logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2025
46m 6s

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel
About this episode

What happens when our self-esteem is tied to our looks? How can significant others make us feel confident? What is the nature of found families? Paul and Eli travel to the gorgeously trippy world of Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Hayao Miyazaki's anti-war fable about the power of love and hair dye.

For show notes, click here.

Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel.

Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons

Artwork by Katie Keil

Up next
Today
Les Misérables (2012) with Vanessa Bohns
How do people manage their belief that the world is just? Is true love effortless? Are we sometimes willing to make a sacrifice for our partner even if it pushes them away? Inspired by Tom Hooper's (2012) melodramatic interpretation of the Les Misérables stage musical, Paul, Eli, ... Show More
1h 8m
Oct 19
Obsession (2026)
What's the best way to navigate the friendzone? Why do people gossip? What kind of love is this anyway? Paul and Eli take a terrifying journey through love's disturbing recesses via Obsession (2026), this year's supernatural horror sensation from Curry Barker. For show notes, cli ... Show More
57m 56s
Oct 5
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Does infatuation bring out the attachment anxiety in all of us? Will marrying a man of ill-repute will make you miserable? How did Jane Austen so spectacularly capture her cultural moment? In anticipation of the new remake, Paul and Eli savor the much-lauded 1995 adaptation of "S ... Show More
47m 11s
Recommended Episodes
May 2022
Howl's Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle was the first community pick of Life’s Library! In this episode, John Green and Rosianna Halse Rojas draw connections between the magic and spellbinding characters in this novel to other children’s books. They also discuss domestic work, the Faustian dilemma, ... Show More
32m 9s
Nov 2023
Episode 273: Ah. Ah. (Miyazaki's "Spirited Away")
<p>David and Tamler board the train for Hayao Miyazaki's mystical dreamy coming of age masterpiece <em>Spirited Away</em>. This is a true VBW deep dive. Plus a study by our secret crush suggests we may not be optimizing the value of our conversations.</p> <p><a href= "https://www ... Show More
1h 57m
Sep 2020
Howl’s Moving Castle – Ghibli Rewatch
Howl&#8217;s Moving Castle is one Hayao Miyazaki&#8217;s most magical films and is beloved by many. Listen to hear us break down everything from this film in our latest installment of the Ghibli Rewatch podcast series, going through every Studio Ghibli [&#8230;] 
1h 30m
Sep 2020
Howl’s Moving Castle – Ghibli Rewatch
Howl’s Moving Castle is one Hayao Miyazaki’s most magical films and is beloved by many. Listen to hear us break down everything from this film in our latest installment of the Ghibli Rewatch podcast series, going through every Studio Ghibli […] 
1h 30m
Oct 2019
Howl's Moving Castle with David Ehrlich
David Ehrlich (IndieWire) returns for our mini-series' namesake episode on 2014's walking castle fantasy, Howl's Moving Castle! Together they examine analog versus digital animation effects, a talking fire, being a bird warrior and more! Join our Patreon for franchise commentarie ... Show More
2h 16m
Jul 2024
Princess Mononoke & Values
We are travelling back to Studio Ghibli to discuss the beloved Miyazaki film, Princess Mononoke! We use the wide spectrum of characters to discuss the concept of values. We explore how values are formed and also how values influence our choices.  Become a supporter of this podcas ... Show More
1h 43m
Jun 2020
Castle in the Sky – Ghibli Rewatch
Castle in the Sky (aka Laputa: Castle in the Sky) is an epic adventure movie from Hayao Miyazaki. Listen to hear us break down everything from this film in our latest installment of the Ghibli Rewatch podcast series, going through [&#8230;] 
1h 46m
Sep 2020
Howl's Moving Castle - Every Studio Ghibli Miyazaki Movie Reviewed and Ranked
We review and rank Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
1h 26m
Jul 2023
Weirdhouse Cinema: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Hayao Miyazaki’s 1984 masterpiece “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” an environmental post-apocalyptic anime fantasy full of weird bugs, warring factions and terrifying, technological remnants of humanity’s greatest mis ... Show More
1h 25m
Sep 2021
Ridiculous Live: The Humor and the Heavy
<p>Recently, Ben and Noel traveled to Podcast Movement to explore a fascinating, at-times difficult subject: How do you explore a heavy story in an approachable way, while still being honest, accurate and human? They're joined once again with Eli and Diana Banks, the hosts of Rid ... Show More
57m 15s