Howl loses the magic that keeps his hair beautiful, making it change from blond to red to blue black. His magic slowly seeping from his body, his skin oozing into green slime pools, Howl throws a tantrum, saying there's no point in living if he's no longer beautiful.
Sophie is a young, slender woman with long brown hair. She lives her life working in a secluded little hat shop. After being cursed by the Witch of the Waste, she is turned into a hunch-backed old woman with wrinkled skin, love handles, and gray hair. She eventually learns "the lesson" that beauty isn't skin deep, and that her heart is what matters. After learning this valuable life lesson, her physical appearance changes to reflect her true inner beauty: back into her thinner, younger self.
Miyazuki's rendition of Jones's novel into Japanese animation is brilliantly done -- very beautiful and elegant. Yet, what does the film say about beauty and truth. Apparently, beauty -- even true inner beauty which one can only rediscover after undergoing a life-changing journey -- that beauty is represented as young, slender, translucent pale skin and long flowing hair.
Even with this definition of beauty, how am I able to endure this movie? Yet I do. I love its flowing, colorful landscapes and artistry. And it also helps that the movie has a magic castle with a magical portal for doors that open into houses situated in different locations.
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