I’m using this blog post as an excuse to talk about my absolute favorite movie that I could talk about for hours and hours. That movie is Howls Moving Castle. I’m a firm believer that everyone needs to watch this movie at least once in their life, if only just purely for the experience.

First of all, this film is simply visually stunning. I’m not being dramatic when I tell you that this may be the prettiest movie I’ve ever watched. One scene in particular where Howl takes Sophie to his field of flowers that he’s been using magic to protect from the war leaves me speechless every time I see it. The colors are amazing and the animation of the wind blowing and rustling the field is incredible. Don’t even get me started on the soundtrack for this movie. The main theme, “Merry Go Round Of Life” is consistently in my Spotify wrapped and I’m not mad about it because it is one of the most beautiful and comforting songs I’ve ever heard. Sad? Listen to Merry Go Round of Life. Happy? Listen to Merry Go Round of Life. Need some background noise? Oh boy you know what time it is. It works in every situation.

To go on to why I really love this film so much, aside from the music and pretty visuals, I love this movie because the theme hits close to home. Howls Moving Castle is about self worth and love. The main character, Sophie, see’s herself as plain, ordinary and nothing worth looking at. It’s not until she is forced by a curse to live as an old lady that she learns how beautiful she really is. Sophie learns that beauty is not defined by outward appearance, but rather by who you are inside. It’s stored in how you carry yourself and how you treat others. I love this lesson, and what I love even more is that when Sophie breaks the curse, she isn’t transformed into some stunning, glowing and made up version of herself that looks nothing like how she did in the beginning of the movie. Instead, she looks the exact same, sending the message that Sophie was always beautiful, she just needed to realize it. Another thing I love about this movie is that Howl, our other main character, loved Sophie from the beginning, even when she thought she was plain. His love for her never changed, he just helped her grow in her confidence and I think that’s really sweet.

I adore this movie, and now I kinda want to rewatch it but that’s besides the point. I love Howl and Sophie I can’t recommend this movie enough.

All my love,

-Lexi