Howl's Moving Castle (Special Edition)

Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro) is a 2004 Japanese animated family fantasy film scripted and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli.

Sophie, an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. After this chance meeting she is turned into a 90-year old woman by the vain and conniving Witch of the Waste. Embarking on an incredible adventure to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl's magical moving castle where she becomes acquainted with Markl, Howl's apprentice, and a hot-headed fire demon named Calcifer.

As the true power of Howl’s wizardry is revealed, and his relationship with Sophie deepens, our young grey heroine finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world.

From the Studio Ghibli Collection.

Special Features:

• Alternative angle storyboards
• HD to PAL native transfer
• Interview with author, Diana Wynne Jones
• Interview with Pixar's Peter Doctor (MONSTERS INC.)
• Hello Lasseter (Pixar) featurette
• Explanation of CG featurette
• Japanese trailers and TV spots
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Awards:

• Won Mainichi Film Concours Readers' Choice Award for Best Film (2006)
• Won Tokyo Anime Awards for: Animation of the Year, Best Director (2005)
• Nominated for Oscar, Best Animated Feature Film of the Year (2006)
• Nominated for Annie Awards for Best Animated Feature, Best Directing, Best Writing (2006)
• Nominated Hong Kong Film Award, Best Film (2006)

Critic Reviews:

• " Howl's Moving Castle has the logic of a dream: behind every door lie multiple realities, one more astonishing than the next. " – David Ansen

• " A floatingly delightful fairytale with its heart set on repealing the law of gravity. " – Peter Bradshaw

• " One of Hayao Miyazaki's stren­gths is the sense of wonderment and magic that he's able to bring to his films. " – Austin Trunick