There are many questions I can ask here: why’s it a waltz? Why’s it so long? Why does it have so many layers that still work beautifully? But none are more curious than its name. I’d like to offer a theory on why it’s called The Merry-Go-Round of Life.
Wars are…messy. Let’s put it that way. They’re part of the human experience, and they occur often, but that doesn’t make them any less upsetting or frustrating. Between the violence, chaos and bloodshed, wars are as devastating to the environment as they are the human psyche. But you don’t need me to tell you that, as Miyazaki has already done so.
For all the reasons people go to war, there always need to be distractions and levity to balance that. Thinking about war 24/7, especially in the middle of one, is unhealthy, so escapism’s necessary. There are many ways this is achieved, but perhaps the most interesting is the amusement park. The carousel, or the merry-go-round, in particular. Merry-go-rounds have a long history surrounding war, and they’ve been a popular distraction in battle. I even recall a poignant moment from the Holocaust book Jacob’s Rescue, where one of the characters asks his father about the placement of a carousel outside of The Warsaw Ghetto.
Carousels and war go together like peanut butter and jelly on bread. But that brings us to this particular tune; after all, if Howl’s Moving Castle’s about the chaos and destruction of war, why’s this song called The Merry-Go-Round of Life? And why’s it the movie’s leitmotif, articulated and reticulated constantly? What about this naming choice fits in such a layered and chaotic experience? I think it has to do with the carousel’s history and what it represents, as well as how this motif subverts that.
If you look at the objects on a carousel, you’ll notice they’re mostly soldiers on horses rotating in a circle. This isn’t accidental, as the 12th Century Arabian and Turkish warriors from which it originates were alluding to military conquests. The carousel has seen many changes and evolutions over the centuries, even eliminating the scented perfume balls they were once associated with. Yet the iconography of mounted horses heading to battle never went away. If anything, they’ve become so baked in that people have forgotten their history.
War aside, carousels are, quite simply, fun. True, the circular motion might be a problem for conditions like vertigo, but carousels, or merry-go-rounds, are popular with children. What better to briefly distract kids than with a repetitive contraption that has roots in military conquest? And for cheap? If anything, I’d benefit from that!
If you look at the objects on a carousel, you’ll notice they’re mostly soldiers on horses rotating in a circle. This isn’t accidental, as the 12th Century Arabian and Turkish warriors from which it originates were alluding to military conquests. The carousel has seen many changes and evolutions over the centuries, even eliminating the scented perfume balls they were once associated with. Yet the iconography of mounted horses heading to battle never went away. If anything, they’ve become so baked in that people have forgotten their history.
War aside, carousels are, quite simply, fun. True, the circular motion might be a problem for conditions like vertigo, but carousels, or merry-go-rounds, are popular with children. What better to briefly distract kids than with a repetitive contraption that has roots in military conquest? And for cheap? If anything, I’d benefit from that!
Okay, we’ve established the connection between the merry-go-round and war. But then…why’s this motif not called The Merry-Go-Round of Death, especially when that’s more fitting? I think the name’s an ironic commentary on war. If war’s about death and destruction, why not commemorate life? Innocent lives are frequently lost in war, and many are because of negligence. We’ve seen so many innocents die in war that The Geneva Conventions have labelled civilian deaths as “war crimes”.
This fits the running commentary of Howl’s Moving Castle: that war’s pointless. Whether or not you agree, it’s poignant considering that the war this movie’s commenting on, The Iraq War, is regarded as wasteful and meaningless in hindsight. So much bloodshed occurred over the false pretence of WMDs that once The US pulled out during The Obama Administration, over 4400 people had died. This movie was calling out the war before it was popular, with Miyazaki arguing that life takes precedence. He even missed his previous movie, Spirited Away, winning an Oscar in 2003 in protest!
Calling this The Merry-Go-Round of Life is perfect. As is its length and messiness. Wars are often long and have long shadows, their impacts felt decades and centuries later. All the more fitting that this came from Japan, a country devastated by war and The Atomic Bomb. I don’t think that’s accidental.
This fits the running commentary of Howl’s Moving Castle: that war’s pointless. Whether or not you agree, it’s poignant considering that the war this movie’s commenting on, The Iraq War, is regarded as wasteful and meaningless in hindsight. So much bloodshed occurred over the false pretence of WMDs that once The US pulled out during The Obama Administration, over 4400 people had died. This movie was calling out the war before it was popular, with Miyazaki arguing that life takes precedence. He even missed his previous movie, Spirited Away, winning an Oscar in 2003 in protest!
Calling this The Merry-Go-Round of Life is perfect. As is its length and messiness. Wars are often long and have long shadows, their impacts felt decades and centuries later. All the more fitting that this came from Japan, a country devastated by war and The Atomic Bomb. I don’t think that’s accidental.
Outside of that, the motif’s romantic nature, and the part that gives me chills, is also not accidental. Howl’s Moving Castle’s messy, and it’s not one of my favourites from Miyazaki, but the element that works best is the love story between Howl and Sophie. Their chemistry’s as natural as their situation is dire, and the war taking a backseat to their bond is why this movie works at all. If anything, Howl and Sophie are Miyazaki’s best-written couple, surpassing Ashitaka/San and Pazu/Sheeta. With that in mind, it’s brilliant.
It helps that this motif has many variations, or reticulations, that can be romantically-suspenseful and romantically-tragic when need be. As the expression goes, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you don’t deserve me at my best!”. Life and love have ups and downs, like a merry-go-round, and all the more during war, which can turn both upside down instantly. By referencing a merry-go-round, using the word “life” in the title and reticulating to meet the chaos of war, The Merry-Go-Round of Life is sending us a message. It’s telling us that life’s cyclical, messy and filled with ups and downs, but also romantic, beautiful and powerful. I think that’s what Joe Hisaishi was going for, and it’s why I consider this his best piece of music.
There’s plenty going against Howl’s Moving Castle in general: it’s overlong, poorly-paced and messy narratively. It has too many underbaked plot-threads that are dropped or rushed. Its antagonist, though thematically coherent, isn’t well-developed. And its structure, story-wise and visually, is gonzo in all the wrong ways. Yet despite this, the music consistently works. If everything I’ve said is indication, that’s the highest praise I can give. Because Hisaishi has many compositions that are masterpieces, and this being my favourite’s no small feat!
It helps that this motif has many variations, or reticulations, that can be romantically-suspenseful and romantically-tragic when need be. As the expression goes, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you don’t deserve me at my best!”. Life and love have ups and downs, like a merry-go-round, and all the more during war, which can turn both upside down instantly. By referencing a merry-go-round, using the word “life” in the title and reticulating to meet the chaos of war, The Merry-Go-Round of Life is sending us a message. It’s telling us that life’s cyclical, messy and filled with ups and downs, but also romantic, beautiful and powerful. I think that’s what Joe Hisaishi was going for, and it’s why I consider this his best piece of music.
There’s plenty going against Howl’s Moving Castle in general: it’s overlong, poorly-paced and messy narratively. It has too many underbaked plot-threads that are dropped or rushed. Its antagonist, though thematically coherent, isn’t well-developed. And its structure, story-wise and visually, is gonzo in all the wrong ways. Yet despite this, the music consistently works. If everything I’ve said is indication, that’s the highest praise I can give. Because Hisaishi has many compositions that are masterpieces, and this being my favourite’s no small feat!
If you don’t believe me, listen to it and say I’m wrong!
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