as "uneasy compromise between two plots and two imaginations," referring to Jones' original story and Miyazaki's style of animation and storytelling. However, he stated that those scenes which were not dependent either on Jones' original plot or Miyazaki's added plot threads found "a visual humor that recalls the verbal wit and lightness of Jones's novel," and that the "animation manages to free itself from the demands of the two plots—and flies." Top ten lists The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2005. 2nd – Ella Taylor, LA Weekly (tie) 4th – Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times 5th – Tasha Robinson, The A.V. Club 6th – Lawrence Toppman, The Charlotte Observer 6th – Jonathan Rosenbaum, The Chicago Reader (tie) 8th – Michael Sragow, The Baltimore Sun 8th – Michael Wilmington, The Chicago Tribune NA – Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor (listed alphabetically) Accolades References Sources External links Official Website by Disney 2004 fantasy films 2004 films 2000s Japanese-language films 2000s romantic fantasy films 2000s children's animated films 2000s war films 2004 anime films Adventure anime and manga Animated films about magic Animated war films Anime films based on novels Fantasy adventure films Fantasy war films Feminism in anime and manga Films about curses Films about witchcraft Films based on British novels Films based on fantasy novels Films directed by Hayao Miyazaki Films scored by Joe Hisaishi Films set in castles Films set in the 20th century Howl's Moving Castle Japanese animated fantasy films Nebula Award for Best Script-winning works Sentient objects in fiction Steampunk anime and manga Studio Ghibli animated films Toho animated films War in anime and manga Steampunk films Japanese children's films