"Howl's Moving Castle" (ハウルの動く城), Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 2004, B1 Size (c. 72.8 x 103cm)
This is an original Japanese theatrical poster printed in 2004 for the first release of Howl's Moving Castle.
Authenticity
As with many popular Studio Ghibli titles, there are later shop posters and commercial reprints of this design. The example offered here is a true first‑release theatrical B1, double‑sided for use in backlit cinema displays. It was printed for Toho’s 2004 nationwide campaign and is not a later merchandise or museum‑shop reprint, so you can buy with confidence.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Japanese: ハウルの動く城, Hepburn: Hauru no Ugoku Shiro) is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, loosely based on the 1986 novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones. Set in a magical kingdom on the brink of war, the story follows Sophie, a shy young hat‑maker who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and transformed into an old woman. Seeking a way to break the spell, she finds refuge in the ramshackle walking castle of the wizard Howl and becomes entangled with Howl, fire demon Calcifer and a cast of enchanted companions.
Released in Japan in November 2004, the film was a huge critical and commercial success, drawing over 14 million admissions and becoming one of Ghibli’s most beloved works. It went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and further cemented Miyazaki’s status as one of world cinema’s great filmmakers. Howl’s Moving Castle remains a fan favourite for its pacifist themes, rich world‑building and luminous hand‑painted backgrounds.
Design
This B1 campaign artwork captures one of the film’s most memorable images. In the foreground, Sophie—already under the witch’s spell and now in the body of an old woman—climbs a sun‑drenched hillside path with her faithful dog Heen padding at her heels. The meadow is rendered in exquisitely detailed Ghibli style: wildflowers, rocks and grasses painted in loose, impressionistic strokes that glow with late‑afternoon light. In the distance, Howl’s towering castle trundles across the ridge in a puff of dark smoke, with the scarecrow Turnip Head silhouetted against the sky.
A vertical white tagline on the right reads 「ふたりが暮らした。」(“The place where the two of them lived together”), hinting at the unexpected romance at the heart of the story. The bold red Japanese title 「ハウルの動く城」 anchors the lower portion of the design, with the English title in smaller type beneath. The familiar Totoro / STUDIO GHIBLI logo sits in the upper left, confirming this as part of the studio’s official first‑release materials. The reverse side carries the same image in lighter inks for backlit display.
Condition
Excellent / Near Mint. This B1 is unfolded and double‑sided, with rich, saturated colour and no fading. Only the most minor handling from careful storage is visible at the extreme edges; no tears, pinholes, writing or tape on the image area. Please refer to the photos (front and back) as they show the exact poster for sale.
This poster is in outstanding condition for an original 2004 theatrical B1, and this large double‑sided size is very rarely seen on the market compared with the more common B2.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
