Sun Arrow Howl's Moving Castle S-2945 Calcifer Plush Figure Orange 14 cm

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The fire is made by using a fur-like fabric across the whole body. This is an interesting decision since it mimics movement fairly well with the solid material. Yet, it runs the risk of being hard to shape and obscuring other features. The fur often gets in the way of Calcifer’s eyes, making the expression hard to read. There are also smaller sizes for sale, but they are sold for the same price. I recommend getting this one since the sizes aren’t that much of a difference, and you might as well get the biggest one to take advantage of every dollar. Pros I was shown my first Ghibli movie during my first year of college. I sat on the floor of the student lounge, since all my friends had taken the chairs already, and saw Howl’s Moving Castle. I was enthralled. The animation was beyond gorgeous, and the characters were interesting, even if I didn’t completely follow the story at the time.

The face is done with huge circular eyes and a wide puppet-like mouth. The three-dimensional mouth adds depth to the expression but at the cost of shape. It’s just open without intention. However, it adds charm that I think people who enjoy puppets would love. Pros Still, when I buy merchandise, I expect it to look like the character. So I ensured each plush had some feature that tied it directly to Calcifer. Usually, this was an iconic expression or the addition of the arms and legs he occasionally has in the movie. Personality Some characters don’t often get plushes. Think of how many human characters get plushes compared to animal characters. There are so few because making a cute human plush is much harder. They often have goofy faces or strange proportions that make them less appealing.

Limitations and obstacles breed creativity and innovation. I think you can see that creativity in the variations of Calcifer plushes. Most characters will look the same in all their different plushes, with variations coming mostly from quality, type of fabric, or degree of simplicity.

I found this plush on Aliexpress, depicting Calcifer sitting on a pile of soot. I like this idea of adding some environment to the plush. It’s a great way to better identify him since, in the movie, Calcifer relies on fuel to live. The arms also help to identify him, even if they can be hard to see sometimes. The fur is a combination of red and orange across the whole body. This helps create the illusion of movement but at the cost of the illusion of heat. By having the base of the fire be the same color as the tips of the flame, you make the fire look uniform in temperature when real fire, and the animated Calcifer, burn brighter and hotter toward the middle. Answer: Yes, Calcifer is Howl’s heart, so as Sohpie cares for the two, we see Calcifer growing fond of Sophie just as Howl does. Calcifer Plush: Conclusion

The customization options allow you to have both sides of Califer’s personality and personalization for gifts. This Calcifer is an oval shape with five short flames across his head. He has long arms bent on either side and a slightly furry fabric. At the base, the plush is yellow, fades to orange in the middle, and red at the top. Calcifer has a worried expression, a wide mouth pinched in the middle, and typical circular eyes. Compared to other plushes, the eyes are rather small, and the pupils directly in the center give him a thousand-yard stare. The two different options differ in color. The classic Calcifer has the typical red, orange, and yellow colors. The Blushing Calcifer replaces the red with hot pink. I like this idea of changing the color but keeping it warm to maintain the fire look while changing the vibe. Pros This is another amigurumi option that brings a different vibe. Rather than a solid, sizable plush for a shelf or play, these are little guys. They can still be displayed or played with but also work as accessories.

I looked for good, warm colors and dynamic shapes that matched the look the plush was going for. Some are symmetrical and clean, while others are wild and a bit messy. Mass Produced Plushes Calcifer Pillow Plush These depict flame using two colors. One large central tear-drop shape surrounded by a lighter color that forms smaller, more numerous flames around its base. This pushes the face all down to the bottom few rows. Most other plushes put it low but close to the middle. The low face emphasizes the simple expression and size. Each color comes with a different face that is printed onto the fabric. The red option showcases Calcifer’s nervous side, with wide eyes and a squiggly mouth. The blue option is far more devilish. Calcifer has angry eyes with a wide, fanged smile. Pros

An issue with Calcifer as a character is that, in essence, he is just fire with a face. He has very few distinct features that help to identify him beyond being a living flame. It’s dangerously easy to mistake Calcifer for a generic fire if you don’t have Howl’s Moving Castle in mind. You’ll also be treated to a wider array of options. Many creators will give you customization options ranging from color choice to adding personalized details. Calcifer has a huge amount of variation; all are only working with the same few elements of fire, a wide face, and maybe a log to sit on. Creators, both individual and official, have to make decisions on how to represent flames, light, and expression, and there are so many choices that work in different ways. If you enjoy this little Calcifer and like to crochet, you can buy the pattern from the creator! Pros Calcifer is memorable for many reasons. Most notable and obvious is his role in the movie. Having a fire demon personify the heart of a mysterious character is unique, interesting, and a great way to show Howl’s inner feelings. However, having an interesting role doesn’t make a character popular. People don’t like Calcifer because of symbolism. They like his spunky personality and attitude.

The plush can stand independently despite being small and round because it has poly beads in the base.

However, the shortcomings of the eyes are made up for by the mouth. Similar to the Fuzzy Calcifer, the mouth is three-dimensional. However, it is sewn into a particular shape to mimic the nervous half-smile Calcifer often does. This makes the expression dynamic and adds interest to the plush as a whole. Pros His grumpy yet soft personality draws people to him, so his plush should convey that. Ghibli animates complex and evocative expressions, so there are many to choose from when making a plush. I ensured that each plush I chose somehow emulated some aspect of Calcifer’s personality through its expression. Fire Representation The character I was most enamored by was Calcifer. I’m a big fan of little characters with big personalities, so this grumpy fire fit the bill perfectly. He’s had a special place in my heart ever since. Bottom Line Up Front Fire is difficult to represent in any medium. It doesn’t have hard lines or solid colors to copy and translate. Thus, we need to find workarounds to try and mimic the idea of fire. I choose Calcifer plushes that successfully convey the idea that he is living flame in effective and creative ways.