About the Lost One in the Work of Hayao Miyazaki

The subject of the study is the phenomenon of the lost in the work of Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. The object of the study was the animated film "Howl’s Moving Castle", which became a turning point in the director's life. In the process of filming, he experienced a series of losses: the death of a friend, the collapse of the studio, the beginning of another war, the onset of his own aging. Understanding the working (influence) of mourning was first considered from a psychological point of view by Sigmund Freud at the beginning of the last century. Currently, the topic of trauma and loss in modern world culture remains relevant. In this paper, the analysis of the selected film from the standpoint of applied psychoanalysis was undertaken. In particular, the main characters of the story were analyzed: Sophie, Howl, the Moving Castle, secondary characters, and antagonists. In the study, it was shown that "Moving Castle" is a magical fairy tale about the initiation of a loving couple to come of age. Women are represented as rather omnipotent and phallic "mothers", while men are represented as weak and infirm "children". Antagonists embody a complex structure that includes the negative sides of the soul, evil characters, as well as the image of war. Separately, the manifestation of the phenomenon of "absolute evil" was shown, the purpose of which is the destruction of any meanings and the formation of "emptiness", which differs from the libidinal tendency to form various connections and search for meaning. Each character in the film faces loss, both external and internal. Without starting the work of mourning, it is impossible to survive it and continue the development of the psyche on the way of "growing up". The image of the director's "nostalgia" for what was lost was highlighted, reflecting his unconscious memories of the early years of his life. Thus, the story of Howl’s Moving Castle provides an opportunity to touch the theme of mourning for what was lost in the director's work, which embodies his concern for the future of humanity. This article can serve as a springboard for acquaintance with director’s personality and his magical world, as well as with his last film-testament: "The Boy and the Heron" or "How Do You Live?"