20 supremely cozy books and movies for hibernation season

1. Howl’s Moving Castle

There are two equally good paths you can take with regards to Howl’s Moving Castle: book or movie. Both follow roughly the same plot, though naturally, the book takes quite a few more hours and perhaps a more concerted effort of imagination. However, the movie is another Hayao Miyazaki gem, which is a delightful experience all on its own.

It all begins with Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters. Sophie lives in Ingary, a kingdom where magic is a bit of a ho-hum fact of everyday life. There is also a persistent belief that the oldest sibling of three will never be successful. Sophie accepts this with resignation and prepares to run her family’s boring hat shop for the rest of her life.

All seems set to move along that path when the Witch of the Waste (voiced by Lauren Bacall in the English dub of the film) enters the shop. Sophie inadvertently angers her, causing the Witch to place a curse on Sophie. She’s aged into an old woman.

Not sure what to do, Sophie simply leaves the hat shop and wanders out into the country. She eventually comes upon the titular moving castle, which is the property of the fearsome Wizard Howl. Sophie, however, realizes that she is an old woman and unlikely to be the target of Howl’s wicked magic. She, therefore, becomes his cleaning lady.

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While living in the castle, Sophie befriends Calcifer, Howl’s resident fire demon. Calcifer says that he will put Sophie back into her original body if Sophie can break the contract that binds the demon to Howl.

For all that Howl’s Moving Castle concerns powerful magic workers, fire demons, curses, and the specter of international war, it’s a gentle, amusing work. Howl turns out to be essentially good, if lazy and self-absorbed. Calcifer is sassy, but not all that menacing. Sophie learns to stand up for herself and take hold of her fate.

Of course, it all ends in a happily-ever-after, as all best cozy works should do.