Off top, it needs to be said that Miyazaki is a genius. The writer/animator has churned out nothing but quality product including Princess Mononoke, easily the greatest achievement in the history of animation, and culminating with Spirited Away which was very well-received despite flying very far below the American public’s radar. In spite of his incredible track record, though, he is largely overlooked by a Western audience that isn’t too receptive to cartoons aimed at adults. Still, when Spirited Away was released on April 15th, so were two of his other films: Kiki’s Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky. After being thoroughly impressed by the former, I picked up the others.

Oftentimes, movies are billed as being fun for the entire family, when in fact those movies leave their adult audiences bored. Miyazaki, on the other hand, says that he makes his films for children, but they either turn out to be epic enough (Princess Mononoke) or emotional enough (Spirited Away) to appeal to any age group. Castle in the Sky is no different.

Featuring a young boy name Pazu, and a girl he happens upon, Sheeta, searching for a legendary city (Laputa) that supposedly floats above the Earth, the plot is intriguing enough for adults, yet simple enough for children to follow. They both have personal reasons for finding the city and are both connected to it, but they have to deal with others who are also looking for it with less than noble reasons. Most of the movie is spent focusing on the interaction of all of these characters, as they (unwillingly) move closer to the city concurrently.

Speaking of the characters, they are all very well developed. There are only four major characters, and with a two-hour running time, the film gives ample time to each of them. Having likable protagonists is essential to any story, and Miyazaki delivers. Sheeta and Pazu both have an innocent appeal, and after being exposed to it for awhile, the viewer begins to root for them. The main villain, Muska, initially only has that title because he is against Sheeta and Pazu, but becomes more and more deranged and dislikable as the story progresses and he gets closer to the city. The fourth main character, Dola, somewhat straddles the good/evil line, but undergoes a slow transformation throughout the movie which is executed brilliantly.

The animation is up to Miyazaki’s normal standard, which means flawless. Every setting is detailed perfectly, and Laputa, particularly, is a joy to behold. Quality of animation really doesn’t matter to me, but I can still appreciate it when it’s done well. There are no beefs to be had with the artistry here.

If I had to find a fault with the movie, it would be that it isn’t as deep as a lot of the other mainstream anime. I wouldn’t put this on the same level as others like Princess Mononoke or Ghost in the Shell which had themes ranging from technology vs. nature to what makes us human. And don’t get me started on the philosopher’s wet dream Akira. Castle in the Sky doesn’t make you think too hard. It is what it is, and what it is is a straightforward story that should please even the person with only a passing interest in animated films.

4.5 stars



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV