Diana Wynne Jones` classic fantasy novel, Howl`s Moving Castle, has been re-released as a collectible hardcover edition. The Howl`s Moving Castle Deluxe Limited Edition, launched on September 9, is currently available at a discounted price of $20 (originally $25). Fans can also preorder a new paperback box set featuring the complete World of Howl Trilogy for $32.
This deluxe edition and the trilogy box set would make a splendid addition to any collection, especially displayed alongside the Steelbook Edition of Studio Ghibli`s animated adaptation. The 2004 film, penned and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, diverges considerably from the original literary work, yet both the movie and the novel possess their unique magic.
The 352-page Deluxe Limited Edition of Howl`s Moving Castle boasts exquisite new jacket art, full-color endpapers by artist Devin Elle Kurtz, black-and-white illustrations throughout the novel, and other premium design elements. The publisher achieved a starry night sky effect by digitally printing the blue page edges, featuring bright white streaks resembling shooting stars.
Beneath the hardcover book`s dust jacket, you`ll discover gold foil-stamped text and shooting star graphics adorning the front, back covers, and spine. The front cover proudly displays a well-known quote from the novel: “Howl`s quite heartless, you know.”
For those unfamiliar with the novel, Howl`s Moving Castle tells the story of Sophie Hatter, who inadvertently draws the attention of the Witch of the Waste. Transformed into an old woman, Sophie`s sole hope for breaking her curse lies within the mysterious moving castle of Wizard Howl, an infamous heartbreaker plagued by dark secrets from his past.
Greenwillow Books is set to release Diana Wynne Jones` complete trilogy as a paperback box set on October 7.
Howl`s Moving Castle is the inaugural book in the World of Howl Trilogy, followed by Castle in the Air in 1990 and House of Many Ways in 2008. While each of the three books offers a standalone narrative with distinct protagonists, Howl makes appearances in both follow-ups, making it highly recommended to read Howl`s Moving Castle first.
Castle in the Air chronicles the adventures of Abdullah, an unprosperous carpet salesman, as he yearns for a more exciting life. House of Many Ways centers on Charmain Baker`s exploration of a family home capable of distorting time and space.
All three novels are also available individually in paperback format, and standard hardcover editions with durable library bindings for the first two books are still in print.
- World of Howl Series (Individual Books):
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Howl`s Moving Castle
- Paperback: $8.83 (was $12)
- Hardcover: $11.30 (was $20)
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Castle in the Air
- Paperback: $7.62 (was $10)
- Hardcover: $19.80
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House of Many Ways
- Paperback: $8 (was $10)
- Hardcover: Sold out
Studio Ghibli`s Howl`s Moving Castle on Blu-ray
As previously noted, the 2004 Studio Ghibli film adaptation significantly diverges from the novel. It presents a distinct aesthetic, extends the screen time for certain characters, and portrays the dynamic between Sophie and Howl in an unconventional manner.
For those looking to enrich their home movie collection with this Studio Ghibli masterpiece, the Howl`s Moving Castle Limited Edition Steelbook is available for $18.89, or the standard edition for $15. Both releases include both Blu-ray and DVD formats of the film, along with an impressive array of special features, such as storyboards, documentaries, interviews, and original promotional content. The English voice cast for Howl`s Moving Castle boasts an ensemble of celebrated actors, including Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, and Billy Crystal, among others.
- Howl`s Moving Castle:
- Steelbook Edition (Blu-ray + DVD): $18.89 (was $27)
- Standard Edition (Blu-ray + DVD): $15 (was $25)
- The Art of Howl`s Moving Castle (Art Book): $19.44 (was $30)
More Studio Ghibli Movies Based on Novels and Manga
Howl`s Moving Castle stands as one among many Studio Ghibli animated features drawing inspiration from novels, short stories, or manga. Below, we`ve compiled a selection of other notable adaptations and their original source materials. Our list focuses exclusively on Ghibli films whose source works are readily accessible in English. Additionally, at the conclusion of this section, you`ll discover a few instances where the creative process was reversed: written and illustrated narratives adapted from existing Studio Ghibli films.
Kiki`s Delivery Service
Kiki`s Delivery Service, a beloved Japanese children`s novel, was penned by Eiko Kadono and illustrated by Akiko Hayashi, first appearing in 1985. Hayao Miyazaki then wrote and directed its acclaimed 1989 animated adaptation. This adaptation itself has spawned an official art book and a comic version.
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Read the novel:
- Paperback: $7 (was $9)
- Hardcover: $12.59 (was $18)
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Watch the adaptation:
- Steelbook Blu-ray: $18.89 (was $27)
- Standard Blu-ray: $15 (was $30)
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Books based on the movie:
- Film Comic: All-in-One Edition: $25.39 (was $30)
- Art Book: $17.79 (was $35)
Tales from Earthsea
The 2006 Ghibli film Tales from Earthsea holds particular significance as it was adapted by Goro Miyazaki—son of Hayao Miyazaki—drawing elements from both Ursula K. Le Guin`s acclaimed Earthsea series and his father`s graphic novel, Shuna`s Journey. The film primarily extracts plot points from the first four novels of Le Guin`s classic fantasy saga. A Wizard of Earthsea, the series` inaugural novel, was published in 1968. Curiously, the film`s title derives from the fifth book in the series, yet it does not incorporate any of its narrative elements.
Shuna`s Journey, originally published in Japanese in 1983, received an English translation in 2022 and features exquisite watercolor artwork by Hayao Miyazaki. For enthusiasts, The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition comes highly recommended—a magnificent 1,008-page hardcover volume encompassing Le Guin`s entire series.
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Read Ursula K. Le Guin`s novel series:
- The Books of Earthsea: Complete Illustrated Edition: $33.38 (was $60)
- Paperback editions (6 books): $9-$11 each
- Hardcover editions (6 books): $13-$20 each
- Graphic novel: $20.61 (was $27)
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Read Hayao Miyazaki`s graphic novel:
- Shuna`s Journey: $13.81 (was $28)
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Watch the adaptation:
- Blu-ray: $16.56 (was $25)
The Secret World of Arrietty
Mary Norton`s 1952 fantasy novel, The Borrowers, served as the inspiration for Studio Ghibli`s 2010 film adaptation, The Secret World of Arrietty. Hayao Miyazaki penned the screenplay, with Hiromasa Yonebayashi directing the feature.
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Read the novel:
- The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers (5 Books): $20 (was $50)
- Paperback: $5.89 (was $10)
- Hardcover: $14.39 (was $19)
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Watch the adaptation:
- Steelbook Blu-ray: $18.89 (was $27)
- Standard Blu-ray: $16.56
When Marnie Was There
Joan G. Robinson`s 1967 children`s novel, When Marnie Was There, was adapted into an acclaimed film of the same name in 2014. Hiromasa Yonebayashi directed and co-wrote this psychological drama.
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Read the novel:
- Paperback: $14
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Watch the adaptation:
- Steelbook Blu-ray: $17.89 (was $27)
- Standard Blu-ray: $15.66 (was $25)
The Cat Returns
Aoi Hiiragi`s 2002 manga, Baron the Cat, was adapted into the film The Cat Returns in the same year. The manga itself was translated into English in 2005 under the title Baron: The Cat Returns. Interestingly, the character Baron from both the book and the film had previously made an appearance in Studio Ghibli`s 1995 film, Whisper of the Heart. This connection arises because Aoi Hiiragi also authored the original manga upon which Whisper of the Heart is based. Regrettably, the 1989 manga Mimi o Sumaseba has never received an official English translation.
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Read the manga:
- Paperback: $10
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Watch the adaptation:
- Blu-ray: $16.56 (was $25)
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Hayao Miyazaki famously adapted one of his very own published creations: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. First serialized in 1982, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind remains Miyazaki`s sole manga series. He crafted the screenplay for the 1984 film adaptation based on elements from the initial two volumes of what would eventually expand into a seven-volume epic, concluding in 1994. Given that the manga continued for a decade post-film release, it`s unsurprising that the expansive 1,100-plus page series offers a distinctly different narrative from the movie. The Nausicaä manga is available in trade paperback or as a luxurious two-volume hardcover box set, complete with a display case, fully illustrated endpapers, and a watercolor poster. The Blu-ray and DVD combo pack for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is also among the Studio Ghibli films offered in a collectible steelbook case.
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Read the manga:
- Paperback (Volumes 1-7): $12-$15 each
- Complete Hardcover Box Set: $54 (was $80)
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Watch the adaptation:
- Steelbook Blu-ray: $19 (was $27)
- Standard Blu-ray: $16.56 (was $30)
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Books about both:
- Watercolor Impressions: $27 (was $35)
- Official Art Book: $30 (was $35)
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro presents a unique case compared to the other films and books mentioned. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the film debuted in 1988. Almost concurrently, a four-volume ani-manga was released in Japan, which Viz Media later translated into English between 2004 and 2005. Just last year, all four volumes were reissued as My Neighbor Totoro Film Comic: All-in-One Edition. This nearly 600-page hardcover is available for the excellent price of $30. The film also received a picture book adaptation in the same year of its release. Furthermore, for Totoro`s 25th anniversary, author Tsugiko penned a novelization of My Neighbor Totoro, featuring illustrations by Miyazaki himself.
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Watch the movie:
- Steelbook Blu-ray: $18.89 (was $27)
- 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray: $33 (was $50)
- Standard Blu-ray: $16.56 (was $25)
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Read the books based on the movie:
- My Neighbor Totoro: The Novel (hardcover): $15.27 (was $20)
- My Neighbor Totoro: Picture Book (hardcover): $17.54 (was $20)
- My Neighbor Totoro Film Comic: All-in-One Edition (hardcover): $25.32 (was $30)
Other Studio Ghibli Film Comics
My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki`s Delivery Service are not the sole Studio Ghibli films to receive ani-manga (known as film comics in the US) adaptations. Enthusiasts can also acquire omnibus editions of comics adapted from Spirited Away and Ponyo. The 856-page Spirited Away Film Comic: All-in-One Edition is currently on sale for $25.60 (originally $35). Ponyo`s All-in-One Edition, released in July, is available for $25.87 (originally $30). Ghibli fans can also preorder Princess Mononoke: All-in-One Edition in advance of its publication next January.
- Film Comic Editions:
- Spirited Away Film Comic: All-In-One Edition: $25.60 (was $35)
- Ponyo Film Comic: All-in-One Edition: $25.87 (was $30)
- Princess Mononoke: All-in-One Edition: $32.55 (was $35) | Releases January 27, 2026 (Preorder)