Sophie was a diligent teenage girl working in her family's hat shop, but her life was thrown into turmoil when she was literally swept off her feet by the handsome-but-mysterious wizard named Howl. This innocent encounter enraged the vain and conniving Witch of the Waste, who transformed Sophie into a 90-year-old woman. Sophie's efforts to break the curse bring her to Howl's magical moving castle where she befriends Michael (known as Markl in the Disney translation), Howl's apprentice, and the hot-headed fire demon Calcifer. Her love and support for this strange new family have a major impact on Howl, who can be maddeningly self-indulgent and singularly noble. He defies royal orders to participate in a meaningless war and risks his life to bring peace to the kingdom, but themore he uses his power the more he transforms into a monster. With Howl & Sophie each looking for their own true identity and a secret contract between the wizard & his fire demon, they're drawn together despite the raging war around them.

Written by melissa-clyne.

The movie is put together really well. The scenes flow nicely from one another, backed by beautiful scenery and fitting music. Although the genre is Fantasy and Romance, there are plenty of other emotions for you to enjoy, especially in the interaction between Sophie and Calcifer, and Sophie and Howl. The characters Calcifer and Howl are what makes this movie stand out from the other Miyazaki movies, and it contributes to the reason that Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favourites so far.