Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
ハウルの動く城
Fantasy, Animation, Adventure • 1h 59m
Overview
Sophie, a young milliner, is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashûin, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mitsunori Isaki, Yo Oizumi, Akio Otsuka, Daijirō Harada, Haruko Katō, Makoto Yasumura, Manabu Muraji, Keiko Tsukamoto, Tsuzuki Kayako, Seiji Sasaki, Hiroshi Takahashi, Mayuno Yasokawa, Rio Kanno, Kojiro Takahashi, Akiyoshi Sakurai, Momoko Kurita, Mina Meguro, Yasuhiro Ohara, Akio Tanaka, Rina Yamada, Tomoe Hanba, Naoto Kaji, Teruo Seki, Shinobu Katabuchi, Masako Inui, Yohei Ohbayashi, Takeshi Miyajima, Yukiko Mizuochi, Maki Koizumi, Nobito Nishioka, Teppei Akashi, Reiko Onishi, Yumiko Ogata, Hiroyuki Kamikawaji, Tomohiko Kiyota, Kaori Kaneko, Aiko Nakajima, Jun Kuwahara, Yuta Kobayashi, Yuko Nomura, Tamayo Fukushi, Atsushi Takeya, Yoshifumi Nakagawa, Hiroki Tanaka, Yohei Matsukado, Akane Fujisaki, Izumi Matsuoka, Tomonori Yanagibashi, Ken Yasuda, Hiroyuki Morisaki, Shigeyuki Totsugi, Takuma Otoo
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray
Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/6JWnlfit
All sources are within margin of error. Comparisons: Japanese, English
Alternate Streamline English dub is available only on 1994 Fox LD.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray
Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/6JWnlfit
All sources are within margin of error. Comparisons: Japanese, English
Alternate Streamline English dub is available only on 1994 Fox LD.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
4K restoration shown in IMAX cinemas
2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/US GKIDS Blu-ray
English dub (Disney): 1998 US Disney LaserDisc has better sounding vocals despite altered music and sound effects
Releases from 2010 onward have the original music and sound effects, but distorted vocals
English dub (Streamline): 1996 Japan LaserDisc, available in Ghibli Aa Ippai Collection boxset
2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
4K restoration shown in IMAX cinemas
2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/US GKIDS Blu-ray
English dub (Disney): 1998 US Disney LaserDisc has better sounding vocals despite altered music and sound effects
Releases from 2010 onward have the original music and sound effects, but distorted vocals
English dub (Streamline): 1996 Japan LaserDisc, available in Ghibli Aa Ippai Collection boxset
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Japan Studio Ghibli 4K Blu-ray
UK StudioCanal Blu-ray for the English dub
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Japan Studio Ghibli 4K Blu-ray
UK StudioCanal Blu-ray for the English dub
Studio Ghibli The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-ray
Studio Ghibli The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-ray
The Ghibli ga Ippai SPECIAL Short Short 1996-2016 Blu-ray has a different video transfer that has a tealer tint and slightly tighter framing.
Studio Ghibli The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-ray
Studio Ghibli The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-ray
The Ghibli ga Ippai SPECIAL Short Short 1996-2016 Blu-ray has a different video transfer that has a tealer tint and slightly tighter framing.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray has 6.1 discrete
English audio: Cinema DTS-ES, 2010 US Disney Blu-ray as an alternative
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray has 6.1 discrete
English audio: Cinema DTS-ES, 2010 US Disney Blu-ray as an alternative
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hideaki Anno
Director: Hideaki Anno
Directors: Masayuki & Hideaki Anno & Tsuyoshi Kaga & Shoichi Masuo & Ken Ando & Seiji Mizushima & Kazuya Tsurumaki & Naoyasu Habu & Hiroyuki Ishido & Tensai Okamura & Akira Takamura & Minoru Ohara & Masahiko Otsuka & Tetsuya Watanabe & Keiichi Sugiyama
Directors: Masayuki & Hideaki Anno & Tsuyoshi Kaga & Shoichi Masuo & Ken Ando & Seiji Mizushima & Kazuya Tsurumaki & Naoyasu Habu & Hiroyuki Ishido & Tensai Okamura & Akira Takamura & Minoru Ohara & Masahiko Otsuka & Tetsuya Watanabe & Keiichi Sugiyama
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray see caps
4K restoration includes a high-fidelity remix sourced from new transfers of original magnetic elements, with inconsequential content differences from the original mono mix. Umbrella 4K Blu-ray only includes a 5.1 mixdown of the remix, other discs have it in Dolby Atmos.
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray's 2.0 track is a stereo downmix. Older BDs and LDs have the original mono mix in varying quality, but are all inferior in fidelity to the new 5.1 remix. The digital track on the Bandai/Emotion Japan LaserDisc BELL-942 is the best of the bunch.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23714400&postcount=159
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray see caps
4K restoration includes a high-fidelity remix sourced from new transfers of original magnetic elements, with inconsequential content differences from the original mono mix. Umbrella 4K Blu-ray only includes a 5.1 mixdown of the remix, other discs have it in Dolby Atmos.
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray's 2.0 track is a stereo downmix. Older BDs and LDs have the original mono mix in varying quality, but are all inferior in fidelity to the new 5.1 remix. The digital track on the Bandai/Emotion Japan LaserDisc BELL-942 is the best of the bunch.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23714400&postcount=159
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
2026 Japan Blu-ray. The 4K Blu-ray is an upscale with strong sharpening. Caps
2026 Japan 4K Blu-ray, includes original 5.1 and an Atmos remix. The HD disc only includes 5.1.
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
2026 Japan Blu-ray. The 4K Blu-ray is an upscale with strong sharpening. Caps
2026 Japan 4K Blu-ray, includes original 5.1 and an Atmos remix. The HD disc only includes 5.1.
4K restoration shown in cinemas in 2026, no home release yet
2021 Japan Studio Ghibli box set Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2021 Japan Studio Ghibli box set Blu-ray/2011 Japan standalone Blu-ray
US English dub: 2012 US Disney Blu-ray/2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray/2012 Japan North American Edition Blu-ray
UK English dub: 2012 Japan North American Edition Blu-ray
The UK Blu-ray has some audio issues, so the North American Edition Blu-ray from Japan is chosen for the UK English dub despite being lossy.
4K restoration shown in cinemas in 2026, no home release yet
2021 Japan Studio Ghibli box set Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2021 Japan Studio Ghibli box set Blu-ray/2011 Japan standalone Blu-ray
US English dub: 2012 US Disney Blu-ray/2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray/2012 Japan North American Edition Blu-ray
UK English dub: 2012 Japan North American Edition Blu-ray
The UK Blu-ray has some audio issues, so the North American Edition Blu-ray from Japan is chosen for the UK English dub despite being lossy.
2015 Japan Isao Takahata boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
2015 Japan Isao Takahata boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
More Fantasy on Blu-ray
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Director: Frank Coraci
Sony MOD 4K Blu-ray
Sony MOD 4K Blu-ray has terrible compression
Director: Frank Coraci
Sony MOD 4K Blu-ray
Sony MOD 4K Blu-ray has terrible compression
Director: Brian Levant
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray Steelbook see caps
disc info & 5.1 audio comparison
Director: Brian Levant
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray Steelbook see caps
disc info & 5.1 audio comparison
Director: Sidney Lumet
Criterion 4K Blu-ray replacement disc for fixed audio (there were some dialogues missing)
While the video on the replacement disc is exactly the same as the original release, the Atmos with missing lines has been corrected as it was also corrected on the Criterion commentary. Criterion also included the 6-track which is almost identical to the PAL track; It’s 4.0 in a 5.1 container. This 6-track is slightly better than the PAL DVD track as the PAL has some flutter on some parts that Criterion doesn’t have.
The Atmos on the replacement is identical to the Imprint AUS Blu-ray track which also has all the lines. The compatibility track is also the same,
It is worth mentioning the Imprint only has the Atmos and no 6-track. The 5.1 surround is with LFE and split surrounds and it’s just a downmix of the Atmos. Ditto for the LPCM 2.0 on said Blu-ray.
Director: Sidney Lumet
Criterion 4K Blu-ray replacement disc for fixed audio (there were some dialogues missing)
While the video on the replacement disc is exactly the same as the original release, the Atmos with missing lines has been corrected as it was also corrected on the Criterion commentary. Criterion also included the 6-track which is almost identical to the PAL track; It’s 4.0 in a 5.1 container. This 6-track is slightly better than the PAL DVD track as the PAL has some flutter on some parts that Criterion doesn’t have.
The Atmos on the replacement is identical to the Imprint AUS Blu-ray track which also has all the lines. The compatibility track is also the same,
It is worth mentioning the Imprint only has the Atmos and no 6-track. The 5.1 surround is with LFE and split surrounds and it’s just a downmix of the Atmos. Ditto for the LPCM 2.0 on said Blu-ray.
Directors: Conrad Vernon & Kelly Asbury & Andrew Adamson
Universal 4K Blu-Ray
Universal 4K Blu-Ray
Cinema DTS
The old DVD has extras not on the 4K Blu-Ray.
The UK version replaces The Ugly Stepsister’s voice for Jonathan Ross instead of Larry King. This audio track however is not included on the UK 4K. This version also has an altered shot where Fiona’s headbutt to Prince Charming is replaced with a karate chop to the neck, which was also removed from the 4K.
Directors: Conrad Vernon & Kelly Asbury & Andrew Adamson
Universal 4K Blu-Ray
Universal 4K Blu-Ray
Cinema DTS
The old DVD has extras not on the 4K Blu-Ray.
The UK version replaces The Ugly Stepsister’s voice for Jonathan Ross instead of Larry King. This audio track however is not included on the UK 4K. This version also has an altered shot where Fiona’s headbutt to Prince Charming is replaced with a karate chop to the neck, which was also removed from the 4K.
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray (includes Extended Cut on regular Blu-ray)
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray (includes Extended Cut on regular Blu-ray)
2017 4K Blu-ray DTS:X or Cinema DTS
The film is titled Sorcerer's Stone in the US, India, and the Philippines.
Wizard's/Hogwarts Collection has all the bonus features for all the 8 films.
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray (includes Extended Cut on regular Blu-ray)
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray (includes Extended Cut on regular Blu-ray)
2017 4K Blu-ray DTS:X or Cinema DTS
The film is titled Sorcerer's Stone in the US, India, and the Philippines.
Wizard's/Hogwarts Collection has all the bonus features for all the 8 films.
Complete Cut: 2021 Sony 4K Blu-ray
Complete Cut: 2021 Japan Square Enix 4K Blu-ray but not English friendly. Dolby Vision is also only available on Japan 4K Blu-ray
Original Cut: 2005 Japan Square Enix DVD but not English friendly.
Complete Cut:
2021 Japan Square Enix 4K Blu-ray has a superior Dolby Atmos remix
2021 Japan Square Enix remastered Blu-ray has a superior original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix
Original Cut:
Japan 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray have an exclusive end credit song on the Complete cut that is not present on international releases by Sony.
All Japanese releases of the Complete cut have English dub options, but no English subtitles for the original Japanese audio or on-screen text. Original cut only has Japanese audio without subtitles on the Japanese DVD.
All international releases by Sony only have dubtitles for the Japanese audio, not a proper translation of the Japanese script.
Complete Cut: 2021 Sony 4K Blu-ray
Complete Cut: 2021 Japan Square Enix 4K Blu-ray but not English friendly. Dolby Vision is also only available on Japan 4K Blu-ray
Original Cut: 2005 Japan Square Enix DVD but not English friendly.
Complete Cut:
2021 Japan Square Enix 4K Blu-ray has a superior Dolby Atmos remix
2021 Japan Square Enix remastered Blu-ray has a superior original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix
Original Cut:
Japan 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray have an exclusive end credit song on the Complete cut that is not present on international releases by Sony.
All Japanese releases of the Complete cut have English dub options, but no English subtitles for the original Japanese audio or on-screen text. Original cut only has Japanese audio without subtitles on the Japanese DVD.
All international releases by Sony only have dubtitles for the Japanese audio, not a proper translation of the Japanese script.
Director: Satoshi Kon
All other discs are from a 4K restoration, overcropped in an attempt to stabilize the images, with very washed out colors. https://slow.pics/c/cOUtJde0
Director: Satoshi Kon
All other discs are from a 4K restoration, overcropped in an attempt to stabilize the images, with very washed out colors. https://slow.pics/c/cOUtJde0
Russia Sony Blu-ray has a superior 24-bit Dolby TrueHD 5.1 original mix compared to the 16-bit LPCM 5.1 on other Blu-ray releases and the 16-bit DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray included with the Dolby Atmos remix.
Russia Sony Blu-ray has a superior 24-bit Dolby TrueHD 5.1 original mix compared to the 16-bit LPCM 5.1 on other Blu-ray releases and the 16-bit DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray included with the Dolby Atmos remix.
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