Hayao Miyazaki's "Howl's Moving Castle" is scheduled to be released in mainland China on April 30

"Howl's Moving Castle" directed by Hayao Miyazaki is scheduled to be released in mainland China on April 30. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the film's release. The film was nominated for the 2006 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

The film is adapted from the 1986 book Howl's Moving Castle by British fantasy writer Diana Wynne Jones. It is set in a fictional kingdom and tells the story of a young milliner, Sophie, who is cursed by the Witch of the Wilds to become an old woman. She then meets a wizard named Howl and is involved in the resistance and love of fighting for the king.

In 2013, Miyazaki cited Howl's Moving Castle as his favorite work, explaining, "The message I wanted to convey was that life is worth living, and I don't think that has changed." The film differs noticeably in its themes from the novel: while the novel focuses on challenging class and gender norms, the film focuses on love, personal loyalty, and the destructive effects of war.

"Howl's Moving Castle" was dubbed by Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Ryunosuke Kamiki and others. It was released in Japan on November 20, 2004. It grossed 19.6 billion yen (about 190 million US dollars) in Japan and 236 million US dollars worldwide, making it one of the most commercially successful Japanese films in history.