Before Disney started its animation Renaissance in the late 1980s, Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli was already producing his own animated classics; Castle in the Sky was one of them.
Because the word "castle" is in its title, some might confuse Castle in the Sky with Howl's Moving Castle (which came out much later and has a different story). Besides, unlike Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky has protagonists who appear to be in their late childhood or early adolescence.
The film follows Lucita "Sheeta," a young girl who floats from an airship into the arms of apprentice Pazu. The two become friends as they embark on a quest to find Laputa, a legendary castle floating in the sky (which references the title). Throughout their journey, Sheeta and Pazu make several friends, especially Uncle Pom, who helps them, as well as facing several enemies, including a team of greedy air pirates.
There are several high-stakes moments throughout the film. For instance, Pazu and Sheeta hang onto a torn railroad while escaping the pirates. Pazu also appears to be at risk of falling when climbing up a crumbling structure during the climax. The enemies, including the air pirates and Laputa's ruler Muska, who attempts to force Sheeta into royalty, add to the film's stakes.
The plotline was adventurous, but it was rather complex for my taste; when all seems to go well, more and more gets added on. Hence, Castle in the Sky is not one for those not wanting to sit through long movies. There are also a lot of gunshots throughout the movie, making it earn its PG rating.
Plot aside, the characters are quite appealing, especially Sheeta with her headband and braids. She has a tragic backstory of living alone on a farm prior to her capture by pirates, which got me more interested in her character. It is also interesting how her magic crystal allows her (and Pazu) to float while falling. Her growing friendship with Pazu (and the pirates) is also endearing.
The visuals and animation also deserve praise; the backgrounds are well-designed and the colors pleasant to look at (especially the grass). Other highlights include the characters' exaggerated facial expriessions and mannerisms (particularly when the pirates eat Sheeta's food).
As with many Studio Ghibli movies, there is some paganism in Castle in the Sky, especially Sheeta's spells from her grandmother. She uses one during the climax, so Christian viewers need discernment.
Overall, Castle in the Sky is a decent adventure. I enjoyed it less than My Neighbor Totoro, but I definitely recommend it for fans of anime and/or fantasy quests.
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