Howl's Moving CastleHowl's Moving Castle is a Japanese animated fantasy film both written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was first released in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2004. I was able to indentify the main stages of "Monomyth," the hero's journey (departure, initiation, and return) in this film.
Departure: This stage is where the hero from the ordinary world receives a call to go to the mysterious world with given tasks and special powers. In Howl's Moving Castle, Sophie, an eighteen years old girl works in her father's hat shop. One day, she meets a mysterious young wizard named Howl by chance and begins to like him. Knowing that Sophie is attracted to Howl, the witch of the waste who also loves Howl turns Sophie into a crone. Because of this curse, Sophie decides to run away from her home and starts a journey to find Howl in order to resolve her curse. On the way she rescues a scarecrow from a danger and he helps Sophie to find Howl as appreciation. So they become good friends and finally find the Howl’s moving Castle.
Initiation: In this stage, the hero experiences the new world, and undergoes different trials and tasks. According to the film, Sophie meets Howl and tells him that she is a new cleaning lady in his castle. While she is staying in Howl’s castle, she discovers the door which magically leads to several places. Meanwhile, the war started by the disappearance of Crown Prince Justin from another country and Howl’s is asked to fight in the war by the king of his nation. However, Howl sends Sophie as his mother to refuse the king’s request. At the palace, Sophie meets Madame Suliman, and is told that if Howl does not fight in the war, he would be in a danger. Then, Howl comes to rescue Sophie from Suliman and gives her a magical ring that would guide her to Calcifer. Calcifer is a fire which has a heart of Howl. Sophie undergoes Suliman’s threats and Howl’s death. Eventually, she tries her best to get Howl’s heart and saves him.
Return: The final stage is where the hero returns to the ordinary life but as a different person from the beginning. Now the hero becomes a master of the two worlds and gain true freedom of life. Continuing with the movie, Sophie finally turns back to youthful life except for her gray hair. Howl and Sophie find true love in each other and get on a new, moving castle.
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