Howl's Castle

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

A fantasy series by Diana Wynne Jones, parodying and lampshading many tropes common to fantasy stories, consisting of:

  1. Howl's Moving Castle (1986)
  2. Castle in the Air (1990)
  3. House of Many Ways (2008)

Every book introduces a new character as the main focus. Howl's Moving Castle introduces Sophie and Howl, who recur throughout the series. Castle in the Air introduces Abdullah and Flower-in-the-Night, and House of Many Ways introduces Charmain Baker and Peter. In addition, each book introduces a new setting, as well as new locations. Each book can thus be read as a stand-alone, without reading any of the sequels of prequels.

Sophie and Howl, as well as other members of their household like Calcifer, plays a role in all three books. Their characters develop throughout the series, with most of the development occurring in Howl's Moving Castle. The second book introduces their child Morgan and how djinns turned their life upside-down, and the third focuses on their interactions with Morgan, the fire demon Calcifer, and the King of High Norland.

In 2004, an animated adaption of the first novel was released, directed by Hayao Miyazaki of the world famous Studio Ghibli. No adaptations of the second or third books are planned or announced by the studio.

The following tropes are common to many or all entries in the Howl's Castle franchise.
For tropes specific to individual installments, visit their respective work pages.
  • Agent Peacock: Girly boy badass Howl is this.
  • Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: Howl and Sophie bicker and argue like there's no tomorrow. But when it really comes down to it, they really do love each other. In fact, the reason why they argue so much is because they want to, as it keeps them on their toes.
    • In fact, Michael pointed out to Sophie the day that Howl, as vain and obsessed with beauty that he was, forgets to take 2 hours every morning to dress up and make himself look handsome would be the day that he's truly in love. So when Sophie was kidnapped by the Witch of the Waste, Howl arrives to her castle, disheveled and ungroomed.
  • Base on Wheels: The titular castle.
  • Beta Couple: Oh boy. In the first book we have Michael and Martha (as well as Lettie and Ben at the end), to the main couple Howl and Sophie. Then in the second book it's main couple Abdullah and Flower in the Night, with Beta Couple place going to Justin and Beatrice, with some of the couples from the original also making appearances. Then we have Odd Couple Peter and Charmain in the third book and some glimpses of Howl and Sophie.
  • Bizarrchitecture: The castle again. What's not bizarre about a massive castle floating through the landscape with four turrets and portal doors? Wizard Norland's house from the third book also qualifies.
  • Companion Cube: Sophie discovers she has the magical ability to bring things to life if she treats them like Companion Cubes.
  • The Dandy: Howl.
  • Exactly What It Says on the Tin: Most chapters of all three books are named like this. For example, in Castle in the Air, the genie is introduced in the chapter "Which Introduces the Genie", and Abdullah buys a carpet in the chapter titled "In Which Abdullah Buys a Carpet".
  • Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Ingary is roughly equivalent to England. Rajpuht, in Castle in the Air is somewhere between Arabian, Persian, and Indian. High Norland, in which House of Many Ways is set, is quite Switzerland-like--with the rolling, snowy mountains and meadows, the cuckoo clocks/sleds, tiny impish creatures, and all.
  • Gentleman Snarker: As in everything else, Howl has to be classy even when he's being condescending.
  • Gentleman Wizard: Howl.
  • Heroes Want Redheads: Sophie, at least in her normal form, has flowing red hair.
  • The Illegible: Howl. In both Howl's Moving Castle and House of Many Ways there are references to his handwriting being frankly horrible - both Sophie and Charmain wonder to themselves if he uses a pen or a poker when he's writing.
  • In Which a Trope Is Described: All chapters of the three books are named like this.
  • Large Ham: Howl.
  • Mama Bear: Sophie in Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. Do NOT harm Morgan Jenkins if you know what's good for you.
    • Howl also has a Papa Wolf moment in House of Many Ways when Prince Ludovic threatens Morgan, leading Howl to punch him in the face. Twice.
  • The Messiah: Sophie
  • Morality Pet: Whatever other flaws he may have, Howl absolutely loves his sister's children, they in kind. In the sequels, this extends to his own son Morgan, suggesting Howl may have a Friend to All Children streak.
  • No Accounting for Taste: This is generally how outsiders view Howl and Sophie's relationship in every book after the first. In reality, they're Happily Married, since they actually enjoy fighting with each other. It keeps them both on their toes.
  • Noble Demon: Calcifer
  • Opposites Attract: Sophie and Howl cannot be more opposite. Sophie is secluded, and knows she is not destined for anything great because she is the oldest of three. Before being cursed, she humbly works in her hat shop. Howl is unpredictable and energetic. While he is a talented wizard, one couldn't help but think there's better things to do than sulk about having his hair dyed the wrong colour.
  • Portal Door: The door on Howl's castle opens to four different locations depending on which colour a dial is set to. In Wizard Norland's house, doors can bend space and serve as a portal to another part of the world.
  • Put on a Bus: Michael, in every book after the first.
    • Castle In the Air Explains that Michael, and a new unnamed apprentice, were sent away when Howl found out that the moving castle was in danger.
  • Redheaded Hero: Sophie, when she's not cursed into looking like an old woman or in disguise as a cat.
  • Rule of Cool: Let's face it: moving castles are cool. It's justified in the first book as a means of eluding the Witch, but Sophie and Howl still have the moving castle at the very end of the third book.
  • Standard Hero Reward: Spoofed. Princess Valerie of Ingary is still a small child, and her father wouldn't dream of marrying her off until she's much older -- which proves embarrassing for several people over the course of the series who expect the Standard Reward without bothering to find out how old she is first.
  • Technicolor Fire: Calcifer. Justified, in that he's a fire demon, and absolutely nothing like a conventional fire.
  • Theory of Narrative Causality: Mentioned repeatedly.
  • Trickster Archetype: Howl
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