A romantic coming-of-age, “Howl’s Moving Castle” is Hayao Miyazaki’s defining romance movie. For most movie-goers, they don’t turn to the anime genre for a heart-felt love story, but Miyazaki’s 2005 animated epic successfully attracted a wide audience in this Medieval, magical adventure.

Like most anime films, the visuals in “Howl’s Moving Castle” are remarkable, and Miyazki uses the virtual freedom of animation to control the tone of the movie. The many vibrant colors of the bustling town, the grand mountains and the wide-open spaces outside hint of an exciting world ahead, but behind a perfectly framed window the main protagonist Sophie sits secluded within her monotone and drab bedroom.

At first, one can hardly distinguish between the bedroom and Sophie. Though soft-spoken and the “blandest of her sisters,” Sophie is primed to be the unlikely romantic heroine, and Miyazki carves her character arc with the precision and artistry of a violin maker. As she enters further into their dark conflict, colors become deeper, and the “camera” angles become more complicated and less staged. Finally in the climax, Miyazki literally sheds away the darker shades and intricate “camera” work as Sophie reaches her resolution in a short burst of animation.

Miyazaki’s mastery could not be complete without his long-time, film-scoring partner Joe Hisaishi. His musical scores complement the Old English setting: an impressive waltz carries the plots ahead, and a wind-chime lullaby resonates throughout the tender moments. The score is fantastic, and it alone merits a viewing of the movie.

Don’t be surprised if these animated character’s feelings and actions strike a deep heartstring. Like its American counterparts “Beauty and the Beast” and “Up,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” proves that a love story can penetrate through the animated screen into the hearts of the audiences.