Howl's Moving Castle (2005)

Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film scripted and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film is based on the novel of the same name by English writer Diana Wynne Jones. The film was produced by Toshio Suzuki, animated by Studio Ghibli and distributed by Toho. Mamoru Hosoda, director of one episode and two movies from the Digimon series, was originally selected to direct but abruptly left the project, leaving the then-retired Miyazaki to take up the director's role.

The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2004, and was released in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2004. It went on to gross $190 million in Japan and $235 million worldwide, making it one of the most financially successful Japanese films in history. The film was later dubbed into English by Pixar's Peter Docter and distributed in North America by Walt Disney Pictures. It received a limited release in the United States and Canada beginning June 10, 2005 and was released nationwide in Australia on September 22 and in the United Kingdom the following September. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 78th Academy Awards in 2006.

Voice Cast

 * Grandma Sophie - Jean Simmons
 * Howl - Christian Bale
 * Witch of the Waste - Lauren Bacall
 * Madame Suliman - Blythe Danner
 * Young Sophie - Emily Mortimer
 * Markl - Josh Hutcherson
 * And Billy Crystal as Calcifer

Additional Voices

 * Lettie - Jena Malone
 * Heen - Daijiro Harada
 * Turnip - Crispin Freeman
 * King - Mark Silverman
 * Honey - Mari Devon
 * Madge, Young Girl - Liliana Mumy


 * Carlos Alazraqui
 * Newell Alexander
 * Rosemary Alexander
 * Julia Barnett
 * Susanne Blakeslee
 * Leslie Carrara
 * Mitch Carter
 * David Cowgill
 * Holly Dorff
 * Moosie Drier
 * Iake Eissinmann
 * Will Friedle
 * Bridget Hoffman
 * Richard Horvitz
 * Sherry Hursey
 * Hope Levy
 * Christina MacGregor
 * Joel McCrary
 * Edie Mirman
 * Peter Renaday
 * Kristen Rutherford
 * Warren Sroka