Me and my friends were watching this anime in the theater, and somehow the feeling is still linger and I can't get the movie out of my head. I'm an avid otaku, and I love anime since I was a little girl. Although the story is not an anime original and based from a book, I can safely say that this anime defines a great storytelling. Based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones, which now it becomes my priority to hunt down this book, buy it and read it. The animation is breathtaking. I'd tell you, I have to buy the DVD if it comes out. Howl is such a hottie, he becomes one of my favorite anime guy. Just a side note, the anime I watched is a dubbed one and not the original Japanese and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Sophie Hatter (Emily Mortimer) is cursed by the Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall), and turns into an old woman (Jean Simmons). Ashamed of how she looks, she flees into the hills where a moving castle roams the hills. It belongs to the young and handsome wizard Howl (Christian Bale). Within the castle, Sophie befriends the fire demon Calcifer (Billy Crystal), who promises to help her become young again. Howl can see that Sophie is under a spell and he falls in love with her for who she is and not for what she looks like. Sophie manages to bring life to the moving castle, befriends with many characters like Markl (Josh Hutcherson), a scarecrow and even the Witch of the Waste and she helps Howl to face his former tutor, Madam Suliman (Blythe Danner).

During the movie, I was struck how the movie has so many similarities with Wizard of Oz, with all the magic ensues and the characters like witches, wizards, a small dog, a scarecrow and an innocent girl. I felt that I was in a different world and wished that I could be a part of this world. Not to mention that Howl is drawn very handsomely, first time he appeared, me and my friend couldn't help giggling because he's so handsome. And Christian Bale's voice is so dreamy and charming, I thought I was melting. So what if the character of Howl is a bit conceit and narcissist? Bad boy always intriguing. But I did feel Sophie's pain, with her gesture and her sarcasm in every dialogue. She and Howl are lonely people, and they met in a circumstance of extraordinary. This movie is great with the lovable characters, although I almost fell off the chair with the ending revelation of the scarecrow called Turnip Head who is actually a prince and being cursed until Sophie broke the spell. It was unnecessary, and unfortunately the movie won't get a perfect score for it...

Disney should take some notes that there are certain animation that can really evoke your interest and emotion, some things that Disney has decline in its quality for a while. A bit of irony that Disney backed up this Japanese anime movie and rides on its tail coat. Shame. Shame. I also notice that the style of drawing is the same with the Cowboy Bebop series animation style, so I understand the details and all. Hayao Miyazaki is a genius, and he's very brave to get out from the box and use whatever means to tell his vision. This movie is breaking all the norm and the medium. It isn't shy at all showing a war background and its juxtapose with the bright composition of magical world and I noted; a terrific different idea of steampunk. To those who doesn't understand the term of steampunk; it means a story based on ancient times but with modern setting. I'd say, this movie is brilliant. If I have some times, I might watch it again...or just buy the book and the DVD. Man, that Howl is dreamy.

Ratings: 9.5/10