Castle in the Sky was released in 1986 as the first official Studio Ghibli film. The critically acclaimed movie returned to certain theaters as part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2021, on November 14, 15, and 18.
Film club member Brett Gieras (‘23) states that, “This movie has a great animation style, and I recommend anyone who enjoys animation to see it.”
Like the Ghibli productions that would follow it, Castle in the Sky contains themes of human nature, history, and environmentalism. The film focuses on Sheeta (Anna Paquin), an orphan who possesses a magical amulet that can unlock the power of Laputa, the castle in the sky. Abducted onto an airship by government agents seeking to obtain the amulet, Sheeta falls from the ship while trying to escape.
Another orphan named Pazu (James Van Der Beek) catches her as she floats down into a mining town. Despite her fall, Sheeta’s amulet protects her and demonstrates its extraordinary powers. Seeking the amulet, pirates and government agents pursue the two. Pazu and Sheeta find Laputa and discover a castle overrun by plants and animals. They are then faced with the problem of what to do with the richness of Laputa.
The visuals of the movie are effective and poignant, especially in terms of worldbuilding. Set in a steampunk world, the color scheme is vibrant and enthralling. The traditional hand-drawn animation denotes the Ghibli animation style very well.
The most outstanding part of this movie is the soundtrack, composed by Joe Hisaishi. The electronic-orchestral score is dramatic, with “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky” and “Castle in the Sky” especially underscoring revealing moments in the film. There is a variety of music in the soundtrack, and it beautifully represents the characters’ development and the film’s moods.
The return of Castle in the Sky is part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2021. To celebrate the immense influence of Studio Ghibli films, Studio Ghibli Fest was created. It was launched in 2017 by Fathom Events. This year, GKIDS, a producer and distributor of many other animated films, and Fathom Events are collaborating on the event.
Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt says, “Studio Ghibli Fest has become an annual must-do for animation fans. We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with GKIDS to bring fans the unique opportunity to experience some of the best in animation in their local cinemas among a community of fellow fans.”
This year’s festival began in October with showings of Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. Showings of My Neighbor Totoro will follow Castle in the Sky in early December.
