Laputa: Castle in the Sky is Hayao Miyazaki‘s third feature film.

Plot:
Pazu is an orphan who works in a coal mine. One day, a girl – Sheeta, who escaped from some mysterious men in dark glasses – comes floating down from the sky and into Pazu’s arms. She is protected by a mysterious pendant. But the mysterious men – and some sky pirates – keep on chasing them, since Sheeta and Pazu are both connected to the flying island Laputa.

I have to admit that with Laputa, it was quite the opposite than with Nausicaä: On rewatching, I didn’t like it that much anymore, which as usual, is a completely relative thing and means that it still ranks among my favourite animated movies.

On rewatching, I was a little disappointed by the castle itself, I have to admit. I know that on first watching, I was absolutely struck by its beauty. I was literally in awe. It didn’t hold up on the second time. I don’t know why. I still find it stunning and the images in general are wonderful but it just didn’t touch me in the same way as the first time. Maybe I was expecting too much, maybe it lost the novelty factor or maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood the day I watched it.

Whatever the reason… I just can report that it was like that.

And also I remembered that the robots had a much bigger part (especially the last one on Laputa) than they actually had. But that also as a sidenote.

But the story is still great and Pazu and Sheeta are a wonderfully sweet couple. The unfolding of their innocent love-friendship is beautifully done.

And I love the sky pirates. I mean, who wouldn’t?

The ending is very bittersweet and rather open. But I won’t say anymore about it, in case you haven’t seen the film.

[If you haven’t seen the film, go and watch it. And the rest of Miyazaki’s oeuvre.]

Well, Miyazaki still hasn’t reached his height with this film, but it’s good to watch and very beautiful.