REVIEW. ANIME. ANIMATED FILM: HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE

Title: Howl's Moving Castle

Type: Anime, Animated Film

Country: Japan

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Romance, War, Historial Suspense, Hero, Heroine, Kingdom, Queen

Airing Date: 2004

Rating: 9.3/10.0

A visual feast, a magical castle, a charismatic wizard, an unlikely heroine; all that and more makes Howl's Moving Castle a top favorite. My favorite and thus, highly bias to claim this timeless tale as Hayao Miyazaki's best piece, the famed Studio Ghibli director who stepped in to direct when the original director left abruptly.

As it turned out, this achingly beautiful fantasy (ハウルの動く城, Hauru no Ugoku Shiro) courted more than US$200 million worldwide in 2004. Described as a Japanese animated steampunk film in Wikipedia, this movie was adapted from Diana Wynne Jones's novel. The English dub was provided by Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer, Billy Crystal, Jean Simmons, Blythe Danner and Lauren Bacall to voice the characters. 

Again, I am bias but I believe Howl's moving castle is a bolder creative venture, a much more refined artwork, albeit a smaller rendition than Laputa: Castle in the Sky. 

Miyazaki's fascination for flying devices was evident in most of his films but Howl's castle is a marvel - a rapture. It floats playfully, bids sorrowfully, glides with rhythm and it is fanatically protective, shielding each and everyone aboard it with its very own life. Howl's Moving Castle is a super notched film at 9.3/10.

BOOK. GAME OF THRONES. CASTLES

Here's a collection of sample layouts depicting castles in the stellar book from George R.R. Martin

The Winterfell is home to the noble house of Starks. Proud and courageous, the Winterfell is the stronghold to the North of Westeros. The famous wolves that form the sigil of the Starks roam the land freely.

The Wall is the dividing conerstone between the "Others", creatures of the cold, dark and unknown realm. Guarded by a group of "brothers", it is indeed a forbiding structure.

BOOK. IN CONQUEST BORN

The author, CS Friedman took 12 years to polish the characters, the universe, and the underlying themes of this novel, which is why it resonated deeper than her other subsequent novels. The Cold War between Braxi and Azea persisted through centuries and in the midst of of this strife, martial quests and traditional differences, two great generals were raised. Whilst the Braxins relied upon ancient and somewhat ruthless customs to create a strong and fearless warriors, the advanced Azean scientists sought to create a perfected physique and psychic dominance. Author: CS Friedman, DAW Books, 1986, Nominated for the John Campbell Award

In Conquest Born' is the monumental science fiction epic that received unprecedented acclaim and launched C.S. Friedman's phenomenal career. A sweeping story of two interstellar civilizations locked in endless war.. Amazon.com Editorial Reviews

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Howl's Moving Castle Handsome wizard, flying castle and a clever damsel. This Oscar nominated blockbuster owes much to the whimsical author, Diana Wynne Jones and visionary direct or, Hayao Miyazaki.

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