very interested in the book 📕 now. I like the point of the old is draining the young. And burdening them with problems that the old doesn’t know how to fix. Also it is a cut love story.

Honestly I enjoy the movie more than I did the book. The end of the book is just a clusterf*.

Wait a minute have I become Howl? 😮

100 agree

Omg the movie Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite movie of all times

No really sucks is the fact that I wanted to watch all of studio Ghibli films for the longest time when I finally did I realized besides the cool animation a lot of them have the same fucking story like the three stores they do the most are growing up anti-war and protect the environment don't get me wrong that stuff is cool and all like I understand but God it's can be boring

All the awesome movie reviews is awesome and Howls Moving Castle moved me hehe get it

@SamTheGumMan117

2 жыл бұрын

Damn said that twice lul

I wish they did the other 2 books there was 3 of them

Epic

I didn’t realize I’d be crying today. But ok

😎 p͎r͎o͎m͎o͎s͎m͎

The book was better

wait wait wait wait wait wait wait hold up there is one thing that bothers me ...that woman that wass sophies sister...later on they call her mother what the hell

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

There are 2 separate characters, Sophie's sister and her mother.

@Gypsygeekfreak17

2 жыл бұрын

@@AxelBeats yeah but they look exactly the same i thought it was a dub error

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

They don't though? The mother is much larger, has a different face and hairstyle, and always shown in bright yellow

@Gypsygeekfreak17

2 жыл бұрын

@@AxelBeats i could of sworn it was her sister

He didn’t steal it, he asked for allowance before the movie was released. Did you enjoy the extra views you got? It’s kinda not worth it.

@AxelBeats

2 ай бұрын

Did you watch the video or just click on it because of the title? Because I fully explain him getting permission and making changes that make sense for the new time and medium, and suggest other movie makers do the same. At least watch a video before you comment

Howls moving castle to me is like a hard take 4/10 lol. Its so boring

@AxelBeats

2 жыл бұрын

Different strokes for different folks. Hope you enjoyed this video at least!

@buttholeweeb621

2 жыл бұрын

@@AxelBeats Of course I did my man.

@Chill227

Жыл бұрын

Props for being able to say that, and I'm glad you didn't get any hate for your opinion. Actually, to me, I'm not fond of miyazaki movies in general. The only one i really like is The Wind Rises.

@buttholeweeb621

Жыл бұрын

@@Chill227 yeah all subjective. I get that. But good god when even my girlfriend at the time looked at me after watching. Mind you, who knows nothing about anime. Said "wow that was kind of shit you think?" Thats when I knew I was justified🤣🤣