Only One Of Miyazaki's Movies Is Tragically Incomplete, And Ghibli Needs To Fix That

8 hours ago 20

Published Apr 4, 2026, 11:58 PM EDT

Casandra Ronning is a staff writer for Screen Rant's anime section. Since mid-2024, she has dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry. She is most proud of conducting an exclusive interview with popular voice actor Stephanie Nadolny.

Studio Ghibli has built a reputation as an animation powerhouse, delivering unforgettable, beloved classics such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro. The studio is known for its beautiful hand-drawn animation and emotional narratives that can be enjoyed by a broad, global audience.

Among its films, one fan-favorite stands out for its untapped potential. Howl’s Moving Castle was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 2004, and was adapted from Diana Wynne Jones’ novel of the same name, published in 1986. However, what many casual fans may not be aware of is that Howl and Sophie’s story was originally a trilogy, offering far more story that many Ghibli fans are missing out on.

Howl’s Moving Castle Has Much More Story To Tell

SPOILERS for Howl’s Moving Castle TrilogyHowl’s Moving Castle followed the story of Sophie, a young woman cursed into an elderly body by the Witch of the Waste. Determined to find a way to undo the curse, she ventures out to find the notorious wizard’s moving castle. There, she makes a deal with his fire demon and forges a stronger bond with Howl, all while learning self-acceptance and seeking a cure.

While the Ghibli film makes several creative changes to the original work, there are plenty of similarities between the film and the novel. Both offer satisfying endings, yet the novels expand on their story through new characters and dangers that must be overcome. These two sequels provide insight into Howl's and Sophie’s lives after the main storyline concludes, sharing the unexpected and thrilling ways their lives evolve.

Howl's Moving Castle Is a Masterpiece, But It Changes a Lot of Its Original Story

Howl’s Moving Castle is one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli films, but Miyazaki’s adaptation differs from Diana Wynne Jones’s original fantasy novel

Through Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways, fans learn that Howl and Sophie marry and, soon after, have a son named Morgan. However, rather than living a quiet life, the two protect one another and work together as they face new dangers, from Djinn to frightening creatures known as the Lubbock.

While each novel centers on a new protagonist, with Abdullah leading Castle in the Air and Charmain leading House of Many Ways, Howl and Sophie continue to play important roles in each novel, allowing fans to enjoy their dynamic a little longer while seeing how their lives unfold in the years following Howl’s Moving Castle.

Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways Deserve a Ghibli Adaptation

That sense of a wider, still-unfolding world makes both Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways perfect for a Studio Ghibli adaptation. Better yet, since both books center on new protagonists, both can stand on their own as self-contained stories. However, given the fact that the two novels feature Howl and Sophie, consuming all three is far more delightful than enjoying them as standalone works.

Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways have a lighthearted, adventurous, and whimsical tone that closely aligns with what Ghibli does best, making the case for future adaptations not too far-fetched. The magic in both stories, as well as the strong characters and conflicts they must navigate, already delivers a very Ghibli-like feel that fans are sure to fall in love with.

Adapting these two novels would be a rewarding experience for many and deliver the same Ghibli-esque charm as the studio’s greatest classics.

By adapting these stories, Ghibli has a unique opportunity to expand on a beloved world while offering a fresh sense of discovery and adventure. While Ghibli isn’t known for making sequels, the fact that Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways can both be enjoyed as standalones might just align with their creative philosophy.

Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways are not just viable adaptations, but would deliver a story that could touch the hearts of viewers around the world in the same way that Howl’s Moving Castle managed to achieve. Adapting these two novels would be a rewarding experience for many and deliver the same Ghibli-esque charm as the studio’s greatest classics.