When Sophie goes to see young Howl she shouts out to him "See me in the future." At the start of the movie, Howl was like "There you are sweetheart, I've been looking everywhere for you." And that moment, his ring with piece of calcifer is shining out. This is just like how when Howl gives Sophie his ring which is supposed guide her to him. At the beginning of the movie, he really was looking for her from the past.

@messer3353

6 жыл бұрын

Boo omg wow now that u mention it !!!

@cynthieful

6 жыл бұрын

I remember my own shock when I realized this XDD such a beautiful, neatly hidden little thing. All the talk about how Howl hunts for young pretty girls to eat their hearts... well, he was looking for Sophie because Sophie told him to look for her!! gahh so good

@Emy-fv5ny

5 жыл бұрын

Wow, you are right!!

@ryahmesch

5 жыл бұрын

And when he drops her off, he says "That's my girl" !! I was like OMG YES

@Chuck-Norris1

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Regarding Sophie's shifting age throughout the movie, I think this is more of a message of 'you're only as old as you feel'. The movie starts out with Sophie already kind of being an old lady in behaviour and mood, even mentioning when she actually becomes old that now her clothes finally suit her. It isn't until she goes on her adventure and falls in love with Howl that she starts to liven up, literally. Note that her first shift since the curse comes after she has her table-smashing outburst, something "old", repressed Sophie would likely never do. Her grey hair at the end of the movie indicates that the curse is still present, it just doesn't hold any power over her, unless she lets it. It's kind of a nice message overall.

@MsWinxmusa

4 жыл бұрын

wow i kind of assumed that when she released the demon he fulfilled his part of the deal and freed her from the curse, but I think your explanation is cooler :D

@trollzynisaacjohan1793

4 жыл бұрын

Was it really a curse. It gave her a new wisdom. She also usually shifted to looking like a 60 year old rather than 90 year old at the begginning. She cured herself of the spell simply not caring.

@d.d.d9583

4 жыл бұрын

yeah i agree with that sentiment too moments when she expresses bold behaviour such as the madam sullivan scene cause her to temporarily shift back to her younger appearance. her love for howl is what keeps her young the kind of love that makes your heart race uncontrollably when your together.

@davidgarridoecunha7102

4 жыл бұрын

CasualShinji I agree

@shahariarkhan5860

4 жыл бұрын

This makes sence.. even while climbing the stairs to go to the palace the witch of the west said how does she have all this energy, she was doing it for howl

this movie made me happy because my name is sophie and hearing howl calling my name was amazing lol

@itslaudi

4 жыл бұрын

Sophie Segovia dude you're lucky. Howl is so damn beautiful

@oceanheartz717

4 жыл бұрын

Now I wish my name is sophie!

@rinakkuma

4 жыл бұрын

my name is also sophia:)))

@leviscravat1440

4 жыл бұрын

@@oceanheartz717 same ;-;

@deprimeplatypus490

4 жыл бұрын

:((luckyy

Most of what you say is accurate, however, the Witch of the Wastes clearly states that Sophie broke the curse through the power of love. It was love that turned her young again and that allowed her to do everything she did with Calcipher and Howl. The biggest point of the movie is that love is more powerful than any magic. Sophie's love healed everyone she came into contact with, Howl, Calcipher, Witch of the Wastes, the Prince and even herself.

@lexeynekocat1530

5 жыл бұрын

I dont know how accurate this is but I heard that she is old when she is thinking more about/for herself so when she is thinking or feeling love for others the curse is temporarily broke

@Gabrielles108

4 жыл бұрын

She broke the curse on turnip head with the power of love (true loves kiss more specifically)

@davidbrogan606

4 жыл бұрын

@@Gabrielles108 I have wondered if what that meant is that Sophie has a true love for everyone or if Sophie was Turnip's true love even if he was not hers.

@Gabrielles108

4 жыл бұрын

It's that Sophie was turnip's love but she's not his which is why he says (roughly) that hearts can change. So, either he moves on or he waits for a breakup

@davidbrogan606

4 жыл бұрын

@@Gabrielles108 Indeed. I hope he moves on because I don't believe that he is Sophie's type. Being a bit of a victim herself, I think she is attracted to that type.

in the book, sophie is a witch. she can tell inanimate and animate things to do things. she once caused her stick to beat up sullivan, and she talked howls heart to beat, and a bunch more. A lot of what u are trying to prove is covered in the book.

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

Well, darn, I thought I was picking up on a secret! At least the movie doesn't make that clear at all. I'll need to pick up a copy of the book and do a BVM then.

@theworstnerd4512

6 жыл бұрын

Have toured the other howl books he is not the main character but it is set in the same universe

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

Okay wait, I'm drawn back to you comment. If Sophie was a witch from the start, why didn't she cure her own curse? Did she also get summoned to fight for the king? I have so many questions now!!!

@theworstnerd4512

6 жыл бұрын

The Fangirl she did but thought she deserved it and keep her curse and did not realize she had manic at the time

@torababble3046

6 жыл бұрын

Just because she was a witch didn't mean she knew, had training, or could have fought off another powerful witch's curse without help. And Sullivan wanted to use her as bait to draw Howl into the castle. I think she wanted to drain him like she did the Witch of the Waste?

in the book Sophie's appearance is as old as she feels, but she had always felt like an old woman, so that is what she turns into.

In the book, Sophie is always a witch, but because social norms established in the book claim she has to be a failure in life, she takes the whole story to believe it. Also in the book, Howl says Sophie would seem to be old because she wants to be and not because of the witch of the wastes. this explains why sophie would shift in age. she would only be as old as she feels and in worrying about howl, she forgets she is supposed to be old.

@abadgurl2010

6 жыл бұрын

Also, in the book Michael is actually closer to Howl's age and was the one that spread the rumor about him eating women's hearts since he always dates ladies until the love him then he dumps them and Michael wanted to save women from that while also having the chance to find romance himself. And the witch cursed Sophie because she thought Sophie wanted to steal her clients. And she has two sisters, one who was supposed to work in a bakery and the other who was supposed to be taught magic. And the Witch of The Waste has her own fire demon(who wants to steal Howl's heart to prolong her own existence).

@rettthebest

6 жыл бұрын

Howl told Michael to spread the rumors because he wanted to sound intimidating. He even repeatedly tells Sophie that he is being very wicked. Michael was dating Sophie's youngest sister. Sophie's oldest sister marries Sullivan.

@polyhymnia701

3 жыл бұрын

Also, Suliman/Sullivan is a young man in the book, and one of Howl's buddies from Wales.

I know people have already been commenting like crazy about the book, but it really is great comparing the two. My copy of the book has an interview with the author in the back where she talks about the movie and her opinion on it and the changes Miyazaki made to the story. According to that the author liked the movie, but she found it funny that her and Miyazaki had very different reactions to growing up during WW2 (in the book the war is only implied to be brewing, whereas the movie had all the battle scenes), she avoided war stories and he tends to revel in them. It was a neat little interview.

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

Do you know the ISBN on that book? I'd be very interested in getting a copy with her thoughts about the movie. :)

@indigoslife1202

5 жыл бұрын

That's Miyazaki's signature . Magnifing war and destrucion , so that he can give a lesson.

@koothic_j

4 жыл бұрын

My copy also has an interview with her

@musicbyella3769

4 жыл бұрын

My copy of the movie has the same interview but filmed and I didnt realise until last year, it was so strange hearing her say the same things I’d read several times

@GyroZeppel

4 жыл бұрын

Well he did grow up in Japan which had two nuclear bombs dropped in civilian cities by the United States. That would probably leave quite an impact on someone’s view of war.

Spoilers ahead. In the books Sophie enchants hats, among other things (sticks, weed poison, scarecrows), and then Howl said that she was basically perpetuating the spell herself, because she felt like an old lady already, so when she feels young and confident that's how she looks. I'm pretty sure that's the kind of spell the witch of the waste put on her. Also they say that she's a very powerful witch, even though it's not talked about in the film. Also in Japan, cutting your hair symbolizes new beginnings, so in the movie it's symbolizes her newfound confidence. Howl felt bad for Calcifer and that's the reason he gave up his heart. The fire demons seemed to influence emotion. A lot of this is explained in better detail in the book, if you want to check it out. And the movie doesn't deviate from the book so much as just leave things out. The only difference is the higher focus on war (Which is still in the books, just not such a high focus.)

@Sofi00

4 жыл бұрын

There was another huge difference, since In the book Howl could actually switch to the modern day world, where he came from!

@jokunortti

4 жыл бұрын

@@Sofi00 He's just a dude from Wales and I love that.

@davidbrogan606

4 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate the difference between the movie and the book. Miyazaki does not make Sophie a witch. instead, Sophie uses love to heal the broken hearts of those around her. That is something magic could never do.

@brytanny11

4 жыл бұрын

I thought the book and movie were very different, but the heart of the story and characters was kept the same. But HUGE difference in the story to book (though this is more than likely due to “lost in translation” effect of a book going to movie. Two different mediums have a hard time telling the same exact story

@berlianafitriamalia52

3 жыл бұрын

thank you for the explanation. i thought when sophie turn to young again only their imagination. so the whole movie sophie is the old lady except the ending. bcs i think in the end the curse had break. then i understand that im wrong

The Prince was from another kingdom so no Suliman didn't have easy access to him BUT with how powerful she is I wouldn't put it past her to somehow curse the Prince.

@brittanywhite8585

6 жыл бұрын

omg reaqqd the book madam suliman wasnt even in the book she is a combination of two caracters, wizard sullivan nad madam prissimon. i might be spelling that wrong, but seriously its a book series.

@RaelDanger

6 жыл бұрын

Brittany White I've read the book The character is Ben Sullivan in the book. She's going off the film for this theory so I'm going off the film in my previous comments.

@JustClaude13

5 жыл бұрын

@@RaelDanger I think it was the Witch of the Waste. She has a habit of dropping curses on folks that might threaten her later.

@AbelMcTalisker

3 жыл бұрын

Going by some hint in the film the prince was on some sort of diplomatic mission to Sophie`s country when he disappeared. So, given how much influence Madam Suliman appears to have had with both the King and government I think she would have been able to cast a curse on him easily.

Howls moving castle and spirited away are my favorite movies of all time.

@TheFangirlWatches

4 жыл бұрын

They’re both really well done!

@EternityWish

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Yes!

@ale5cat-san689

3 жыл бұрын

Same

@tasbita_shafiq

3 жыл бұрын

omg sameee

@sidra-sl4hs

2 жыл бұрын

I didn’t get any of them

She returns to her true youthful appearance when she shows passion for someone or something. And yes howl sees through the curse while she sleeps because at that point she had started to find her passion for life again.

@mokivalera3563

3 жыл бұрын

No. He knew when he meet her that she was cursed.

+Fangirl 1- The Prince is from the neighborhood kingdom , his name in the book was Justin and the other kingdom attacked because they he had been kidnapped 2- According to the author of the book Sophie's curse broke earlier on , it was not supposed to be permanent, the reason why she stayed an old lady was because she had a lot of self doubt and self esteem issues and being a witch with undiscovered talent, kept herself in that form, even Howl tried to break her curse several times and when he couldn't he stated that Sophie must like to be an old lady. 3- In the book Sophie never transformed back and forth, she stayed an old lady until she gave Howl's heart back to him ( the reason why Howl was becoming a monster was because he gave up his heart not to get hurt and therefore gave up his humanity 4- Sophie transformed back while sleeping or when she rant to Madame Soliman or other times because on those instances she wasn't immersed in her own insecurities, she was thinking of others and while sleeping she wasn't thinking at all, so that's why she retained her youth, although like I said she stayed as an elderly woman on her own accord

@aimee.marie.cherie

4 жыл бұрын

In the book, Prince Justin is the King's brother

Ugh I love howls moving castle so much

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

lol, then why "ugh?" Doesn't that mean you dislike something?!

@liluzisqrt2155

6 жыл бұрын

The Fangirl I felt the ugh was necessary bc it's kinda ridiculous how much I love it. It's my favorite movie for sure

@naritruwireve1381

4 жыл бұрын

saamee. Now I know why people kept mentioning spirited away and other movies from studio ghibli. I'm definitely going to rewatch the movies once I'm done with watching them all

Can anyone explain to me why Sophie towards the end, when Howl was fighting the warships and all, chose to scoop Calcifer out let the whole castle collapse, then go back and ask Calcifer to move the castle or atleast a part of it to Howl? Is it to create a mini, smaller vehicle to reach Howl? How were they even planning to reach Howl who's up there flying in the air with the help of the running castle thats on the ground? And did Howl have some kind of relationship with the Witch of the waste before? Like was she his ex or something? And why was she so obsessed with Howl's heart? And when it was mentioned Howl was dumped by a girl before- who was the girl? And why did Howl made a pact with Calcifer in the first place?

@cecillewolters1995

3 жыл бұрын

Hey, big movie fan here! Never read the book (yet), but I did read a lot of comments and have my own theories. Calcifer and Howl have a symbiotic relationship and with both powers combined, made the castle. But the castle required a lot of magic, so when Sophie made it smaller, it took less of a toll on both Howl and Calcifer and it also looked faster without all the extras. I do think the witch of the waste was Howl's ex. Howl was searching for Sophie his whole life, since future Sophie told Howl to look for her. My guess is that Howl may have thought the witch of the waste was the girl he searched, but she was not and they broke up. Calcifer also is a demon and has Howl's heart. People want his heart/demon to gain power. I have no idea who dumped Howl, it might have been the witch of the waste. Maybe he was actually in love with her, but she wasn't Sophie or she just wanted power. I don't know why exactly Howl and Calcifer ''fused'', but in the movies the demons that started falling into the lake seemed to die, maybe Howl wanted to save Calcifer. I have also read that demons such as Calcifer greatly play with the emotions of others, so maybe Calcifer wanted to live longer or wanted more power by fusing with Howl. It's all speculation tho.

@hanhil3673

3 жыл бұрын

@@cecillewolters1995 Oh that's a very helpful explanation! Thanks!

@jazminsc2945

3 жыл бұрын

I feel like many parts of the movie were left purposefully vague but at least in the book I can tell you for a fact that the witch was howl's ex (she was actually stated to be very beautiful in the book) and he jilted her when he found out that her appearance was due to magic. Howl had the hobby of flirting with girls and then dumping them when they fell in love with him so the girl that was mentioned to dump him was someone random who he failed to seduce. Howl made a pact with calcifer because Calcifer was originally a shooting star that was about to die, so instead of letting him die howl offered his heart out of pity and calcifer offered to boost how's magic in order to live. So basically book howl was kind of nice but also a complete jerk in other aspects

@palaceofbrilliance6164

3 жыл бұрын

hei i m late, I just watched the English one and there it said that the moving castle was connected to the hatter shop, and by leaving the castle, the shop wouldn't be connected to the castle anymore. howl was protecting the shop from the bombs, bc calcified was to weak, so Sophie wanted to disconnect the shop and castle, so that howl wouldn't risk his life and then move the castle again

If Sophie had all that power by giving up her braid to Calcipher, could you imagine if she had given him her heart????

But Sophie made a pact with Calcifer: If she discovered the secret between Hauru and him, he'll deliver her from the curse. What she did at the end. I think her hair stayed grey because she gave it to Calcifer before she filled the contract. And I agree that peaceful feelings and mostly love made her young again, during war she was feeling the will to save them so Hauru stop involving in war. Love was motivated her 😊

Calcifer came back at the end cause he started feeling lonely and still lives with Howl, Sophie, Markl, and the WotW.

Howls moving castle is one of my fav studio ghibli movie btw calcifer is so cute when he eats those cracked eggs Edit: Thanks for the heart!

@khiraj3232

4 жыл бұрын

may all your bacon burn (@___@)

My best friend has a cat named Calcifer because he's such a warm kitty. :) Also, nice video!

I always thought when the viewer saw her as young this was just how she felt emotionally in certain moments of the movie. I also thought that howl was able to see through the spell just like he could see through other curses in the film

Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away are in my top favorite movies of all time. Every year I like to rewatch them, and everytime I pick up on new things. Some things I noted from rewatching recently, (although I’m sure these have been mentioned:) 1) Calcifer let Sophie come into Howl’s castle in the beginning because of her intervention in the past, when she says “Howl, Calcifer, find me in the future!” Otherwise anyone could come into the castle. Calcifer purposely let Sophie come in. Howl knew Sophie would turn up because of the past. Notice when he asks her “who hired you?” And Sophie answers Howl nor Calcifer say anything just “oh?” Also Howl’s ring was shining in the beginning when he met Sophie. He was looking for her since he was a kid because of the past. Now whether he had already found her I don’t know and maybe he just watched over her until they were older and she turned 18 and could help him? 2) Howl knew all along Sophie was under a spell. Especially since he saw her sleeping and she retained her young appearance. When the scorch marks are on the table and Howl gets rid of them, he says, “but so the spell remains.” 3) The dream where young Sophie finds Howl in his bird-like form and says “I don’t care if you’re a monster, I love you” and he says “you can’t even break your own spell” that might of been real, and Sophie thought it was a dream. But not 100-percent about this. Just something I noted this time watching. 4) I also either believe Sophie never fully broke her curse because she kept her gray hair, or she did break her curse, but since Howl says “your hair looks like starlight” she keeps it that color for Howl. I’m not exactly sure. I’d like to believe she broke her curse because Calcifer said he would break Sophie’s if she helped him break his with Howl, and she did. 5). What is Markl’s background I am still wondering. But I definitely think he’s some kind of wizard-in-training since he helps Howl run those magic shops he has under aliases.

@cecillewolters1995

3 жыл бұрын

A lot of these questions are answered in this comment section and also by people that have read the book. I have not read the book yet, but am a huge fan. I would love to talk about the movie if you'd like :3

Yeah even in the movie she admits it “yes I’m a witch the kind that cleans”

@Sam-qr9ii

4 жыл бұрын

Lmao thought she was being sarcastic

@ileanabriannemari

4 жыл бұрын

@@Sam-qr9ii Technically, it wasn't so fleshed out in the movie.

I never thought of it this way! That's the trouble with having read the book before the move. My mind just glosses over the plot holes and I don't think about the actual plot and reasoning behind the film as a standalone story. Brovo as always!!

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Jordan!

Her powers were her own before the curse. She didn't know it till later. It's a good adaptation but the movie had to leave a lot out because of time, and Miazaki added his own flair to it.

This one and Princess Mononoke have been fighting for my favourite spot for a loooong time.

My theory on why howl just showed up and helped hwr out of no where in the start of the movie was because of the part in the end where she shouts find me in the future at him.

@iateyursandwiches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! That's one part of the film I thought made it suffer because that whole meeting seemed contrived for plot convenience. It makes more sense if that is true. That said, did she only go back in time at that point in the movie or was it before in a dream using her magic? That's pretty deep (and quite the time paradox) if that really the end of the movie is what actually start of of it lol I guess time travel is inherently confusing though. That said, I must say this movie has flaws in that it throws too much at you at once. No one anyone can understand what the hell is going on without more than 1 watch or reading the book.

'"i might be overthinking it, but that's literally my job" is gonna be your channel catchfrase isnt it? XD

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

Heck yes! I've already got it at the end of the next dozen videos, lol. Maybe it will help stop people from commenting "you're way over-thinking this!"

@AdaraFukuchi

6 жыл бұрын

LOLOLOL those people dont understand the concept of being a theoriest then :v

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

oh my gosh, and I love the people that get like "there's no FACTS to support your claims!" Uhhh, no duh there, buddy, I'm trying to fill in plot holes, not write a dissertation!

@AdaraFukuchi

6 жыл бұрын

ignorent bafoons! X3

I think it's because Sophie feels beautiful and confident by the end of the move. When she was cursed it was because she doesn't feel beautiful and works hard working alot of the time making her have 'an old lady-like behaviour'. But I think the fact that Howl encourages her throughout movie, including the 2 times he calls her beautiful, she responds with two different reactions. Notice when she self doubted herself in the field? Howl looked almost disappointed/sad. Perhaps with his knowledge combined with Calcifer's he knew how to break the curse. If he told her to accept herself, she would be forcing herself but by letting her do it on her own she was taking her own journey without knowing it. I think in order to love herself, Sophie also needed to feel confident in something/someone she loved as well, and that was unknowingly, Howl. To properly break the curse she needed someone who could make her feel confident in her courage and beauty. Also notice how her personality shifts from the 'old lady behaviour' to an adventurous girl (after meeting howl in the beginning and at the end) Each time she is with Howl you either her confidence rises or Howl pushing her to be confident in herself. I think this is further proof of Howl knew how to break the curse. By the end of the film Howl calls her beautiful again and Sophie's reply is 'you think so? SO DO I!' I think this is where her curse is truly broke. Accepting herself as who she is or accepting that howl loved her for who she is broke the curse. That's what I always thought. I do agree about this theory however, from when she gives the braid to when she gives Howl his heart back. (and I want to believe she and Howl may have kept some power.) But what I don't know whether to agree with is Howl being a Half human-Half demon because at one point in the movie Howl mentions how he's not the only wizard to transforming during the war and some that transform are unable to revert back into their human form. I see this as being unable to control their powers but since Howl has Calcifer, I should think he has more resistance than most I think I think. This was the first anime I ever watched when I was I think 5 or 6? I fell in love with it but only found it again when I was 13. Funny to think I'm almost 19 now and I'm still so in love with the movie. It's completely right that there's always something new that you didn't spot before. It will always be my favorite. By the way nice Naraku reference from Inuyasha (My favorite Anime series along with Naruto) ;)

"you're only as old as you feel" - I think that Sophie looks as old as she feels and I think the spell that witch put on her is all about that, she just cursed her to look like as she feels inside, that is why sometimes she gets younger as her confidence rises and she starts believing that she is pretty and young and starts to feel alive. This explains why she looks young when "dreaming". At first when realizing her beauty and confidence she gets frightened like usual fear of "good" and success , that leads to getting her look old again, but with love, she gets enough powers to overcome it and stay young forever.

Where did you get that Howl was a mediocre wizard? According to Suliman, he was her best student whom she wanted to succeed her.

@khaireese

Жыл бұрын

My thoughts exactly. I think he gave his heart up because he was trying to be free from suffering (feelings).

Ooh, I love Howl's Moving Castle too...

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

I think that and Spirited Away are my top two favorites - but Howl's doesn't gross me out as much as Spirited Away.

Your commentary is excellent. I would say you’re on the money with your explanation of these characters. I have seen the movie around three times and I agree with sequential viewings the story becomes more defined.

When watching Howl, I also thought that Sophie has some magical connections as well, or developed them over time. I like your theories and have to say that I agree that they could be correct :)

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

Well, thank you for being here Moira!

Trumphead is the prince from the neighbouring country. And I'm the book it's based of Sophie is a witch but does figure it out till half way or at the end of the book (can't remember which). She woke trumphead and uses her voice to do her witchcraft. The more she talks to an object the more alive it becomes

you offered a very clever analysis of one of my favorite movies. Thanks.

I watchied this movie today ... what an excellent piece of art. Thankyou @TheFangirl for this video, I needed some explaining XD Cheers gal

Howl's moving castle is my favourite studio ghibli's film too and, after i watched it for the fourth time, i had so many questions. I'm so happy i have found a video of yours about this film. Love your theories. Thank you so much~

Great video like always! I love you! You are amazing!

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

I love you too!

Hell Yes! How did I miss that bit about her hair! well done

Actualyy shes a witch if u guys read the book ull know

Yes!! I haven't watched the movie in so long, and this makes me want to watch it again in a different perspective!

I forgot that in the book she is. Howl is also much more of a complex person in the book than in the movie. He is actually lovely in the movie while in the book he is a little moren intimidating as i remember. Sophie's family is also more supportive in the book. This is my favourite Ghibli movie and Sophie in the end saves Howl and herself in both. 😊

and omg this explanation makes so much sense thank you

the curse of sophie is broken because when sophie first step to Howl's Moving Castle, Sophie and Calcifer met and had a deal, that if sophie was able to break calcifer's curse then calcifer will break sophie's curse... and we all can see that calcifer was freed by Sophie.

I've been waiting SO long for you to do this. And by the way, Sophie is a witch in the book.

Howls moving castle make me so emotional, just seeing the images in this video made me tear up

Hello, and great vid!

Awesome video^^

Seen it at least 50 times !! LOVE it !

I almost died from that Inuyasha reference pic you inserted, I could weep actual tears for that show right now😭❤

6.19 minutes was worth of it. Thankyou for clearing my doubt

The answer for why Sophie's spell is broken is a bit simpler. Back when Sophie and Calcifer meet, they settle on an agreement: Calcifer will break Sophie's spell when she breaks his. So, when Sophie finally gives Howl's heart back to him and Calcifer is free again, Sophie's spell is broken.

can you do one where you cover a fan theory of the book, since the movie does deviate so much from the book? i mean its discovered sophie has the power to break the curse herself but she actually likes being in disguise as both howl and calcifer have already been trying their darnedest to break it for her with no success.

The curse is to ''look just like you feel''. She feels old inside and not special and she want a calm life. When love and passion comes through her the curse is lifted.

Calcifer never left you see him at the end of the movie

In the book Sophie has a third sister who goes off to train with a witch to learn magic. Magic is probably a mixture of something that can be learned by anyone, but i also think there's magical bloodlines within this world. In the film, even before she offered her hair to Calcifer she had her way with him. No one else could tell calcifer what to do, or use his fire without Howl around, but Sophie could. I think she is a natural born witch who never had her magical awakening. How else do you think she was able to break her curse by herself? Or fly like Howl? You can say that Howl was holding her when they were walking in the air at the beginning of the Movie, but think to the Scene where Sophie, Howl and The Witch of the Waste are all in Sulimans thwarted reality; Howl and Sophie are standing fine, but the Witch of the waste (whose powers have been stripped by this point) is clinging on to Sophie, so she wouldnt fall, because she no longer had magical powers- Sophie and Howl do. Also, sidenote; though Howl met furture sophie when he was a boy the night he made the deal with Calcifer, he didn't remember her or recognise her in any capacity at the start of the movie (it's briefly mentioned in the movie, but is explored in deoth in the book, that Howl is a bit of a ladykiller. Sophie would have been just another "pretty girl" to him in that brief meeting), but i think that a reason why Howl and Calcifer were so fine with sophie staying around, and a reason Howl could see passed the curse, was because a part of them both were drawn to her. I like to think that Howls heart always belonged to Sophie, and that's why she could control calcifer. There's like 2 different points to the same argument here, but I've read the book and watched the film enough times to warrant an in depth analysis like this....

@cecillewolters1995

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe Howl didn't realise it was Sophie from the future, be he did recognise something. And Calcifer has his heart, so Howl could not feel human things such as love I think? But either way, Howl and Calcifer had their reasons to be drawn to Sophie, both without fully understanding why

about time girl XDD

How come this went to my recommendation after watching Howl's in Netflix?

@TheFangirlWatches

4 жыл бұрын

The mighty algorithm knows all!

@colts_peacemaker

4 жыл бұрын

Same here?

@gachanight5345

4 жыл бұрын

I watch it but I wish she can turn back like a young girl

@yuukichu5089

4 жыл бұрын

Just Zubakii omg i just finished watching it on netflix too xD

@sharkgirl1617

4 жыл бұрын

Faith

best theory ive seen for a while 🙂

Wow I just watched this a day ago again. Thx for reading my mind 😂

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

I do so try to read minds! lol. Thanks for being here!

thank u for the explaining i understand better

In the book, it says that Sophie is a witch of a sort. Her "magic" has to do with almost enchanting objects. For example , she enchanted the hats she made by talking to them and telling them their purpose. Also, while she was sewing howls suit, she gives it the ability to make howl look more attractive. THE MORE YA KNOW

another reason Sophie has magic: at the beginning she could walk on air which she can be seen doing many more times later, especially in Suliman's area were the wicked witch cant stand because her magic is striped, she also is said to have magic abilities in the book

Sophie was a natural, yet unaware witch in the book, as well as the movie…she literally prays Howl back to life while returning his heart (making it magically melt into his chest), and ensuring Calcifer will live for “another 1000 years”, which is to say, to be able to survive physically as Fire without the vessel of Howl’s beating heart. Sounds like magic to me.

This made me cry for like 10 times

Howls moving castle is a prequel to Laputa. After the wars using magic continued to grow around the world howl and Sophie’s family embark upon creating a floating island to shelter people from the beasts below. Below the earth was ruined and slowly returned to normal whilst laputa, fuelled from the essence of those arcane beasts and assisting the growth of the plants which in turn purified and settled the spirits, continued to grow

@cecillewolters1995

3 жыл бұрын

It's a theory, but I was actually searching for this! :O

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

If you haven't already, i highly recommend reading the book by Diana Wynne Jones. It's hilarious and wonderfully charming.

I love this movie, thank you for your analysis.

I really like your interpretation, Suliman's comments about how the game was over now always bothered me cause I had no idea what she was talking about.

@AbelMcTalisker

3 жыл бұрын

Its the great game, the game of Realpolitk and diplomacy. Or, to use the title of a totally different work of fiction that has nothing to do with this story the "Game of Thrones".

So yes in the book Sophie is verry diffrent. She is the eldest of 3 and has 2 step sisters who are much prettier than her (suposedly). She considers herself strong willed since she "was the reason her sisters only got their way 1/2 the time instead of all the time". So because of some superstition the eldest of 3 would be doomed to fail of they ever went out to seek their fortune Sophie has decided she is destined for a dull a boring life. Now that her father has passed all 3 sisters had to drop out of school and get aprentaceships. One went to learn magic from a famy friend and another went to sell pastrys (their was a sub plot where they switched places because the "prettiest" wanted a job that used her brain and the "smart" youngest wanted 10 kids but the mom had placed them where the pretty one would get to know guys and the smart one would make a lot of money). Meanwhile Sophie was stuck with the family buissness of making hats. After her sisters left she spent so much time burying herself in work that she had no social life and became afraid of even leaving to see her sister in fear of having to face her sisters sucsess while she had become old before her time. The witch came in and used that fear against her when she cast the curse. Now cursed Sophie runs away from home to Howl's place where she makes a deal with calcifer to break the curse(she cant tell people about it but wizards can see things like curses). However, Sophie finds that she LIKES being old because she feels freed from everyones expectations and more free to express herself. Later she even finds out that magic often runs in families and both herself and her sisster become powerful witches (you find out more about the sisters maried life in the second book). Originaly the Witch of the Waste's curse took 60 years of her life but Howl breaks that part of the curse 1/2 way through the book and Sophie no longer has any aches and heart problems. However now that Sophie has experienced the freedom of being old and pretty much considered herself an old lady anyway her own magic subconciously kept the apperance and was so strong that the combined power of Howl and Calcifer was not able to undo it. Though Sophie was in denial about having magic powers for the majority of the book because "nothing magical was suposed to happen to the eldest of 3" and even when she did acept that she was a witch she still blamed her falures on being the eldest of 3.

Good job

I love your videos! However I'll add some info on the book the movie was based on. Sofia IS a witch, her first few spells were cast unwittingly by on some hats in like chapter one. She would talk to the hats telling them how they will make their owner more pretty or whatever. Well later we learn, via howls old tutor, that she can "talk life into things" basically she gives items a magical purpose. This is why calcifer chose her, she can give (and in theory take) lives. I like that half demon thing on howl. That is pretty on the nose. Interestingly the book hints that when howl began to fall for Sophie that he did not actually feel it but that Cal did, as he had his heart so that is correct. Next, and this is the messy part. Madame Suliman is a combo of two people, howls tutor and the chief magician in the kingdom suliman. Suliman and the prince were best friends. The wizard Suliman wanted to rid the kingdom of the witch and the witch caught him. Later the prince went on search of his friend was caught as well. The witch, ever the perverted old woman decided to use the bodies of these two men to make a perfect man. She also wanted howls head. Well Sophie had two sisters. One went to bakery and one went to become a witch. Lettie the witch sister met the prince when he was searching for his friend and fell in love with her. When he and Suliman became one "perfect man" they both got memories of Lettie. Well turnip was the rejected bits of The two men. And a dog that followed sofie home was the "good parts". The war was brewing anyway and in the sequel we hear it started. This impending war was actually the reason everyone wanted howl. He was KNOWN to be powerful and creative and actually sane. Hern an turnip go to sofie mostly because she looks like her sister. Now the movie changes some things but I think the witch still cursed turnip.

@m.ivyluna4632

6 жыл бұрын

Oh yes! Sofie's curse is well explained in the book. Howl AND his tutor tried to remove the curse but sofie's own magic was a little stringer. She was keeping the magic going with her own life magic. The witch is not as powerful as she once was and the curse was not that strong. However when call tells her it's strong she believes him And curses herself every time she calls herself old. When she gets over it she forgets that she is old then she changes back. Howl at one point actually tells her she is cursing herself

@cecillewolters1995

3 жыл бұрын

This answers so many questions, but it also gives more! XD I really want to read the book now, never found a copy tho

Calcifer is probably one of my favorites :0

@TheFangirlWatches

6 жыл бұрын

He was really a neat character! I thought Billy Crystal did a good job with him on the English translation.

@strawberrybunny.2983

6 жыл бұрын

The Fangirl I actually saw the original with my mother languangue's sub, but I got to check out the English dub tho, I love the witch of the waist's voice

Where can you watch this without paying? Like I saw the full movie on KZread a long time ago for free but now it's not there

Makes sense! Howl gave up his heart. Sophie gave up her hair, but not her heart as it belonged to someone else.

I remember witching this when i was like 3,5 or 4 and this animé was made one wear before i was born i watch it again today it's such a great movie

This is also my favourite studio ghibli movie!

Thing is, Sophie`s bond with Calcifer is still in effect at the end of the film so she is now potentially a powerful sorceress as a result, which is probably the real reason he comes back. Worth noting that the film also points out that both "The Witch of the Waste" and Madam Suliman also have demons though we don`t meet the witches directly as Madam Suliman broke her bond. Could the reason Madam Suliman is in a wheelchair be due to her giving up her ability to walk to bond with Heen? I suspect that with Sophie going forward her hair will remain silver in colour and won`t grow as she is marked by her link to Calcifer.

They always tell Sophie in the movie ,"Are you sure you're not a witch?" Maybe she always had a secret sleeping power to be a witch, but she never knew

One of my favorite movies. As stated several times, the book varies in many ways but is a good read. I personally, enjoy some of the changes made. Also, there are two follow-up books. The second book is called "Castle in the Air" and the third is "House of Many Ways" for those who wish to check them out. It is interesting to see how they end up; for instance (spoiler), Howl and Sophie have a son, Morgan.

I've been told that in the books, sophie is already a sorceress. And that her getting younger and older is her magic fighting with her curse.

It’s also my favourite! Btw it’s based on a book.

I'm your 46, 305th subscriber 😂 GREAT CORALINE VIDEOS

My childhood crumbles away

Just read the book! It´s amazing!

Awesome..u totally solved my problem of the movie..i kinda confuse with sophie changing from old lady into a granny ..

I know you are only looking at the film version here but if you haven't read the original book it is well worth it (there's also a sequel book too) but having read the book and seen the film (and love both by the way) I think that even though quite a few things change between the two, the elements you've covered from the film do make more sense.

@poppymoondust

5 жыл бұрын

there is also a 3rd book. "the house of many ways"

Could you please write the term you use to describe Howl's half demon half-human form? I'm struggling with finding it online :)

@TheFangirlWatches

4 жыл бұрын

I believe it's spelled hanyo or hanyou depending on the translator

Actually as far as I am concerned in the very beginnig, when Sophie enters the castle for the first time she has a nice little chat with Calcifer and he promises to lift the curse, if she were to set him free (or as he said it lift the curse on Howl and Calcifer). So in the end when she sets him free she does exactly that and even though it isnt mentioned I always assumed her curse was broken automatically or after Calcifer returns to them and she gives him a kiss... However I have only ever seen the german version of this movie (and only a few clips of it in english) and in a few places the translation is REALLY different, not in its direct meaning, but in what it implies by using certain words and ways of putting things... So I am not sure if it becomes clear she made a deal with Calcifer in the english version, because even in german it is only indirectly stated by her mumbling "a deal" rigth before she falls asleep. I hope that might clear up some confusion :)

all of these questions are answered in the howl’s moving castle book by diana wynne jones, which the movie is (fairly loosely) based on the story and main characters of. a lot of the things in the book were changed heavily or completely cut for film adaptation and world-building, which gives the movie and book completely different themes. both are completely amazing in their own right and i recommend reading the book if youve seen the movie!!

@TheFangirlWatches

4 жыл бұрын

That’s a primary reason why I don’t consult the books when analyzing movies. Once the creative team changes one thing from the book, they’re alternative universes. But I did read that Diana Wynn Jones was very surprised with the movie and how much emphasis they put on the war. If I recall right, she said her book only has a war looming in the background, they never get to the fighting stage. So, overall, they end up being very different stories from each other, which, in a way makes it nice so that you can appreciate two different stories with the same characters.

Turnip head is the Prince of a different nation, the one Howl's country was in war with. You hear pedestrians in Sophie's town talking about the disappearance of Prince of a neighbouring country.

Omg I love Howl's Moving Castle it is my favorite movie of all time I would always say that she was a witch I love this movie

there were many instance in the movie that mentions how Sophie is special which is sometimes overlooked. Like Howl mentions how she was a natural while they glide through the air. How she somewhat knew Howl's disguise on her way to see the king/royal witch, and how she had a lot of strength for her age.

@lephuongtram249

3 жыл бұрын

no, she mistook Sullivan's errand dog for Howl

About Sophie changing in age is related to Hayao Miyazaki and his crue. One of the members said that it would be more interesting if Sophie would change from time to time and that would make her character more interesting. And it did!

Literally this movie makes me cry and idk why🙃

Another thing to add on Sophie being a witch Witches contain power in their hair so that’s further evidence

While this is a good movie, it received the ninth spot out of ten on my lists of ghibli films. Why? Because it's all over the place. The thing that makes it interesting is also the thing that makes it so complex that I find myself not being able to like it as a whole but rather liking the details. The house aspects is AMAZING. The curse is AMAZING. Calcifer's character is AMAZING. but the story, I must say, doesn't emotionally affect me like the more cohesive stories of Kiki and Princess mononoke. Do you disagree and how?

@fionau2583

4 жыл бұрын

purplemind93 I feel the same way!! Throughout the movie, so many questions have occured to me tho and ending still left me somehow unsatisfied.. The movie is lovable, but imo not as much as the older films.

Prince Justin looking like a Whole Stick of Butter