Castle in the Sky

Corrupt government agents, wild air pirates, a coveted necklace, and a fairytale castle in the sky—Miyazaki spins these into an adventure fantasy, the first feature-length film that was produced at Studio Ghibli. After escaping her captors, a young girl named Sheeta falls from the sky into the arms of Pazu, a young coal miner. Together, the two set out on a path full of dangers, hoping to find the floating isle of Laputa and perhaps also discover Sheeta’s true identity.

Castle in the Sky sketches the first hallmarks of most of Miyazaki’s works: a heroine who goes on a journey in search of a hidden treasure in an environment that is both realistic and imaginary, with plot and aesthetics drawing upon Japanese folklore and European romantic tradition (the name of the island is taken from Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift). Miyazaki was influenced by socialist ideas that find expression not only in the portrayal of the hard life in a mining town, but also in a critique of government that is estranged from the needs of the masses.