So there is a Ghibli movie fest near me and they were playing Howl's Moving Castle this week. I didn't watch any ghibli movies prior to this and always heard great things about Ghibli. So this was an opportunity to experience ghibli on the large screen and didn't even watch any movies at home.

I previously watched Ponyo in the theaters, and now I watch Howl's Moving Castle. The movie is still fresh in my mind as I'm writing this.

Honestly speaking, I'm not into the romance genre, but I had to give this a try, and it was such a subtle and interesting use of the genre.

Animation:
Each and every frame was like a piece of art. Every scene is so detailed, from the beautiful landscapes to the quirky design of the moving castle. Every frame, every shot, was very beautifully designed. It's perfect to every small detail. I guess this is what people mean by Ghibli movies and I finally get it. It was a visual treat through and through.

Plot: It was such a simple plot yet very intriguing. It's a very unique and cute twist on the fairy tale troupe. Simple plot of a witch cursing the main character and the hero and heroine trying to break the curse. But the movie doesnt follow any usual stereotypes at all when it comes to the fairytale storytelling.

The hero is a coward and runs away from his responsibilities in contrast to being a brave knight in shining armor. The heroine instead of finding a way to break the curse just rolling with it and trying to come to terms with it. The witch instead of being a big bad character, just a sweet old lady(which was the biggest shocker).

Sophie’s presence in Howl’s life begins to change both of them. She discovers that her curse is tied to her self-esteem and emotions, causing her to revert to her younger self in moments of confidence and love. Meanwhile, Howl, who has been hiding from his own inner demons and a curse that’s slowly turning him into a monster, finds himself drawn to Sophie’s kindness and resilience.

In the end Sophie breaks both howl's and her own curse.

Conclusion:
In the end, "Howl’s Moving Castle" is one of those films that you can watch over and over again and still find something new to love. It’s a reminder that even when things are uncertain, there’s always a little bit of magic to be found, and it’s okay to be imperfect. It’s a film that makes me feel happy, hopeful, and ready to take on whatever comes next. All in all I think this might become one of those movies which i will rewatch often from now on.