This is my favorite Studio Ghibli film. But you know what's funny? I don't think I could tell you what it's about. I mean, I can tell you the plot, but unlike most Miyazaki films, I can't articulate the overarching themes. But I don't need to.
I think what appeals to me is how relatable I find Sophie. I always longed for an adventurous life but couldn't quite bring myself to achieve it, or even pursue it. It always seemed to happen just next to me. I never felt beautiful and never believed anyone who said otherwise (but I always long to hear it). Being a hardworking wallflower never worked out in my favor but I always assumed it had to someday. Still waiting. (I've had to learn faking sorcerous charisma like Howl when I'm working because, frankly, Sophie would never own her own shop by sitting quietly in the back room.)
Heen. Heen is Miyazaki-san's perfect lil guy. Of all the lil Miyazaki guys, he's my favorite. A fluffy, dusty looking ottoman with off-putting little feet and a lot of attitude. That wheeze? Get out of here. You pick that dog(?) up and bring him on an adventure right this minute.
The older I get, the more fondness I have for Markl. What is his story!? Weird little kid apprentices under a crazy, egomaniacal wizard, masquerades as an old man. I think my favorite part of Markl's disguise is that he can magically produce a giant fluffy beard out of nowhere, but he still needs to do a little-kid-doing-a-grown-up-voice voice. He's so eager to be loved and looked after by Sophie and why not? Look at the state of that moving castle! When was the last time Howl made Markl bacon?
I'd be hard pressed to come up with a pop cultural mood that I reference more than Howl's post-hair-trauma meltdown. I don't know how to describe it but it's a mood I experience every couple of months. It's part languish, part petulance, part despair and it's really difficult to take myself seriously when I'm feeling all gooped up and somber like Howl but boy do I ever feel that way. If I could sulk my way into Ben dumping me into the tub when I'm feeling like that, I'd do it.
A student I was deeply fond of once told me breathlessly about an essay that they wanted to write about Calcifer being "Just a Lil Guy." That was the thesis. Calcifer? Just a lil guy. Who's just a lil guy? Definitely Calcifer. The MOST lil guy of all lil guys. I've always loved Calcifer but thinking of that charming confrontation with youthful joy and earnest silliness makes me love him more.
Multimedia. (Basket box, paint, thread, beading elastic, rhinestones, paper, color pencils, glue.)
Takeaways:
-Gosh this one took on a lot of iterations in my brain before I finally eked it out. I knew it was going to be Sophie (and HEEN!) looking out at Star Lake while Howl meets Calcifer, and I wanted it to have depth. I toyed with a layered resin piece like Batman but honestly I didn't want to deal with resin. I thought about doing an acrylic painting riffing on Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog but it didn't feel magical enough. Then I was doomscrolling and one of my favorite kind of time killing reels came up (What's new in the Target dollar spot!) with this basket box and I thought THERE IT IS! Why? Who knows. I thought about doing more embroidery/cross stitch with the basket weave but the scale of the weave didn't work for it. I got to work and this is what came out!
-The inside Calcifer isn't quite right but I loved the process he was born of. I was trying to do a straight cartoon style with some of my paint markers but it wasn't coming out strong enough. In frustration, I pressed too hard, releasing a ton of paint, and flicked it, creating a neat little mark. So I kept doing it. Then I added different colors. Then I swirled around the paint a little so it marbled. I really really liked the results and what's more? I liked that I created with that much freedom/devil may care approach. That's hard for me to come by and I cherish those moments when they come. ESPECIALLY when I like the results.
-In my blind, art attack frenzy, I started doodling the little star guys on the outside and they reminded me of a zoetrope. It ...kind of works that way. I wasn't deliberate enough in their movement but I like it all the same.
-Weaving the metallic elastic in to be their little starlight crowns was a shockingly annoying pain. Naturally it was the last thing I had to do and so it felt interminable.
Okay! Still moving slowly but I'm moving and I'm making art and that feels terrific. Let's keep going.
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