Studio Ghibli: 7 Unforgettable Moments That Defined Their Films

5. Meeting Howl's Moving Castle

Film: Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Howl's Moving Castle is a bit of a tough film to unravel. Based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, it's that particular literary grounding that makes it such a unique addition to the Studio Ghibli canon. There's a lot to wrap your head around here, from the castle's fire demon Calcifer to lofty political intrigue to overarching ideas about youth, vanity, and the preservation of beauty. But one thing that earmarks this as a Studio Ghibli film is the consistently sublime direction. This entry could easily have been devoted to all manner of scenes, such as the Witch of the Waste's excruciating climb up the palace stairs or the unfurling beauty of Howl's vibrant, dreamlike garden. But there's a serenity to the opening seconds of this film that merits discussion of its own. The scene lingers on its namesake: a massive, ramshackle edifice of metal and wood, clumsily creaking and clanking its way across a hushed landscape. The studio used a combination of traditional methods and CGI to create the castle, and it really is a wondrous thing to behold when treated with Miyazaki's characteristically patient direction. It's a credit to the studio that, rather than feeling tedious or overlong, the scene encourages the viewer to marvel at every piece of shading and detail. Next to the bluster and noise of so many other animated features, it's an example of why Studio Ghibli's style continues to be so mesmerising.