Waifu Wednesday: Sophie Hatter (Howl’s Moving Castle)

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Lilia Hellal
March 29, 2023
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Howl’s Moving Castle has always been my favourite film within the Studio Ghibli catalogue so it feels rather overdue for me to cover it in some way here at Rice Digital. So for today’s Waifu Wednesday pick my selection goes to its main character Sophie Hatter, one of the most relatable heroines to come out of any anime movie ever. In my humble opinion, of course.

Please keep in mind that this piece is about the Sophie Hatter of the movie version only!

Who is Sophie Hatter?

Sophie Hatter is the main character of the 2004 fantasy animated film Howl’s Moving Castle. Being the lucky gal who gets whisked away by the titular Howl with its single most iconic scene as pictured above, Sophie never stops being just as captivating as him due to the amount of growth she experiences as a person. What she ends up being capable of by the end of the movie is a far cry from what she ever expected herself to be able to achieve, resulting in a touching and impressive character journey.

Not only does she go on to save Howl’s heart and live out the rest of her days alongside him with all the sudden wisdom that getting cursed to live as a 90 year old brings, the messages of the movie would not be as powerful if it was not for Sophie’s immediate likability as its heroine. Here’s why she is irreplaceable and remains as an admirable role model for women everywhere.

Why we love her

Howl’s Moving Castle’s director and screenplay writer Hayao Miyazaki once said in a press conference that he “wanted to convey the message to children that this life is worth living.” In relation to Howl’s Moving Castle, I find the statement fitting to Sophie’s character more so than anything else. Sophie’s place in the film is one of the main reasons I enjoy the movie so much.

It comes down to simple but highly significant development for her as its central character: a character who represents the everyday, average lady. We see Sophie initially very meek and reserved, barring herself up in her late father’s hat shop. Only ever working in it as an apprentice to her stepmother, Sophie expects nothing from such a monotonous life, beliving this to be the peak her fortune will ever reach. On top of that, she barely values herself in her entirety, including her looks and potential as a person. She’s a person who can be — and already is — so much more than an underling meant to serve her family’s legacy.

Why you will love her

If it was not obvious enough, Sophie is incredibly easy to relate to. As a result of her background and storyline she is extremely likable as she struggles with personal, inner conflict that is much more engaging for the audience than external, tangible enemies. This includes her place within her own family unit, since she is often undermined as the eldest of three sisters and is unfavoured by her mother.

This all leans into a major part of her character development: seeing her self-worth and stopping the self-deprecation. Sophie is much more than hat-making, and she gradually starts to see this for herself. Having been cursed with old age, Sophie learns that it’s actually a gift that allows her space to fully be herself for the very first time in her life, without the fear of being shamed or judged.

She becomes more outspoken, confrontational and reaches the pinnacle of who she can be as a person as she learns to stand up for herself. She manages to even put fire demon Calcifer in his place once she becomes outspoken enough to give him a taste of his own medicine in sassiness. Ultimately it leads to her being able to save Howl through this newfound confidence, as she finds her own agency in this grand fairy-tale she never thought she could possibly have been involved in.

Howl’s Moving Castle is a must-watch anime movie, and it’s readily available for streaming on Netflix. With an unashamedly hopeful and positive message of never giving up and to keep going at life to make the most out of it, Sophie is a beacon of hope for every single plain Jane and average Joe out there.

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