Howl's Moving Castle

I've never considered myself an aficianado of anime. I've seen very little, and never had any desire to see more. But when a director reaches the international acclaim that Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki has reached, it may be worth looking into. I was enthralled with my first experience with a Miyazaki film. This is one of the most imaginative fantasies of recent memory. It takes pieces from The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland and some of the Brother's Grimm to create this tale of young girl who is turned into an old woman by a wicked witch. She then becomes the cleaning lady for Howl -- a powerful sorcerer who is having problems of his own -- on his moving castle which can disguise itself in some creative ways. Strong themes of friendship, sacrafice, and even loving one's enemies, as well as some hand drawn visual wonderments make this one of my favorite films of the year so far as well as an early contender for best animated film. I now look forward to exploring more of Miyazaki's work.