Fireless fire spirit is ready to provide the cozy glows of the Ghibli anime film.
For some Studio Ghibli characters, the marketing potential is obvious. Totoro, for example, is so invitingly cuddly-looking that making soft plushies of him feels like the most natural possible extension of his on-screen persona.
But what about Calcifer, from Howl’s Moving Castle? Sure, he’s got a cute design and memorable scenes, but his body is made out of burning flames. How do you turn that into something for fans to own that still feels true to the character?
It’s a tricky question, but the designers at Ghibli specialty shopDonguri Kyowakoku have an excellent answer, placing a recreation of the fire spirit atop a candle. Well, I suppose since it’s made of plastic instead of wax, this would technically be a candle-shaped figurine, but even if there’s no wick to light, the Calcifer Candle Light actually does provide illumination!
There’s even a bit of cool simulated magic in how you turn the light on and off. There’s a master power switch, which the designers placed on the bottom of the candle, so that it’s out of sight when placed in its holder. As long as the master power switch is turned on, you can turn the light on and off by giving the candle a little shake with a wave of your hand.
And since flames don’t have a static, constant color, Calcifer’s light changes hues, with shifting tinges of red and blue if left on.
▼ Some might say he’s a little unsettling from certain angles, but Ghibli anime have often mixed some spooky elements in with their baseline cuteness.
Even the packaging shows a high level of design, with hatbox-like aesthetics that bring to mind heroine Sophie’s hatter background.
Oh, and the candle will automatically turn off after 15 minutes of stillness, making Calcifer a capable nightlight to have on as you drift off to sleep.
The Calcifer Candle Light has been out of stock for some time, but Donguri Kyowakoku says it’s now available once again, priced at 5.,940 yen (US$37), and if you’re looking to welcome him to your castle, orders can be placed through the chain’s online shop here.
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