The Laws of Physics in Howl’s Moving Castle
I.
Introduction
a.
Introduce film “Howl’s Moving Castle”
b.
Traditional animation from Japanese Studio
Ghibli
c.
Hypothesis: Though the world of the film is
rooted in in ours, Howl’d world breaks and ignores many laws of physics while following
others, punctuating the sense of magic in the world.
II.
Body
A.
Gravity
0.
Numerous characters/objects but especially Howl
defy gravity in contrast to more human characters.
1.
At the start of the movie, Howl lifts Sophie
with him off the ground to fly above the town festivities, defying gravity
outright.
2.
There are numerous flying machines throughout
the movie whose shape and mass negate any reasonable ability to fly.
3.
Sophie is subject to gravity, as is the
(depowered) Witch of the Waste, whose body is quickly effected by physics.
B.
Inertia & Motion
0.
Most characters experience inertia and
overlapping action, excluding occasions of drama.
1.
Howl chases the bomb down to the hat shop and
catches up, despite the bomb having a greater mass and acceleration than Howl.
2.
Howl drops Sophie through the field doorway to
safety, and she continues on her path until stopped by the stairs in the house.
3.
In contrast, the normal character Sophie
experiences inertia and moves within the world similar to ours.
C.
Improbable Structure
0.
Buildings and characters structure defy physical
believability
1.
The moving Castle is held together and moved by
Calcifer’s presence, and in his absence quickly succumbs to the laws of physics
and falls apart.
2.
Turniphead the scarecrow bounces around in such
a way that should tear him apart easily, but he stays together via magic.
III.
Conclusion
a.
Laws of physics are broken constantly, but also
followed to create sense of magic in a familiar world.
b.
Certain aspects must have disbelief suspended
for their magical sensibility, such as magical tricks enacted by Solomon and
portal transportation.
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