Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986) voices Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill directed by Hayao Miyazaki Movie Review

Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)

The First Studio Ghibli

To escape sky pirates who are after her Sheeta leaps from a flying ship and after blacking out floats to earth thanks to he pendant she wears. It is when she reaches Earth that she is discovered by Pazu ho takes his home. But the pirates are still after her as Sheeta has some connection to Laputa, the last castle in the sky which has magic powers. With various people wanting control of Laputa Sheeta and Pazu end up on an adventure to save Laputa from destruction.

Whilst Hayao Miyazaki had already given us such animations as "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" and "The Castle of Cagliostro", "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" was the first animation to come out of Studio Ghibli. Now I hate to say it but "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" didn't do it for me and unlike other Hayao Miyazaki animations the story which sees Sheeta and Pazu on an adventure didn't grab me and neither did their characters. I would say it is because this feels like a Ghibli animation made for children more than grown ups and there is nothing wrong with that but as a grown up it didn't grip me.

But having said that "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" is still a beautiful movie and it is the artistic side of it which kept me watching rather than the story. But again there is something about the animation work which to me seemed more aimed at a younger market and as such "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" comes way down the list when it comes to my favourite Studio Ghibli animations.

What this all boils down to is that as an adult watching "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" didn't live up to what I expected and seemed more an animation aimed at children. And if that is the case I am sure it works for them but as a grown up who enjoys the beauty and story telling of a Studio Ghibli animation this one didn't do it for me.


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