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

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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. 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 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.

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. 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

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. 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.

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 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. 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 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.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. 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 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.