Castle in the Sky

1986 Japanese animated film by Hayao Miyazaki

This article is about the 1986 animated film. For other uses, see Castles in the Sky (disambiguation).

Castle in the Sky

Theatrical release poster

Japanese name
Kanji| 天空の城ラピュタ
| Transcriptions

Revised Hepburn| Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta
Directed by| Hayao Miyazaki
Written by| Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by| Isao Takahata
Starring|

* Mayumi Tanaka
* Keiko Yokozawa
* Kotoe Hatsui
* Minori Terada

Cinematography| Hirokata Takahashi
Edited by|

* Takeshi Seyama
* Yoshihiro Kasahara

Music by| Joe Hisaishi

Production
company

Studio Ghibli

Distributed by| Toei

Release date

* August 2, 1986 (1986-08-02)

Running time

| 124 minutes
Country| Japan
Language| Japanese
Budget| ¥500 million (US$8 million)

Castle in the Sky,[a] 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 [his] work."[1] 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.

The film was released in Japanese theaters on August 2, 1986. It underperformed expectations at the box office, but later achieved commercial success through rereleases, earning over US$157 million as of 2021. An English dub commissioned by Tokuma Shoten was distributed in North America by Streamline Pictures, and another dub was produced by Disney in 1998, released internationally by Buena Vista in 2003. The film's score was composed by Joe Hisaishi, who would become a close collaborator of Miyazaki's; Hisaishi also composed a reworked soundtrack for the 2003 English dub. The film was generally acclaimed by critics, though the English dubs received mixed reviews. It was well received by audiences, being voted as one of the greatest animated films in polls conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Oricon. The film also received several notable accolades, including the Ōfuji Noburō Award at the Mainichi Film Awards and the Anime Grand Prix from Animage. Castle in the Sky has since earned "cult status",[2] and has influenced several notable artists working in multiple media.

## Plot summary

[edit]

An airship carrying Sheeta – an orphan girl abducted by government agent Muska – is attacked by air pirate Dola and her gang, who seek Sheeta's crystal necklace. Attempting to escape, Sheeta falls from the airship but is saved by the magic of the now-glowing crystal, which lowers her gently. Pazu, an orphan working as a mechanic in a 19th-century mining town, catches Sheeta and takes her to his home to recover. The next morning, Pazu shows Sheeta a picture his father took of Laputa, a mythical castle on a flying island, which Pazu now seeks. Dola's gang and Muska's soldiers shortly arrive looking for Sheeta. Pazu and Sheeta are chased through the town and fall into a mine shaft, but are saved again by the crystal. In the tunnels, they meet Uncle Pom, who shows them deposits of the glowing mineral Aetherium, the same material as Sheeta's crystal.

Sheeta reveals to Pazu that she has a secret name tying her to Laputa, proving the myth is real. The army captures and detains the two in a fortress. Muska shows Sheeta a dead robot that fell from the sky, bearing the same insignia as on Sheeta's crystal, and reveals she is the heiress to the Laputan throne. Muska releases Pazu in exchange for Sheeta guiding the army to Laputa. Returning home, Pazu is captured by Dola's gang, who prepare to take the crystal from the fortress. Pazu joins the gang in an attempt to save Sheeta. In the fortress, Sheeta recites an ancient phrase her mother taught her and inadvertently activates the crystal's magic, reanimating the robot. The robot protects Sheeta from the army and destroys the fortress with its weapons, but is destroyed in turn by the military airship Goliath. In the chaos, Pazu and Dola rescue Sheeta. However, Sheeta's crystal is left behind, its magic still active, which allows Muska to use it to navigate to Laputa.

Sheeta, having seen the crystal's directions and being able to navigate to Laputa, helps Pazu convince Dola to take them there in exchange for temporarily joining her crew. That night, Sheeta and Pazu keep watch from the crow's nest as Goliath suddenly attacks Dola's airship. Dola detaches the crow's nest, which also functions as a glider attached to the ship with a line. Pazu spots a massive storm, wherein he believes his father saw Laputa. Dola attempts to steer into the clouds, but is halted by violent winds. Goliath destroys the airship, severing the line connecting it to the glider. Sheeta and Pazu pass through the turbulent lightning storm.

They land safely on Laputa, which they find deserted but for some fauna and one peaceful robot. The castle is in ruins, and a giant tree now grows out of the top of the island. The army arrives and begins looting the castle, having taken Dola's gang captive. Muska and his accomplices betray the army, destroying their communication systems, and take Sheeta into the castle's core. Pazu frees Dola's gang from their bindings and pursues Muska. The castle's core is the center of Laputa's ancient knowledge and weapons, which Muska activates using Sheeta's crystal, revealing to her that he is also a descendant of the Laputan royal line. Demonstrating Laputa's power by causing a massive explosion over the ocean and by destroying Goliath, Muska plans to use Laputa to destroy humanity, believing them inferior to himself and Sheeta. A horrified Sheeta takes back the crystal and flees, but Muska intercepts her in Laputa's throne room.

Pazu reaches the throne room and bargains for a brief truce. Sheeta teaches Pazu another ancient phrase, the spell of destruction. The spell sends Muska falling to his death, with the giant tree shielding Sheeta and Pazu from Laputa's destruction. The rest of the castle – along with Dola's glider – is preserved by the giant tree, and the island rises into space. Sheeta, Pazu, and Dola's gang escape, and briefly reunite before flying away.

## Voice cast

[edit]

Mayumi Tanaka (pictured in 2023), who voiced Pazu in the original Japanese version[3]

Mark Hamill (pictured in 2017) received critical praise for his performance of Muska in the 2003 English dub.[4]

Character name  | Voice actor[3]

|

English  | Japanese  | Japanese
(1986) | English
Unknown / Tokuma
(1987)[b] | Disney / Buena Vista
(2003)
Pazu  | Pazū (パズー) | Mayumi Tanaka | Barbara Goodson[5] | James Van Der Beek
Sheeta  | Shīta (シータ) | Keiko Yokozawa | Louise Chambell | Anna Paquin
Debi Derryberry (young)
Dola  | Dōra (ドーラ) | Kotoe Hatsui [ja] | Rachel Vanowen | Cloris Leachman
Muska  | Musuka (ムスカ) | Minori Terada | Jack Witte | Mark Hamill
General  | Shōgun (将軍) | Ichirō Nagai | Mark Richards | Jim Cummings
Uncle Pom  | Pomujī (ポムじい) | Fujio Tokita [ja] | Fujio Tokita | Richard Dysart
Mr. Duffi / Boss  | Oyakata (親方) | Hiroshi Ito | Charles Wilson | John Hostetter
Charles  | Sharuru (シャルル) | Takuzō Kamiyama [ja] | Bob Stuart | Michael McShane
Henri  | Anri (アンリ) | Sukekiyo Kameyama | Eddie Frierson[6] | Andy Dick
Louis  | Rui (ルイ) | Yoshito Yasuhara | Un­known | Mandy Patinkin
Okami / Sheeta's mother  | Okami (おかみ) | Machiko Washio | Tress MacNeille
Madge  | Majji (マッジ) | Tarako Isono | Debi Derryberry
Motro / Old Engineer  | Rōgishi (老技師) | Ryūji Saikachi | Eddie Frierson
Train Operator  | Keibentetsudō no kikanshi (軽便鉄道の機関士) | Tomomichi Nishimura | Matt K. Miller

## Development

[edit]

### Beginnings of Studio Ghibli

[edit]

Further information: Studio Ghibli § History, and The Story of Yanagawa's Canals § Production

Following the commercial success of Miyazaki's previous film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Miyazaki was eager to begin work on an old-fashioned adventure film that would be a "pleasure" to watch.[7] His first proposal for an animated feature film was based on a research trip to Yanagawa, tentatively titled "Blue Mountains".[8] The film was never produced, but it inspired Miyazaki's longtime collaborator Isao Takahata to create The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987), a documentary on the environmental effects of industry on the local waterways.[9] As Miyazaki was financing the project in large part through his personal office,[10] Animage editor Toshio Suzuki recommended that he direct another film to recover the expense, to which Miyazaki immediately agreed. He quickly developed a concept for the film based on an idea he had in elementary school. In 2014, Suzuki reflected on the events, saying "If Takahata had made his movie on schedule, [Castle in the Sky] wouldn't have been born."[11]

On June 15, 1985, Miyazaki and Takahata founded Studio Ghibli, with support from Suzuki and his publishing company Tokuma Shoten. Miyazaki chose the name himself,[12] referencing both the Arabic term for a warm wind from the Sahara, as well as the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli, an aircraft used by the Italian military during the Second World War.[13] The intent behind the creation of the studio was to "blow a whirlwind" into a stagnating Japanese animation industry by creating original, high-quality feature films.[14] In a speech at the 1995 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Suzuki said "The idea was to dedicate full energy into each piece of work with sufficient budget and time, never compromising on the quality or content."[15]

### Trips to Wales

[edit]

Caerphilly Castle (top) and Big Pit Mine (bottom) in southern Wales. Miyazaki drew inspiration from the region for the film.[16]

Miyazaki first visited Wales on a research trip in 1985, when Castle in the Sky was in the early stages of production. He decided to take inspiration from the architecture of the region, and as a result, some of the structures seen in the film resemble Welsh mining towns.[16] Miyazaki also witnessed the aftermath of the coal miners' strike. Their ultimate failure to preserve the industry left a lasting impact on Miyazaki, who viewed the event as an attack by those in power on the miners' way of life and the hard-working spirit of the people.[12] His experiences are reflected in several supporting characters in the film, who despite laboring through poverty in the mines, enthusiastically protect the protagonists from multiple aggressors. Susan J. Napier argues that this depiction reveals Miyazaki's yearning for a simpler way of life, and a desire to create a story based on optimism.[14] Animation scholar Helen McCarthy writes "It seems that Castle in the Sky also contains echoes of the struggle of the Welsh people for nationhood and freedom."[17] Miyazaki would visit Wales once more in 1986, ahead of the release of the film. In 2005, he told The Guardian "I admired those men, I admired the way they battled to save their way of life, just as the coal miners in Japan did. Many people of my generation see the miners as a symbol; a dying breed of fighting men. Now they are gone."[18]

### Production

[edit]

Certain special effects from the film use a combination of cel and film techniques.[19] Takahata, who produced the film, insisted that the highest quality be maintained in spite of the production expense. Napier argues that the production of Castle in the Sky "established a new industry standard".[14] Miyazaki stated in the original project proposal that "[Castle in the Sky] is a project to bring animation back to its roots."[20]

Many of Miyazaki's old colleagues as well as much of the production crew of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind were employed once again to work on Castle in the Sky at Studio Ghibli's inception.[12] The film had a reported production budget of ¥500 million,[c] equivalent to US$8 million in 2023.[22] Several animation studios such as Doga Kobo and Oh! Production provided support for the in-between animation.[3]

## Themes

[edit]

### Roles of nature and technology

[edit]

Castle in the Sky contains a strong theme of environmentalism, questioning humanity's relationship with nature and the role of technology.[23] McCarthy interprets the giant tree of Laputa as a "metaphor for the reviving and life-giving power of nature."[24] However, in contrast with the more optimistic conclusions of Miyazaki's previous works, Napier notes that the film ends with an "unsettling view" of the castle flying away, suggesting that humanity may not deserve to exist in the natural world.[25] Literary scholar Anthony Lioi interprets Laputa as an ecological utopia that demonstrates the peace that can be established between nature and advanced technology, but also serves as a criticism of modernity when "[the] peace is shattered by human violence."[26] Lioi notes that this outlook differs from dominant Western ideas, eschewing the extremes of capitalism and industrialism, as well as radical environmentalism and conservationism.[26]

While Laputa's giant tree is seen as a metaphor for the restorative capability of the natural world, its underside is a symbol of the immorality of modernity.[26]

Critics note the philosophical ambiguity of the castle; while Laputa initially appears to be an ideal union of nature and technology, it is later revealed to have a much harsher and more oppressive underside;[24] Napier writes that Laputa is "deeply paradoxical".[27] Laputa itself takes direct inspiration from the island of the same name from Gulliver's Travels (1726),[28] and film scholar Cristina Cardia claims that, like its namesake, the island is introduced with benign intentions but is ultimately "exploited for perverse ends, in this case war."[29] Lioi argues that Laputa is used as a means to comment on the ethics of contemporary culture,[26] based on Ildney Cavalcanti's observation that such a utopia also "must contain an overtly dystopian element, such that the implicit critique in utopian discourse becomes explicit."[30] However, he interprets the ultimate destruction of the castle's weapons as a demonstration that "violence is not the heart of the city", and that the dystopic elements of modernity can be healed.[26]

The film also presents an ambiguous view on the usage of technology.[31] The robots from Laputa provide an example of this view, as they are introduced in the film as a violent force capable of extreme destruction. However, when the protagonists next meet a robot, it is entirely peaceful, tending to the gardens and fauna on Laputa.[32] Lioi argues that the robots, as a representation of Laputan technology, are caretakers by default and only become destructive in response to human brutality.[26] McCarthy argues that "this is not a comment on technology but on man's inability to use it wisely."[33] Odell and Le Blanc conclude that "technology ... is not necessarily a bad thing, but we must consider how it's used and to what extent."[31] The duality of nature and technology is further explored in Miyazaki's later film Princess Mononoke (1997).[31]

### Innocence of children

[edit]

Like many other films by Miyazaki, Castle in the Sky features young children as protagonists.[34] Miyazaki values the portrayal of children as good-hearted, confident in their own agency, and resilient and upbeat in response to adversity.[35] He criticized reviewers of his television series Future Boy Conan (1978) who described the titular character as "too much of a goody-two-shoes", admitting he was tempted to retort "So you want to see 'bad characters', you fool?"[36] Film critics Colin Odell and Michelle Le Blanc argue that creating a film with younger protagonists generates perspectives that an adult would not perceive, saying "the children in Ghibli's films are a liberating force that allows anything to be possible."[37]

The lack of parental oversight of the protagonists is an element Miyazaki feels to be important in promoting children's independence. The protagonists of his films are, like Sheeta and Pazu, often orphaned, or in some way parted from their parents.[38] Miyazaki believes that "one of the essential elements of most classical children's literature is that the children in the stories actually fend for themselves."[39] The presence of parents, in his opinion, would stifle the children's autonomy.[40] The limitations that children have in their abilities are also explored in the film; for example, Pazu comes close to forsaking Sheeta and his quest for Laputa.[41] Additionally, unlike Miyazaki's previous works, the protagonists do not succeed at convincing the antagonists of their wrongdoing, which offers a more pessimistic view on children's ability to educate others.[41]

Napier proposes that Miyazaki's insistence on showing the freedom of children in Castle in the Sky can be credited to the influence of Panda and the Magic Serpent (1958).[40] Miyazaki first watched the film at age 17, and it moved him to pursue a career in animation.[42] At a lecture given in 1982 at Waseda University, he said "When I saw Panda and the Magic Serpent, it was as if the scales fell from my eyes; I realized that I should depict the honesty and goodness of children in my work." He considers this a focal point in his endeavors.[1] The theme of innocence is explored further in Miyazaki's succeeding film My Neighbor Totoro (1988).[43]

## Style

[edit]

Miyazaki's affinity for flight is repeatedly displayed in Castle in the Sky, a motif that continues throughout the feature films of his career.[34] A variety of fictional flying machines appear across the film, including the island of Laputa, the airships, and the pirates' ornithopters; Sheeta's crystal also allows her to float through the air.[44] However, many of the other flying machines in the film are retrofuturistic, influenced by nineteenth-century stylistic approaches.[45] Additionally, Miyazaki was inspired by the literature of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson when considering the style of the film.[46]

Another stylistic trait that Miyazaki drew from nineteenth-century influences is the depiction of machines that "still possess the inherent warmth of handcrafted things."[47] Literary scholars Jeff VanderMeer and S. J. Chambers argue that Pazu's enthusiasm to build and work with flying machines gives the film's airships "a realistic physicality."[48] Commenting on the mecha anime popular at the time, Miyazaki expressed his hatred for shows that glorified machines without portraying the characters struggling to build or maintain them.[49] Animation scholar Thomas Lamarre argues that the film provides an "alternative to our received technologies" and thus a critique of more contemporary technologies and society's perception of them.[50]

Boyes felt that many of these elements subsequently influenced the steampunk genre.[51] Napier writes that Verne's impact on the film's style was instrumental in evoking imagined nostalgia for a time when "machines were still fun", in Miyazaki's words.[52] While the other machines are presented as joyful, Laputa's underside is used exclusively as an instrument of destruction.[53] Miyazaki stated that, as a child, he was attracted to the design and power of military planes, a view that has since been replaced with revulsion for the indiscriminate acts of violence that the machines have been used for.[54] Miyazaki further explores the beauty of flying machines as well as their innate destructive potential in his later film The Wind Rises (2013).[55]

## Release

[edit]

Hayao Miyazaki (pictured in 2009), the director

Isao Takahata (pictured in 2014), the producer

The film was released in Japan on August 2, 1986, by Toei.[56] At the Japanese box office, the film sold about 775,000 tickets,[15] somewhat lower than the performance of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.[57] Miyazaki and Suzuki expressed their disappointment with the film's box office figures.[58] The film was promoted with a tie-in fruit soda brand which animation scholar Rayna Denison described as an "economic failure".[59]

The film later earned a significant additional amount through rereleases;[14] as of 2021[update], it has grossed approximately US$157 million in box office, home video, and soundtrack sales.[60] In the United Kingdom, it was 2019's eighth-best-selling foreign language film on home video, below five other Studio Ghibli films.[61] The film has sold approximately 1.1 million tickets in Europe as of 2023.[62] Multiple international theatrical rescreenings between 2003 and 2023 have earned the film approximately US$6.2 million.[63]

### English dubs

[edit]

The first English dub of Castle in the Sky was produced by an unknown party,[b] and was first screened in Hong Kong on June 26, 1987.[3] It was licensed between 1989 and 1991 by the then-new Streamline Pictures for distribution in North American markets.[69] An edited version of this dub briefly aired on UK television.[d] In addition to distribution rights, Streamline would go on to dub two other Studio Ghibli films in-house: My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989).[71]

The English dub produced by Disney was recorded in 1998 and planned for release on video in 1999, but the release was postponed after Princess Mononoke did not perform well in North American theaters.[65] The film premiered at the New York International Children's Film Festival on February 2, 2000.[3] It was released on home video in North America on April 15, 2003, alongside a rerelease of Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away (2001).[72] Due to the possible confusion of the title with the Spanish phrase la puta – literally 'the whore' – the film was released as simply Castle in the Sky in North America.[73] The film was released by Buena Vista on Blu-ray in North America on May 22, 2012.[74] Shout! Factory and GKIDS re-issued the film on Blu-ray and DVD on October 31, 2017.[75] Both the original Japanese version and the 2003 English dub were made available for streaming when the rights to Studio Ghibli's filmography were acquired by Netflix in 2020.[76]

## Music

[edit]

Castle in the Sky

Soundtrack album by

Joe Hisaishi

Released| August 25, 1986
Genre|

* Anime music
* Film score

Length| 39:17
Label| Tokuma Shoten
Producer| Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi chronology
| Arion
(1985)  | Castle in the Sky
(1986)  | Curved Music
(1986)

|
|

Joe Hisaishi (pictured in 2011), the composer

As with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Joe Hisaishi composed the score for Castle in the Sky.[77] Miyazaki and Hisaishi went on to become close collaborators, and Hisaishi has since provided the music for all of Miyazaki's feature films.[78] Three months before the film's theatrical release, the image album – a collection of demos and musical sketches that serve as a precursor to the finished score – was published by Tokuma on compact disc. A third version of the soundtrack, rearranged for full symphony orchestra and recorded by the Tokyo City Philharmonic, released in 1987 on compact disc.[77]

For the English dub produced by Disney in 1998, Hisaishi was called upon to rewrite the soundtrack to be more suitable for audiences in America. The new soundtrack was recorded by the Seattle Symphony and featured in the 2003 English dub released by Buena Vista.[79] Hisaishi was advised by Disney staff that non-Japanese audiences prefer comparatively more music in films. As a result, the American soundtrack is much longer, while the original Japanese version featured just an hour of music for a film exceeding two hours in length. Though Hisaishi felt that American film scores used an overly simplistic compositional approach, he commented "But when I redid the music of Laputa this way, I learned a lot."[80]

The credits sequence of the film features an original vocal song titled "Carrying You" performed by Azumi Inoue, with music by Hisaishi and lyrics by Miyazaki. The song was released in 1988 as a compact disc single, featuring an additional chorus version performed by the Suginami Children's Choir.[81]

Music releases for Castle in the Sky [77] Release date  | English title  | Japanese title  | Notes

|
|
|

May 25, 1986 | Laputa: Castle in the Sky Image Album ~The Girl Who Fell From the Sky~ | 天空の城ラピュタ イメージアルバム 〜空から降ってきた少女〜 |
August 25, 1986 | Laputa: Castle in the Sky Soundtrack ~The Mystery of the Levitation Stone~ | 天空の城ラピュタ サウンドトラック 〜飛行石の謎〜 |
January 25, 1987 | Laputa: Castle in the Sky Symphony Version ~Huge Tree~ | 天空の城ラピュタ シンフォニー編 〜大樹〜 |
March 25, 1988 | "Carrying You" | 君をのせて | Azumi Inoue single
February 25, 1989 | Laputa: Castle in the Sky Drama Version ~Revive the Light!~ | 天空の城ラピュタ ドラマ編 〜光よ甦れ!〜 |
November 25, 1989 | Laputa: Castle in the Sky Hi-Tech Series | 天空の城ラピュタ ハイテックシリーズ |
October 2, 2002 | Laputa: Castle in the Sky USA Version Soundtrack | 〜天空の城ラピュタ USA ヴァージョンサウンドトラック〜 | The extended soundtrack written for the 2003 English dub

## Reception

[edit]

### Critical response

[edit]

Castle in the Sky has been generally acclaimed by film critics in the years since its release. In 2001, Animage ranked Castle in the Sky 44th in their list of top 100 anime.[82] Animation critic and writer Raz Greenberg calls Castle in the Sky "one of the greatest adventure films ever made",[83] and critic Manabu Murase names it "quite possibly the most entertaining anime that Miyazaki ever made".[84] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rate of 96% from 28 critics, with an average rating of 7.6 out of 10. The site's critic consensus reads, "With a storytelling palette as rich and brilliant as its animation, Castle in the Sky thrillingly encapsulates Studio Ghibli's unique strengths."[85] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[86]

While multiple reviewers felt that the film's two-hour runtime would turn audiences away,[87] The New York Times's Caryn James commenting that it is "liable to strain patiences of adults and the attention spans of children",[88] others argued that the film had the appeal to keep audiences entertained.[89] IGN's Jeremy Conrad felt the characters are "so likable that you never get bored, you always want to see what adventure is next for them".[4] Reviewers were split over the 1987 English dub,[90] with the Dayton Daily News's Terry Lawson calling it "the film's weakest element",[91] while The Cincinnati Post's David Lyman felt the dubbing into English had been done "superbly".[92] The 2003 dub similarly received mixed reviews, with The A.V. Club's Tasha Robinson calling Disney's recordings "almost comically bland",[93] and Conrad expressing his appreciation for Anna Paquin as Sheeta and Mark Hamill's performance as Muska.[4] Many critics also praised the animation,[94] the Asheville Times's Tom Sabulis considering it "state-of-the-art"[95] and The Philadelphia Inquirer's Steven Rea naming it "masterful".[96] However, some felt the motions lacked fluidity,[97] with Lyman describing it as "stiff-limbed".[92]

Most reviewers highlighted the imaginative capacity that Miyazaki displays in the film.[98] Slant's Chuck Bowen noted the subtle details included in the film, which he felt lends it "texture and originality".[99] A review in the Weekly Asahi highlighted the film's dynamism, favorably comparing its flying sequences with Peter Pan (1953).[100] Several reviewers praised the use of color, which made the film "a joy to watch" according to James.[101] A reviewer for City Road noted that the film could present themes that were critical of modern society while still maintaining a "warm and caring" view of humanity.[102] Several reviewers noted the film's strong ecological theme, with The Washington Post's Richard Harrington appreciating the "moral duality" of Laputa's technology,[103] and the Asahi Journal's Yomota Inuhiko praising the depiction of Laputa as a utopia which gradually developed dystopic elements.[104] Critics and scholars also noted the film's connections to Miyazaki's previous works; Greenberg felt that the film is "deeply rooted within Miyazaki's filmography of the two decades that preceded it",[41] and Denison called it a "compendium of Miyazaki's previous interests as an animator".[105]

### Audience response

[edit]

In a 2006 poll by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs conducted at the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival, the film was rated the third-best animation of all time, after Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995).[106] In a 2008 audience poll conducted by Oricon in Japan, Castle in the Sky was voted the best animation of all time.[107]

### Accolades

[edit]

Accolades received by Castle in the Sky Award / Publication  | Category  | Result  | Recipient(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Animage | Anime Grand Prix | Won  | Castle in the Sky | [108]
Eiga Geijutsu [ja] | Movie Art  | Won  | Castle in the Sky | [3]
Kinema Junpo | Best Ten  | Eighth Place  | Castle in the Sky | [109]
Readers' Choice  | Runner-up  | Castle in the Sky | [3]
Mainichi Film Awards | Ōfuji Noburō Award | Won  | Hayao Miyazaki | [110]
Tokuma Shoten
Osaka Film Festival | Best Ten  | Won  | Castle in the Sky | [3]

## Legacy

[edit]

John Lasseter (pictured in 2002) has called Castle in the Sky one of his favorite films.[111]

Castle in the Sky is considered by some scholars and writers to be an important work in the modern steampunk and dieselpunk styles.[112] Along with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Philip Boyes of Eurogamer considers Castle in the Sky a major contributor to the genres' popularity in Japan, introducing audiences to stylistic features such as airships which were otherwise mostly prevalent in Europe.[51] According to McCarthy, "its mix of epic action-adventure and techno-ecological theme has since earned [Castle in the Sky] cult status."[2]

Several notable artists in the anime and manga industries have cited Castle in the Sky as a major influence on their works. Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990), by Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno, is noted for its similarities in premise with Castle in the Sky. Anno had previously worked with Miyazaki on the production of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and has stated that Nadia was based in part on one of Miyazaki's concepts.[113] D.Gray-man (2004) author Katsura Hoshino was moved to pursue a career in animation after watching the film, ultimately becoming a manga artist.[114] Ghost in the Shell (1995) director Mamoru Oshii[115] and Your Name (2016) director Makoto Shinkai named Castle in the Sky among their favorite animations.[116] Additionally, VanderMeer and Chambers argue that Castle in the Sky forms the stylistic foundation for several of Miyazaki's later films, including Porco Rosso (1992) and Howl's Moving Castle (2004).[48]

John Lasseter, former chief creative officer at Pixar and Disney Animation, often cited Miyazaki and his works to be his "greatest inspiration".[117] When asked about some of his favorite films, Lasseter expressed his admiration for Castle in the Sky.[111] Lasseter has worked with Miyazaki on the English dubs of several of his films, and notes this as an influence on his work with his colleagues. At a speech delivered at the 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival, Lasseter said "Whenever we get stuck at Pixar or Disney, I put on a Miyazaki film sequence or two, just to get us inspired again."[118] Napier argues that the protagonist of Pixar's WALL-E (2008), a robot left to care for a world abandoned by humans, "may have its roots in Laputa's nurturing robot."[119] The creators of The Wild Robot (2024) also cited the film as an influence on their work.[120]

Castle in the Sky has influenced numerous video games, particularly in Japan, with its success leading to a wave of steampunk video games.[51] Game designer Hironobu Sakaguchi cited Castle in the Sky as an inspiration behind his Final Fantasy video game series, particularly citing it as an influence on the series' airships.[121] According to Boyes, Castle in the Sky also influenced the airships in the Mario and Civilization franchises.[51] The Iron Golem from Minecraft (2011) takes inspiration from the robots in the film.[122] Several games from The Legend of Zelda series are noted to have been influenced by Castle in the Sky, particularly Tears of the Kingdom (2023), which features a flying castle and several thematic parallels with the film.[123]

On December 9, 2011, during an airing of Castle in the Sky on Japanese television, fans posting to Twitter set a new record for the platform by causing a peak of 25,088 tweets per second.[124] The record was later surpassed during another airing on August 2, 2013, with a figure of 143,199 per second.[125]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Japanese: 天空の城ラピュタ, Hepburn: Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta
2. ^ a b The company responsible for producing the 1987 dub of Castle in the Sky is as yet undetermined. This dub is sometimes referred to as the "Streamline dub", which led to a misconception that it was produced by Streamline Pictures themselves.[64] Others attribute the dub to a company called "Magnum".[65] However, the dub was commissioned by Tokuma Shoten and licensed to Streamline for distribution in North America,[66] and Streamline representative Fred Patten reports that it was originally produced for Japan Airlines as on-board entertainment on international flights.[67] According to Streamline co-founder Carl Macek, Tokuma Shoten had outsourced its production to an unnamed company in Hollywood.[68]
3. ^ Equivalent to ¥510 million in 2019[21]
4. ^ The 1987 dub was aired by ITV in some regions of the eastern UK. This airing was altered from the original, with some scenes being cut,[67] and the film being listed on programs as Laputa: The Flying Island.[70]

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b Miyazaki 2009, p. 50, cited in Napier 2018, p. 93.
2. ^ a b McCarthy 2002, p. 97.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Nausicaa.net.
4. ^ a b c Conrad 2003b.
5. ^ Mr. Tim 2021.
6. ^ Frierson.
7. ^ Napier 2018, p. 86.
8. ^ Miyazaki 2016, pp. 8–9.
9. ^ Odell & Le Blanc 2009, pp. 68–69.
10. ^ Denison 2018, pp. 33–34.
11. ^ Stimson 2014.
12. ^ a b c Greenberg 2018, p. 110.
13. ^ Lioi 2010; Ishida 2014; Napier 2018, p. 91.
14. ^ a b c d Napier 2018, p. 91.
15. ^ a b Suzuki 1996.
16. ^ a b Miyazaki 2016, p. 97.
17. ^ McCarthy 2002, p. 96.
18. ^ Brooks 2005.
19. ^ Miyazaki 2016, p. 36.
20. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 253.
21. ^ Rateinflation.com.
22. ^ Harding 2020.
23. ^ Odell & Le Blanc 2009, pp. 20–21.
24. ^ a b McCarthy 2002, p. 98.
25. ^ Napier 2018, p. 94.
26. ^ a b c d e f Lioi 2010.
27. ^ Napier 2018, p. 98.
28. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 252; Napier 2018, p. 88.
29. ^ Cardia 2018, p. 14.
30. ^ Cavalcanti 2004, cited in Lioi 2010.
31. ^ a b c Odell & Le Blanc 2009, p. 21.
32. ^ Napier 2018, p. 95.
33. ^ McCarthy 2002, p. 95.
34. ^ a b Odell & Le Blanc 2009, p. 22.
35. ^ Napier 2018, p. 92.
36. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 295, cited in Napier 2018, p. 92.
37. ^ Odell & Le Blanc 2009, p. 23.
38. ^ Napier 2018, pp. 92–93.
39. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 341, cited in Napier 2018, p. 92.
40. ^ a b Napier 2018, p. 93.
41. ^ a b c Greenberg 2018, p. 111.
42. ^ Greenberg 2018, p. 4.
43. ^ Napier 2018, p. 105.
44. ^ Odell & Le Blanc 2009, p. 65; Napier 2018, p. 90.
45. ^ Lioi 2010; Napier 2018, p. 89.
46. ^ Napier 2018, p. 89.
47. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 254, cited in VanderMeer & Chambers 2012, p. 182.
48. ^ a b VanderMeer & Chambers 2012, p. 183.
49. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 20.
50. ^ Lamarre 2002, p. 356.
51. ^ a b c d Boyes 2020.
52. ^ Napier 2018, p. 89–90.
53. ^ Napier 2018, p. 90.
54. ^ Napier 2018, p. 20.
55. ^ Napier 2018, pp. 250, 258.
56. ^ Miyazaki 2009, p. 444.
57. ^ Odell & Le Blanc 2009, p. 67.
58. ^ Denison 2018, p. 43; Napier 2018, p. 91.
59. ^ Denison 2018, p. 43.
60. ^ Wonderland 2021.
61. ^ BFI 2020, p. 94.
62. ^ Lumiere.
63. ^ Box Office Mojo.
64. ^ Clements & McCarthy 2015, p. 121; Patten 2015.
65. ^ a b Wyse 2020.
66. ^ Clements & McCarthy 2015, p. 121.
67. ^ a b Toyama.
68. ^ Macek 2014, 48:49–49:17.
69. ^ Patten 2015.
70. ^ Smithies 1988.
71. ^ Bertoli 2017.
72. ^ Conrad 2003a.
73. ^ Greenberg 2018, p. 115.
74. ^ Green 2012.
75. ^ Giardina 2017.
76. ^ Andrew 2023.
77. ^ a b c Hisaishi.
78. ^ Napier 2018, p. 71.
79. ^ Nausicaa.net 1999.
80. ^ Keyboard 1999.
81. ^ Oricon 2018.
82. ^ Anime News Network 2001.
83. ^ Greenberg 2018, p. 117.
84. ^ Murase 2004, p. 82, cited in Napier 2018, p. 86.
85. ^ Rotten Tomatoes.
86. ^ Metacritic.
87. ^ Hicks 1989; James 1989; Rea 1989; Sabulis 1989.
88. ^ James 1989.
89. ^ Harrington 1989; Lawson 1989; Upchurch 1989; Conrad 2003b.
90. ^ James 1989; Lawson 1989; Lyman 1989; Sabulis 1989.
91. ^ Lawson 1989.
92. ^ a b Lyman 1989.
93. ^ Robinson 2003.
94. ^ Garrett 1989; James 1989; Lawson 1989; Rea 1989; Sabulis 1989; Upchurch 1989.
95. ^ Sabulis 1989.
96. ^ Rea 1989.
97. ^ Keyser 1989; Lyman 1989; Shulgasser 1989.
98. ^ Harrington 1989; Hicks 1989; James 1989; Keyser 1989; Conrad 2003b.
99. ^ Bowen 2010.
100. ^ Weekly Asahi 1986, cited in Studio Ghibli 1996, p. 118.
101. ^ James 1989; Harrington 1989; Robinson 2003.
102. ^ City Road 1986, cited in Studio Ghibli 1996, p. 118.
103. ^ Shūkan Bunshun 1986, cited in Studio Ghibli 1996, p. 117; Harrington 1989; Bowen 2010.
104. ^ Inuhiko 1986, cited in Studio Ghibli 1996, p. 118.
105. ^ Denison 2018, p. 37.
106. ^ Agency for Cultural Affairs 2007.
107. ^ Oricon 2008.
108. ^ Animage 1987.
109. ^ Cinema 1987.
110. ^ Mainichi Shimbun.
111. ^ a b Goodman 2011.
112. ^ VanderMeer & Chambers 2012, p. 190; Greenberg 2018, p. 116; Boyes 2020.
113. ^ Bricken 2022.
114. ^ Shueisha 2018.
115. ^ McCarthy 2002, p. 111.
116. ^ Rose 2016.
117. ^ Frater 2014.
118. ^ Brzeski 2014.
119. ^ Napier 2018, p. 96.
120. ^ Piña 2024.
121. ^ Rogers 2006.
122. ^ Stone 2017.
123. ^ Rowe 2023.
124. ^ Savov 2011.
125. ^ Twitter Engineering 2013; Rosen 2013.

### Book and journal sources

[edit]

* Cardia, Cristina (December 21, 2018). "Altri mondi: città invisibili e castelli erranti tra le nuvole" [Other worlds: invisible cities and moving castles in the clouds]. Medea (in Italian). 4. doi:10.13125/medea-3480. ISSN 2421-5821.
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* Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2015) [2006]. The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation (3rd ed.). Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 978-1-6117-2018-1.
* Denison, Rayna (April 1, 2018). "Before Ghibli was Ghibli: Analysing the historical discourses surrounding Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky (1986)". East Asian Journal of Popular Culture. 4 (1): 31–46\. doi:10.1386/eapc.4.1.31_1. ISSN 2051-7084.
* Greenberg, Raz (2018). Hayao Miyazaki: Exploring the Early Work of Japan's Greatest Animator. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-5013-3594-5.
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* McCarthy, Helen (2002) [1999]. Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation. Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 978-1-8806-5641-9.
* Miyazaki, Hayao (2009) [1996]. Starting Point: 1979–1996. Translated by Cary, Beth; Schodt, Frederik L. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-6104-2.
* Miyazaki, Hayao (2016). The Art of Castle in the Sky. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-8272-6.
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* Napier, Susan J. (2018). Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-3002-2685-0.
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* Studio Ghibli (1996). スタジオジブリ作品関連資料集 [Archives of Studio Ghibli Vol. 1] (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. ISBN 978-4-1986-0525-4.
* VanderMeer, Jeff; Chambers, S.J. (2012). The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature. Abrams Books. ISBN 978-1-6131-2166-5.

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* 待望の新作「天空の城ラピ ュタ」遂にお目見得。 [The long-awaited new work Laputa: Castle in the Sky is finally here]. City Road (in Japanese). August 1986.
* Conrad, Jeremy (March 14, 2003a). "Spirited Away ". IGN. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
* Conrad, Jeremy (March 27, 2003b). "Castle in the Sky ". IGN. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
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* Inuhiko, Yomoto (August 29, 1986). "Animation". Asahi Journal (in Japanese). p. 35.
* Ishida, Hiroshi (March 5, 2014). "Miyazaki's The Wind Rises pays homage to Italian aircraft designer". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
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* 宮崎駿『風の谷のナウシカ』から二年ぶりの新作 [Hayao Miyazaki: his first new work in two years since Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]. Shūkan Bunshun (in Japanese). July 17, 1986.
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* 日本のメディア芸術100選 [Top 100 Japanese Animations] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. 2007. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
* 第9回アニメグランプリ [9th Anime Grand Prix]. Animage (in Japanese). June 1987. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
* "Castle in the Sky ". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
* BFI Statistical Yearbook 2020. British Film Institute (BFI). 2020. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
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* "久石譲" [Joe Hisaishi]. Keyboard. No. 8\. August 1999. pp. 30–39\. ISSN 1344-6371.
* "Tenkū no Shiro Laputa". Lumiere. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
* Macek, Carl (January 9, 2014). "ANNCast classic: Macek training" (Interview). Interviewed by Bertschy, Zac; Sevakis, Justin. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014. "We didn't dub it. Streamline didn't dub it. And I told the people at Tokuma Shoten that I thought the dubbing was marginal on Laputa and I thought that it could be better if they had a– their product could be better if they had a better dubbing ... It was paid for by Tokuma Shoten, but they just picked some company out in the middle of Hollywood to do it. They just phone-booked the guy."
* 毎日映画コンクール [41st Mainichi Film Awards]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
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* Mr. Tim's Interviews – Barbara Goodson. Mr. Tim. June 9, 2021. Event occurs at 22:19. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 – via YouTube. "Yeah, Pazu. Friends were watching it – Castle in the Sky ... and I said 'Yeah, I'm in this.'"
* "Laputa: Castle in the Sky – Rescoring interview". Nausicaa.net. July 14, 1999. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
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* Rogers, Tim (March 27, 2006). "In defense of Final Fantasy XII ". Edge. p. 2\. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014. "Okay, so the Chocobos – big, yellow riding birds – were actually stolen from Hayao Miyazaki's movie Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Hironobu Sakaguchi freely admitted that way back when. He also admits that the airships were inspired by Laputa, also directed by Miyazaki."
* "Japanese consumer price index: 1970 to 2025". Rateinflation.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
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* "Mangaka interview 01" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
* Stone, Tom (February 27, 2017). "Meet the Iron Golem". Mojang Studios. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
* Suzuki, Toshio (February 1996). "The ten years of Studio Ghibli". Nausicaa.net. Archived from the original on October 21, 1999. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
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* "New Tweets per second record, and how!". Twitter Engineering. August 16, 2013. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2023.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Bartolomei, Cristiana; Ippolito, Alfonso; Mezzino, Davide (October 22, 2023). "Representation of landscape and ecological vision in Miyazaki's filmography". Sustainability. 15 (20): 15132. doi:10.3390/su152015132. hdl:11585/945939. ISSN 2071-1050.
* Denison, Rayna (2023). Studio Ghibli: An Industrial History. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-031-16843-7.
* Johnson, Rebecca (2007). "Kawaii and kirei: navigating the identities of women in Laputa: Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki and Ghost in the Shell by Mamoru Oshii". Rhizomes. 14. ISSN 1555-9998. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
* Kanō, Seiji (2006).  宮崎駿全書 [The Complete Hayao Miyazaki] (in Japanese). Film Art. ISBN 978-4-8459-0687-1.
* Lamarre, Thomas (2009). The Anime Machine: A Media Theory of Animation. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-5155-9.
* Pan, Yuan (April 15, 2020). "Human–nature relationships in East Asian animated films". Societies. 10 (2): 35. doi:10.3390/soc10020035. ISSN 2075-4698.
* Roll, Erin M. (2021). "Clouds over the valley: images of war and peace in the films of Hayao Miyazaki". In Magid, Annette M. (ed.). Speculations of War: Essays on Conflict in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Utopian Literature. McFarland & Company. pp. 58–79\. ISBN 978-1-4766-7279-3.
* Yoshioka, Shiro (April 1, 2018). "Toshio's movie castle: a historical overview of Studio Ghibli's collaboration and promotional strategies". East Asian Journal of Popular Culture. 4 (1): 15–29\. doi:10.1386/eapc.4.1.15_1. ISSN 2051-7084.

## External links

[edit]

Castle in the Sky at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* Data from Wikidata

* Official website
* Castle in the Sky at IMDb
* Castle in the Sky (film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* Castle in the Sky at Rotten Tomatoes
* Castle in the Sky at Metacritic
* Laputa: Castle in the Sky at Nausicaa.net
* 天空の城ラピュタ (Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta) at the Japanese Movie Database (Japanese)

* v
* t
* e

Hayao Miyazaki

* Accolades
* Bibliography
* List of works

Films written
and directed|

* The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
* Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
* Castle in the Sky (1986)
* My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
* Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
* Porco Rosso (1992)
* Princess Mononoke (1997)
* Spirited Away (2001)
* Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
* Ponyo (2008)
* The Wind Rises (2013)
* The Boy and the Heron (2023)

Written only|

* Panda! Go, Panda! (1972–1973)
* Whisper of the Heart (1995)
* Arrietty (2010)
* From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)

Short films|

* On Your Mark (1995)
* Kujiratori (2001)
* Koro's Big Day Out (2002)
* Imaginary Flying Machines (2002)
* Looking for a Home (2006)
* Hoshi o Katta Hi (2006)
* Mizugumo Monmon (2006)
* Boro the Caterpillar (2018)

Television|

* Lupin the 3rd Part I (1971–1972)
* Future Boy Conan (1978)
* Lupin the 3rd Part II (1980)
* Sherlock Hound (1984–1985)

Manga|

* Sabaku no Tami (1969–1970)
* Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982–1994)
* Shuna's Journey (1983)
* Hayao Miyazaki's Daydream Data Notes (1984–2009)
* Hikōtei Jidai (1989)

Documentaries|

* The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)
* Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki (2016)
* Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron (2024)

Related|

* Studio Ghibli
* Ghibli Park
* Ghibli Museum
* Goro Miyazaki
* Miyazaki Airplane
* Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–1991)
* Ni-Tele Really Big Clock
* Nandarō
* Susuwatari

* v
* t
* e

Studio Ghibli

* List of works

People|

| Founders|

* Hayao Miyazaki
* Toshio Suzuki
* Isao Takahata

|

Others|

* Joe Hisaishi
* Katsuya Kondō
* Yoshifumi Kondō
* Kitarō Kōsaka
* Goro Miyazaki
* Hiroyuki Morita
* Tomomi Mochizuki
* Yoshiaki Nishimura
* Kazuo Oga
* Yasuo Ōtsuka
* Yoshinori Kanada
* Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Films|

| Feature films|

* Castle in the Sky
* My Neighbor Totoro
* Grave of the Fireflies
* Kiki's Delivery Service
* Only Yesterday
* Porco Rosso
* Ocean Waves
* Pom Poko
* Whisper of the Heart
* Princess Mononoke
* My Neighbors the Yamadas
* Spirited Away
* The Cat Returns
* Howl's Moving Castle
* Tales from Earthsea
* Ponyo
* Arrietty
* From Up on Poppy Hill
* The Wind Rises
* The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
* When Marnie Was There
* Earwig and the Witch
* The Boy and the Heron

|

Short films|

* Nandarō
* On Your Mark
* Ghiblies
* Ghiblies Episode 2
* Imaginary Flying Machines
* The Whale Hunt
* Koro's Big Day Out
* Mei and the Kittenbus
* Looking for a Home
* The Day I Harvested a Planet
* The Night of Taneyamagahara
* Water Spider Monmon
* Iblard Jikan
* A Sumo Wrestler's Tail
* Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
* Boro the Caterpillar
* Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies

Video games|

* Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color
* Ni no Kuni
* Dominion of the Dark Djinn
* Wrath of the White Witch

Other productions|

* Shiki-Jitsu (Studio Kajino)
* Ronja, the Robber's Daughter
* The Red Turtle

Related articles|

* Catbus
* Ghibli Museum
* Ghibli Museum Library
* Ghibli Park
* The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
* Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
* Nausicaa.net
* Studio Kajino
* Studio Ponoc
* Susuwatari
* Topcraft
* The Last Unicorn

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Winners of Animage's Anime Grand Prix

1970s /
1980s|

* Mobile Suit Gundam (1979–1980)
* Space Runaway Ideon (1980)
* Adieu Galaxy Express 999 (1981)
* Six God Combination Godmars (1982)
* Crusher Joe (1983)
* Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
* Dirty Pair (1985)
* Castle in the Sky (1986)
* Saint Seiya (1987)
* My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
* Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

1990s|

* Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990)
* Future GPX Cyber Formula (1991)
* Sailor Moon (1992)
* Yu Yu Hakusho (1993–1994)
* Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)
* The End of Evangelion (1997)
* Nadesico: Prince of Darkness (1998)
* Cardcaptor Sakura (1999)

2000s|

* Saiyuki (2000)
* Fruits Basket (2001)
* Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002)
* Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
* Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004–2005)
* Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006–2007)
* Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (2008)
* K-On! (2009)

2010s|

* Inazuma Eleven (2010)
* Inazuma Eleven GO (2011)
* Inazuma Eleven GO: Chrono Stone (2012)
* Attack on Titan (2013)
* Free! ~Eternal Summer~ (2014)
* Mr. Osomatsu (2015)
* Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2016)
* Idolish7 (2017)
* Case Closed: Zero the Enforcer (2018)
* Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)

2020s|

* Healin' Good Pretty Cure (2020)
* Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
* Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village (2022)
* Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe (2023)
* The Apothecary Diaries (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Ōfuji Noburō Award

* Tale of a Street Corner (1962)
* The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963)
* The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
* Gauche the Cellist (1981)
* Barefoot Gen (1983)
* Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
* Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)
* Castle in the Sky (1986)
* My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
* Memories (1995)
* Rusuban (1996)
* Mizu no Sei Kappa Hyakuzu (1998)
* The Old Man and the Sea (1999)
* Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)
* Kujira Tori (2001)
* Millennium Actress (2002)
* Winter Days (2003)
* Mind Game (2004)
* tough guy! (2005)
* Tekkonkinkreet (2006)
* A Country Doctor (2007)
* Ponyo (2008)
* Denshin-Bashira Elemi no Koi (2009)
* not awarded (2010)
* 663114 (2011)
* Combustible (2012)
* The Moon That Fell Into the Sea (2013)
* Crazy Little Thing (2014)
* Datum Point  (2015)
* In This Corner of the World (2016)
* Lu Over the Wall (2017)
* Liz and the Blue Bird (2018)
* A Japanese Boy Who Draws (2019)
* On-Gaku: Our Sound (2020)
* Pukkulapottas and Hours in the Forest (2021)
* Inu-Oh (2022)
* The Boy and the Heron (2023)
* Watashi wa, Watashi to, Watashi ga, Watashi o, (2024)

Portals:

* Anime and manga
* Film
* Japan
* Speculative fiction
* Studio Ghibli
* Fantasy

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Japan
* Israel

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