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Toshio Suzuki Answers Fan Questions About Studio Ghibli on Official Twitter

Last Friday, Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki as a creator.

Some highlights from the Q&A are below:

• When creating Howl's Moving Castle, Miyazaki based Sophie off his own mother and Howl off his own ideal self. According to Suzuki, all of Miyazaki's heroines are based off his mother when she was young because Miyazaki has a mother complex.
• The reason why Chieko Baisho was cast to play Sophie is because Miyazaki is a big fan of the actress. However, he keeps that fact hidden.
• Howl's The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.
• Suzuki confirmed that Heen the "errand dog" was based on Mamoru Oshii. "Their faces bear a strong resemblance, don't you think?"
• The food depicted in Ghibli films all look so tasty because they are all drawn from food that Miyazaki himself has cooked. 
• Suzuki's favorite scene in Howl's Moving Castle is when Sophie and the Witch of the Waste discuss love. The most memorable scene is when they climb the stairs. Miyazaki is a big fan of that scene as well.
• When asked, "Have you ever called the spirits of darkness?" Suzuki replied that because of Miyazaki he calls them all the time, because their faces resemble Miyazaki.
• Suzuki's favorite Ghibli character is from a work that is currently still in production.
• Suzuki speculates that right now Howl is probably looking for a new woman. 

To cap off the session, Suzuki asked, "Do you know Diana Wynne Jones novel.

Source: Studio Ghibli's official Twitter