Howl's Moving Castle

NZ release: 20 November 2004

Some scenes may scare very young children Rated on: 20 November 2004

Howls Moving Castle

What’s it about?

Sophie's simple life is turned upside-down when she is turned into a 90-year-old woman by the spiteful Witch of the Waste. She leaves her old life behind and ventures into the waste to search for a way to break her curse. With the help of some unlikely friends, she meets along the way, Sophie faces an even bigger threat – war.

The facts

  • Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro)
  • Japanese language or English dub
  • Runtime: 119 minutes
  • Based on 1986 novel Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
  • Animated film by Studio Ghibli (Ponyo, Princess Mononoke)
  • Starring voice acting by Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer and Billy Crystal

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence and horror

War scenes includes bombs dropping and explosions. In an early scene two soldiers intimidate a female character. Blob-like figures chase after characters. A character turns into winged monsters and others are referred to as “demons”. While the film is animated some imagery may be scary for younger viewers.

Further information

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