Howl’s Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli Official Website) is an animated feature directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released in 2004.
Here, I’ll look back at the characters of Howl’s Moving Castle and their English voices, and consider their appeal and their stories. What sort of people are they?
Please be aware that the following character guide contains spoilers.
*This is a translated version. The original (Japanese) is available here.
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Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) Main Characters & Voice Actors List
| Name | Age | Voice Actor (English Dub) |
|---|---|---|
 Howl | 27 | Christian Bale |
 Sophie | 18 (90) | Emily Mortimer (young) Jean Simmons (old) |
 Witch of the Waste | Unknown | Lauren Bacall |
Calcifer | Unknown | Billy Crystal |
 Markl | Unknown[1] | Josh Hutcherson |
 Turnip Head | Unknown | Crispin Freeman |
 Madame Suliman | Unknown | Blythe Danner |
 Heen | Unknown | Dee Bradley Baker |
- [1]
- In Diana Wynne Jones’ original novel, Markl (Michael) is 15 years old. In Miyazaki’s film, he is depicted much younger, likely around 8 to 10 years old.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) Character Map
A chance encounter with Howl leads the Witch of the Waste, who is obsessed with him, to turn Sophie into an old woman. Sophie leaves home to look for a way to break the curse, then moves into Howl’s castle almost like a wife who has invited herself in.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004): Character Profiles and Interpretation
Howl | Voice Actor: Christian Bale
Howl’s Basic Information
One of the story’s protagonists, Howl is a gifted wizard with strikingly good looks.
He lives in the moving castle with Calcifer and Markl. Yet its appearance, like a heap of junk, could hardly be further from his own beauty.
I read that contrast as significant: the castle’s jumble of junk is a reflection of Howl’s inner self.
He does not seem to live by any particular conviction. Like his swollen castle, he surrounds himself with showy ornament and tries to evade responsibility.
That irresponsibility—or simply carelessness—has left him pursued by the Witch of the Waste. He could not flirt with her out of curiosity and then expect that to be the end of it. I feel a little sorry for him, but he brought it on himself.
For Howl, Sophie’s arrival must have been a blessing. Perhaps he finally gains a purpose and a reason to live.
Howl’s transformation is also visible in his dialogue, especially in the way he talks about beauty, running away, and finally protecting Sophie. I examine these lines in more detail in my collection of Howl’s Moving Castle quotes in Japanese and English.
At the end, the castle still looks a little ugly, but much of the needless ornament is gone and it has become practical. That suggests something fundamental has changed. Calcifer can no longer be treated as a slave; perhaps Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer now combine their efforts to keep it moving. In any case, its tidiness seems to reflect Sophie’s wishes.
One way to sum up Howl’s Moving Castle is “a handsome charmer gets caught by an unassuming girl.” But Howl is not the only one Sophie captures. A frightening woman, really. I explore that idea in the article below:
Read the full discussion: Sophie’s Determination to Capture Everyone
Sophie | Voice Actors: Emily Mortimer & Jean Simmons
Sophie’s Basic Information
The other protagonist—or, really, the protagonist—is Sophie. She runs the hat shop inherited from her father, though her stepmother is its nominal owner.
She does not seem to have a particular complaint, yet she lives with a sense of being unfulfilled.
Meeting Howl brings the Witch’s resentment—or jealousy—down on Sophie, and she is turned into an old woman. It is all Howl’s fault.
After a moment of shock, she accepts the situation with astonishing speed and decides to go to him.
As the story of Howl’s Moving Castle progresses, Sophie repeatedly becomes young again. It is interesting to watch while asking why it happens, and when. I discuss my own reading, including the parallel with Porco Rosso, below.
Read the full discussion: Why Did Sophie Become an Old Woman? The Connection to Porco Rosso
Witch of the Waste | Voice Actor: Lauren Bacall
Witch of the Waste’s Basic Information
A witch who persistently pursues Howl after he once showed an interest in her.
What sort of interest? Producer Toshio Suzuki is said to have described her as Howl’s first sexual partner.
A young man being unable to forget his first partner might be a familiar story. Here, it is the Witch who cannot forget him. He must have been quite a beautiful young man even then.
More importantly, there must have been a time when Howl wanted to flirt with her. Right, Howl? I’m trusting you on this one.
Calcifer | Voice Actor: Billy Crystal
Calcifer’s Basic Information
A fire spirit whose contract with Howl has made him the moving castle’s source of power.
He seems unhappy about being worked so hard—naturally—and tries to enlist Sophie so that he can escape.
Near the end, the terms of the contract become clear: Howl has given Calcifer his heart.
I take the visit to the past to suggest that Sophie is also the one who gives Calcifer his name.
Earlier, Howl remarks on how well Calcifer has listened to her. In this reading, their earlier meeting provides the explanation. The film has that sort of time-travel element.
Markl | Voice Actor: Josh Hutcherson
Markl’s Basic Information
Howl’s young apprentice lives in the castle. The film does not explain how he came to be there. Could he be a war orphan?
He seems to know some magic, and we see him transform into an old man near the beginning.
Turnip Head | Voice Actor: Crispin Freeman
Turnip Head’s Basic Information
A mysterious scarecrow who appears near the start of Sophie’s journey.
He seems fond of her from the beginning, but only at the very end do we learn that he is a prince from the neighboring country.
I suspect Suliman turned him into a scarecrow and was holding the neighboring prince hostage. But then why was he in such an odd place? Perhaps, to Suliman, anywhere in the country was as good as anywhere else. I still find that puzzling.
Madame Suliman | Voice Actor: Blythe Danner
Madame Suliman’s Basic Information
Howl’s former teacher and the head of the magic school, Suliman is a highly capable wizard who also serves the royal court.
Her expression scarcely changes throughout the film. It is hard to tell what lies behind that poker face.
Like the Witch of the Waste, she wants Howl—though in her case, she wants him to work as her right hand. He must be a very good wizard.
Heen | Voice Actor: Dee Bradley Baker
Heen’s Basic Information
A dog who starts following Sophie when she visits Suliman in Howl’s place.
He turns out to be Suliman’s spy. In the end, though, Sophie captures him too, and he becomes part of the castle’s household.
The Page Boys
The Page Boys’ Basic Information
Suliman’s page boys, who are probably wizards themselves.
For some reason they all have the same face. I mischievously suspect that it may be the face of Howl as a boy, though the hair color would be different.
Perhaps Suliman, like the Witch, cannot forget Howl as a man.
King of Ingary | Voice Actor: Mark Silverman
King of Ingary’s Basic Information
From the moment he appears, the king makes me think, “So you’re the one behind all this.”
He seems remarkably innocent. If his character had been even slightly different, surely the war would have taken a different course.
Lettie | Voice Actor: Jena Malone
Lettie’s Basic Information
Sophie’s younger sister works at a café in town and is its popular public face.
She looks flashy, quite the opposite of Sophie. But that does not necessarily mean it is the life she wants.
I see a contrast between a younger sister who can play the role of the café’s star and an older sister who cannot bend herself that way. What is the truth behind their appearances?
Honey | Voice Actor: Mari Devon
Honey’s Basic Information
Sophie’s stepmother resembles Lettie, though they are not related by blood. She is the hat shop’s nominal owner.
She seems to leave the shop entirely to Sophie while going out and enjoying herself. But I think people can end up behaving that way because something in their lives leaves them unfulfilled.
Consider her position. Marrying a hatmaker does not mean she knows anything about hats or running a shop. While her husband was alive, perhaps there was something she could do. After his death, she may have felt there was nothing left for her to contribute. It would be understandable to leave things to the eldest daughter, who knew the business.
In a sense, Honey and Sophie may be two sides of the same coin. Their dissatisfaction and their ways of escaping simply look different on the surface.
People have all sorts of things going on in their lives.
The images used in this article are from the Studio Ghibli Works Still Images collection.
Can you name the movie before the scene comes into focus?
Put your visual memory to the test with a blurred Studio Ghibli scene.
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