“Howl’s Moving Castle” on Blu-ray

Coming May 21, 2013

Acclaimed Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s Unforgettable Adventure
Debuts for the First Time in High Definition
on Blu-ray Combo Pack May 21, 2013!

Disney and Studio Ghibli proudly present Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s (Best Animated Feature, 2002, “Spirited Away”) unforgettable animated adventure “Howl’s Moving Castle” in high definition, on Blu-ray for the first time ever — on May 21, 2013.

The fantastic new Blu-ray Combo Pack release lets “Howl’s Moving Castle” soar like never before with a breathtaking new HD digital transfer of the fantastic animated adventure that celebrates the power of love and the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Brimming with a blend of imagination, humor, action and romance, “Howl’s Moving Castle” is the story of Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer), a diligent teenage girl working in her family’s hat shop, who finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome-but-mysterious wizard named Howl (voiced by Christian Bale). The innocent encounter engages the vain and conniving “Witch of the Waste” (voiced by Lauren Bacall), who transforms Sophie into a 90-year old woman (voiced by Jean Simmons). Sophie’s efforts to break the curse bring her to Howl’s magical moving castle, where she befriends Markl (voiced by Josh Hutcherson), Howl’s apprentice, and the hot-headed fire demon Calcifer (voiced by Billy Crystal). Her love and support have a major impact on Howl, who can be maddeningly self-indulgent and singularly noble as he defies royal orders to participate in a meaningless war and risks his life to protect Sophie.

Cast: 

Jean Simmons (“Spartacus”) as the voice of Grandma Sophie
Christian Bale (“The Dark Knight” trilogy) as the voice of Howl
Lauren Bacall (“The Big Sleep”) as the voice of Witch of the Waste
Blythe Danner (“Meet the Parents”) as the voice of Madam Suliman
Emily Mortimer (“Cars 2”) as the voice of Sophie
Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”) as the voice of Markl
Billy Crystal (“Monsters, Inc.”) as the voice of Calcifer

Director: Hayao Miyazaki (“My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”)

Producer: Toshio Suzuki (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo,” “The Secret World of Arrietty”)

Bonus Features: Behind the Microphone
Interview with Pixar Animation Studios Director, Pete Docter
Hello Mr. Lasseter: Hayao Miyazaki Visits Pixar Animation Studios
Original Japanese TV Spots and Trailers
Original Japanese Storyboards

Street Date: May 21, 2013
Direct Prebook: 3/26/13
Distributor Prebook: 4/9/13

Rating: PG in U.S. and Canada
Bonus Material not rated

Feature Run Time: Approx. 119 minutes

Suggested Retail Prices: 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD)
$39.99 U.S. and $46.99 Canada

Aspect Ratio: Blu-ray: Widescreen 1.85:1
DVD: Widescreen 1.85:1

Sound, Languages
and Subtitles: Blu-ray: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French 5.1 Dolby Digital
English, English SDH and French subtitles

DVD: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
French 5.1 Dolby Digital
Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital
English, English SDH and French subtitles

© 2013 Disney
© 2004 Nibariki • GNDDDT