Howl's Moving Castle - Blu-ray & DVD

Sophie, a quiet and reserved young hatter, leads an unexceptional life running her late father's hat shop in a European-inspired kingdom. Her world is thrown into turmoil when a chance encounter with Howl, a dashing but notoriously elusive wizard, draws the unwanted attention of the vengeful Witch of the Waste. In a fit of jealousy, the Witch casts a terrible curse on Sophie, instantly transforming her into a 90-year-old woman. Unable to stay home, Sophie ventures into the rugged Wastes, where she finds refuge aboard Howl's magical, walking mechanical castle. Joined by Calcifer, a fiery fire demon bound to the castle, and Markl, Howl's young apprentice, Sophie takes a job as the castle's housekeeper. As a destructive war engulfs the nation, Sophie must navigate Howl's secretive inner turmoil, break her own curse, and protect the man she has come to love from destroying himself.

Based on the beloved 1986 fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones and written and directed by legendary master Hayao Miyazaki, 2004's Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro) is one of Studio Ghibli's most visually stunning and internationally acclaimed masterpieces. Nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, the film blends breathtaking steampunk aesthetics, sweeping anti-war themes, and a deeply touching romance, all underscored by Joe Hisaishi's iconic waltz composition, "Merry-Go-Round of Life." Released on a dual-disc Blu-ray and DVD combo pack by Disney (and GKIDS / Shout! Factory), this set delivers pristine high-definition video and immersive surround sound for a essential addition to any animation collection.

Notable Staff & Voice Talent

Director & Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service)
Original Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Music: Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky)
Cast:

• Chieko Baishō / Emily Mortimer (Young) & Jean Simmons (Old) as Sophie Hatter
• Takuya Kimura / Christian Bale as Howl
• Akihiro Miwa / Lauren Bacall as The Witch of the Waste
• Tatsuya Gashūin / Billy Crystal as Calcifer
• Ryūnosuke Kamiki / Josh Hutcherson as Markl
• Haruyo Morigiwa / Blythe Danner as Madame Suliman

Combo Pack Features

• Feature-Length Picture-in-Picture Storyboards
• Interview with Author Diana Wynne Jones
• Miyazaki's Visit to Pixar (Featurette with John Lasseter)
• Behind the Microphone: Voice Cast Featurette
• Explanation of 3D CGI Animation in Howl's Moving Castle
• Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots

Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, & French Audio, English & French subtitles

Edition Details

Japanese Title: ハウルの動く城 (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro)
Runtime: ~119 Minutes
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Release Year: 2013 (Disney) / 2017 (GKIDS & Shout! Factory)
Original Theatrical Release (Japan): 2004
Publisher: Studio Ghibli / GKIDS / Disney
Rating: PG (Contains Frightening Fantasy Images, Action Violence, & Brief Smoke Images)
Region: Region A (Blu-ray) / Region 1 (DVD)
Genre: Anime, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk, Adventure
Themes: Moving Castle, Magical Curses, Anti-War, Fire Demons, Finding Inner Beauty

Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.