The film is set in a fictional kingdom where both magic and early twentieth-century technology are prevalent, against the backdrop of a war with another kingdom.
It tells the story of Sophie, a young milliner who is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.
Influenced by Miyazaki's opposition to the United States' invasion of Iraq in , the film contains strong anti-war themes. Miyazaki stated that he "had a great deal of rage" about the Iraq war, [ 1 ] which led him to make a film that he felt would be poorly received in the United States.
It also explores the theme of old age , depicting age positively as something that grants the protagonist freedom. The film contains feminist elements as well and carries messages about the value of compassion. The film is significantly thematically different from the novel; while the novel focuses on challenging class and gender norms, the film focuses on love, personal loyalty, and the destructive effects of war. The film received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its visuals and Miyazaki's presentation of the themes.
Sophie, a young milliner and eldest of three sisters, encounters a wizard named Howl on her way to visit her sister Lettie. Upon returning home, she meets the Witch of the Waste, who transforms her into a year-old woman. Seeking to break the curse, Sophie leaves home and sets off through the countryside. She meets a living scarecrow , whom she calls "Turnip Head". He leads her to Howl's moving castle, which she enters without invitation. She subsequently meets Howl's young apprentice Markl and a fire demon named Calcifer, the source of the castle's magic and movement.
