News

On November 20, 2004, Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle captivated audiences with its instantly iconic cast of characters, breathtaking set pieces, and intriguing story. In what seemed like an instant, Howl's Moving Castle joined the ranks of Studio Ghibli classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke.

While this may not seem like a surprise when looking back from twenty years later, the success of Howl's Moving Castle was something of a shock at the time of its release. Considering how far removed the film was far from Studio Ghibli's usual offerings, the fact that it brought home nearly ten times its budget at the global box office was a testament to just how successful its cast and crew were in their efforts, whereas the lasting impact of Howl's Moving Castle still stands as a testament to just how deeply it speaks to audiences everywhere.

Related Shuntaro Tanikawa, Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle Songwriter,...

Shohei Hino, best known to anime fans as the original Japanese-language voice actor of the Great Uncle in Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron, has died at age 75.

According to Nhk, the veteran performer suffered a lumbar fracture during the summer. He reportedly passed away on Nov. 14, 2024, but his death was made public on Nov. 20, 2024. In 2023, Hino played the Great Uncle character in The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki's most recent Ghibli film.

Hino was born May 30, 1949, in Tokyo, Japan as Koichi Nihei. He entered the entertainment industry as a child actor, making his theatrical debut in Kozo Saekis Izukoe in 1966. His stage name, Shohei Hino, was given to him by novelist Shotaro Ikenami in 1973. Hinos acting career lasted nearly 60 years, with his final movie, Last Mile by Ayuko Tsukahara, released this year in Japan. In addition to his acting career, Hino was a musician...

Howl’s Moving Castle had some of the best music in animated films, but most people think of Joe Hisaishi and his creations for the Hayao Miyazaki films. Most of the ending themes of his movies are always by a separate artist and for Howl’s Moving Castle, it was The Promise of the World, sung by Chieko Baisho and written by the famous poet and translator, Shuntaro Tanikawa. Unfortunately, Tanikawa passed away on 13 November 2024, at the age of 92, as reported by his son, Kensaku Tanikawa.

Sophie and Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle. [Credit: Studio Ghibli]

His touching words of poetry and music were a gem of Japan. His legacy will never be forgotten, especially his contribution to Japanese literature and in terms of music, to Howl’s Moving Castle and the theme of Astro Boy. Shuntaro Tanikawa was a master of free verse and his long career is a testament to his brilliance.

Shuntaro Tanikawa, iconic poet, essayist, translator and lyricist, has passed away of old age, leaving behind a long-lasting legacy among fans of Studio Ghibli and anime more generally, among his many other media and literary contributions.

Via Nhk, Shuntaro Tanikawa passed away at 10:05 p.m. Jst on Nov. 13 in a hospital located in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, at the age of 92. He was with his daughter in his final moments, with his son Kensaku sharing in a post on X (formerly Twitter), "I was on my way back from a performance in China and couldn't make it in time, but my sister rushed over and was with him at the end. It was a peaceful end. Like everyone else, I was surprised and impressed by Shuntaro's poems, they made me laugh and cry, and I enjoyed it. It may be a clich, but his poems will always be with you.