Howl’s Moving Castle is widely accepted as one of Hayao Miyazaki’s best Studio Ghibli films. With a moving story full of heart and memorability and a cast of endearing and relatable characters, the film has made quite a name for itself since its release in 2004. Now, cosplayer and Reddit user, u/morpheeva, has paid tribute to the titular hero of the film, Howl Pendragon with a phenomenal cosplay.

The photo shoot depicts Howl’s appearance in the latter half of the film, after he used black hair dye to transform his previously light blonde hair. The cosplayer sports a flowy, white shirt tucked into a pair of black pants and is barefoot, frolicking in the ocean.

In the final photo, Howl’s signature pink and blue diamond patterned cardigan with yellow trim makes an appearance, draped over their shoulders and fluttering gently in the wind. Finally, Howl’s trademark jewelry appears in the look: his green, gemstone drop earrings with gold and red details and a long, blue pendant necklace.

The Cosplayer Captures Howl’s Unique And Recognizable Appearance Flawlessly

From accurate jewelry to high-quality photography, every aspect of this cosplay is artistic and beautiful to behold

The photographs are made even more magnificent by the stunning ocean background surrounding the cosplayer. They are standing in a sea that stretches far behind them, seemingly endless, with a mountainous backdrop and a cloudless blue sky. In a few of the images, birds swarm in the background, encircling u/morpheeva with wings outstretched. The dreamy nature of these pictures perfectly encapsulates the calming, warm feelings of nostalgia and comfort one experiences while watching any Studio Ghibli film, but especially Howl’s Moving Castle. Howl is such a complex character surrounded by mystery, and the cosplayer captures his enigmatic personality well.

In the film, Howl seems to have an aura of greatness and overconfidence, carrying himself in an almost pretentious manner. However, once Sophie learns more about him, she realizes he’s insecure, afraid, and vulnerable, shielding these facets of his personality from a cruel and often judgmental world. Thankfully, with the help of her compassion and unconditional acceptance and encouragement, Howl is able to move past old insecurities and show her his authentic personality without fear, leaning into the security of someone who loves him. This beautiful message resonates with viewers almost two decades later, proving how absolutely timeless the film remains.

Howl Undergoes An Incredible Character Transformation

With Sophie’s help, he begins to feel secure and thus, becomes more true to himself

A multifaceted character with as many inner struggles as Howl can be difficult to truly comprehend. It takes many viewers multiple watches of the film to begin to fully understand his psyche and internal battles. However, u/morpheeva does an excellent job portraying the lesser known side of Howl. In contrast, many cosplays focus on how he appeared at the beginning of the film: cocky, vain, and exuding an air of arrogance. Later in Howl’s Moving Castle, he is more vulnerable, having hit rock bottom in a sense, but on a journey to healing into a much better version of himself, with Sophie by his side.

Source: u/morpheeva on Reddit

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