Howl's Moving Castle ( Hauru no ugoku shiro)
(Animation)
Directed Hayao Miyazaki
Japan 2004. Japanese.

A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sofî, cursed by a witch into an old woman's body, and a magician named Hauru. Under the curse, Sofî sets out to seek her fortune, which takes her to Hauru's strange moving castle. In the castle, Sophie meets Hauru's fire demon, named Karishifâ. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie--if she breaks the contract he is under with Hauru, then Karushifâ will lift the curse that Sophie is under, and she will return to her 18-year-old shape.

Hayao Miyazaki – Director
Hayao Miyazaki's lavish animated features Princess Mononoke ( Mononoke-hime , 1997) and Spirited Away ( Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi , 2001) have made him one of Japan's most successful filmmakers. Miyazaki began his animation career in 1963 at Toei Douga studios. He made his way up the studio ranks and worked primarily in television in the late 1970s and early '80s. He directed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds ( Kaze no tani no Naushika , 1984), a film version of his popular manga (comic book) serial, and quickly became one of Japan's top names in animation. A string of critical and box office successes followed, many of which became international hits and award winners ( Spirited Away won an Oscar in 2002 for Best Animated Feature). His features include My Neighbor Totoro ( Tonari no Totoro , 1988), Kiki's Delivery Service ( Majo no Takkyûbin , 1989) and Howl's Moving Castle ( Hauru no ugoku shiro , 2004).

Awards and Festivals
2005 Academy Award - Best Animated Feature Nomination
2005 Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Animated Feature
2005 L.A. Film Critics Association - Winner of Best Score
2005 New York Film Critics Circle - Winner of Best Animated Film
2005 San Diego Critics Association - Winner of Best Animated Film