Howl's Moving Castle - Treating the Audience as Intelligent

[@ramonsamudio01]

It should be noted, that from the book, Sophie and her sister are supposed to look almost identical. So Sophie is also very pretty, but she's not interested in that type of thing.

[@geoffcassidy9981]

Interesting! I really need to read the book, but haven't gotten around to it. I'm curious to see all the differences between the two. From what I understand they are quite different.

[@emilyrln]

@@geoffcassidy9981they're very different, particularly in tone. The book is good and extremely funny, highly recommend bumping it up in your reading queue!

[@epicninjabunnies]

Wait, Lettie or Martha?? In the book they always said Lettie was by far the prettier one. I know Martha was just her half-sister but I can’t remember if it said who was prettier

[@emilyrln]

@@epicninjabunnies I re-read it after watching this video, lol! "All three girls grew up very pretty indeed, though Lettie was the one everyone said was the most beautiful." (Page 1 in my edition.) Lettie has dark hair, Martha's is fair (I assume blond like Fanny), and Sophie's is fair and reddish.

[@rowanoraclereadings]

The book obviously goes into the story a lot more but I find it interesting the parts that Studio Ghibli chose to use and which they left out in order to create the film style that they're famous for. I especially like the 'steampunk' take on the world that Sophie and Howl inhabit. However, In the book, our own world bleeds into theirs on occasion and that could've actually ruined the feel of the movie had they chosen to keep it in the story. I love Ghibli films, and actually like the movie more than the book. Having said that, if you're a fan of the storyline it's worth reading if you want to fill in some of the gaps.

[@geoffcassidy9981]

The steampunk take is something I really enjoyed. I loved how they introduced it into the world, but at the same time kept a strong countryside and scenic quality. Thanks for the thoughts.

[@emilyrln]

I was sold as soon as you drew that stunning portrait of Howl 😂 and then the solid analysis clinched it for me.

[@geoffcassidy9981]

Haha thank you!

[@pemo2676]

just stumbled on this, and loved this film so i checked it out. i love your natural exploration of the story, this conversational-style analysis is great! keep it up. i love softer story-telling and magic systems like what studio ghibli produces - it's why i like adventure time so much, and tolkien's works. expansive worlds and great story-telling that you can fill in the gaps very naturally or realistically; such as how historians hypothesise. super engaging writing! the audience gets to react and marvel and delve into the story/history, instead of being spoon-fed exposition and magic systems and how you should be reacting through a character.

[@geoffcassidy9981]

Thank you! I really appreciate it. And yes, I love stories where it trusts the audience to figure it out and even if they miss it the first time, if you watch/read it a second time catching all the little references makes it so rewarding.

[@pemo2676]

@@geoffcassidy9981 i immediately rewatched howl after this and. wow. always good watching something after hearing someone's thought analysis of it!

[@geoffcassidy9981]

Awesome! I love doing that after watching analysis. It helps me pick up so many more little details.