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

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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 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. 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. 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

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 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. 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. The facial expression is the best part of this plush. He’s got a round smile and wideset eyes that mimic Ghibli animation perfectly. Looking at him makes me want to smile every time.

Hoshii

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. The customization options allow you to have both sides of Califer’s personality and personalization for gifts.

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

If you enjoy this little Calcifer and like to crochet, you can buy the pattern from the creator! Pros By this time, I knew I wouldn’t have Calcifer done in time for Christmas, which is not a big deal; last year Suzi and I exchanged gifts in January. This is an amigurumi Calcifer, meaning it is a crocheted plush. It represents Calcifer as a three-pronged flamed with tiny arms and feet hanging onto a wooden log. He is primarily yellow with red-tipped orange flames and orange arms and legs.

I used some washed fleece to exhaust the dye bath, which I later combed and used as stuffing for the plush. I dyed close to a pound of washed fleece. I’m estimating; I didn’t actually weigh it out, just added more water to the dye pot and stuffed in what I could to sop up the dye. I did that with the other dye baths as well; eventually I’m going to use the wool to make some rolags that look like fire, so keep an eye out here for a post about that. What I like most about this plush is the log and how Calcifer is posed on it. His feet and arms are so tiny and round compared to his body, and they are sewn to connect with the log to make it look like he’s trapped over it. The whole thing reminds me of the moments when Calcifer hangs on for dear life as he moves around. Pros 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: ConclusionI 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. 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 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