Castle in the Sky | Hayao Miyazaki

Castle in the Sky, also known as Laputa: Castle in the Sky, is a 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was produced by Isao Takahata, animated by Studio Ghibli, and distributed by Toei. The film stars the voices of Mayumi Tanaka, Keiko Yokozawa, Kotoe Hatsui, and Minori Terada. In the film, orphans Sheeta and Pazu are pursued by government agent Muska, the army, and a group of pirates. They seek Sheeta's crystal necklace, the key to accessing Laputa, a legendary flying castle hosting advanced technology.

Castle in the Sky was the first film to be animated by Studio Ghibli. Its production team included many of Miyazaki's longtime collaborators, who would continue to work with the studio for the following three decades. The film was partly inspired by Miyazaki's trips to Wales, where he witnessed the aftermath of the 1984–1985 coal miners' strike. The island of Laputa is used to highlight the theme of environmentalism, exploring the relationships between humanity, nature, and technology, a reflection of Miyazaki's ecological philosophy. The young protagonists also provide a unique perspective on the narrative, as a result of Miyazaki's desire to portray "the honesty and goodness of children in work." Many aspects of the film's retrofuturistic style, the flying machines in particular, are influenced by nineteenth-century approaches, which has earned the film a reputation in the modern steampunk genre.

Product Features

★ Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo
★ Feature-Length Storyboards
★ Original Theatrical Trailers
★ Promotional Video
★ Behind the Microphone
★ Scoring Miyazaki
★ Producer's Perspective: Meeting Miyazaki
★ Creating Castle in the Sky
★ Textless Opening and End Credits
★ Character Sketches
★ Additional English Mix of Film
★ 12-pg Booklet with Statements from Producers and Director