For example, when she cheerfully cleans the rooms, I added some brightness to her skin and clothes. I would alter the colors according to each scene.

She might appear plain, but I made sureshe would have the appeal of a refined old lady. She simply wouldn't look old without her skin being wrinkled and blemished. Michiyo Yasuda elaborated on choosing the right colors for Sophie's design, 'I was determined to make the aged Sophie look cute, but I had to dismiss that approach almost immediately. The drawings became more 'Sophie-like' once I managed to convey Sophie's personality as an old lady. So I thought it might be better to draw the aged Sophie as representing Sophie's personality. Supervising animator Takeshi Inamura handled many of the initial character sketches, 'At first, I drew her as if she were merely an older version of Sophie, but then she didn't resemble 'Sophie' at all. Despite her misgivings, she ends up tolerating the Witch of the Waste after she is turned feeble by the royal sorceress Madame Suliman.Įarly concepts of elder Sophie by Takeshi Inamura felt like they 'didn't resemble Sophie'. She also serves as a maternal figure to Markl and a friend to Calcifer and Turnip Head. She develops feelings for the poor, cowardly wizard. Tired of wizard Howl's indolence, she initiates cleaning his castle. She is far too mature and serious for her age, much to the chagrin of her sister Lettie and stepmother Honey. Sophie is a reserved, plain-looking young woman. Afterward she tucks her shoulder-length hair behind her ears. She later cuts her hair and gives it to Calcifer in order to move the castle. Her hair becomes silver as a side effect of the curse Howl likes it because it looks like starlight. Sophie's braid is shorter in her old form. Throughout the rest of the film, her old form doesn't suffer back pain and she stands straighter her wrinkles also smoothen. When defending Howl to Sullivan, Sophie briefly regains her original appearance, but turns back after. As elder Sophie, she continues to wear her cerulean dress, pairing it with a straw hat adorned with a red ribbon.Įlder Sophie vigorously cleaning Howl's castle.ĭue to her love for Howl, Sophie de-ages depending on her emotional state. She adapts quickly to her situation, admitting she has become more cunning in her old age. She wears a cerulean dress with a white neck and black buttons.Īfter receiving a curse by the Witch of the Waste, she is transformed into a 90-year-old woman. She has thick eyebrows, and Howl says that her smile is beautiful. She has big brown eyes and matching hair, tied with two pink ribbons, in a long braid. Sophie is a relatively plain looking 18-year-old woman who works at her father's hat shop.

Sophie howls moving castle