Comments on: Anime Feature Film Review – Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:38:14 +0000

It’s worth noting that an aspect of the film I didn’t emphasize in my review is its strongly anti-militaristic tone. This is developed in several areas, including the depiction of the army as corrupt and power-hungry; the backstory given for the destruction of the Laputan kingdom and abandonment of the city; and the privileging of nature-renewal over human-destruction in the imagery. The film is also markedly anti-imperial. The villain, direct descendant of the Laputan royal line, brings about his own destruction in his quest to re-establish the Laputan military hegemony. The heroine escapes sharing his fate because she rejects his philosophy; her dreams have no connection to her bloodline.

By: Peter J Nielsen

Peter J Nielsen — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:13:23 +0000

Pazu’s father riding his air craft, ultimately on the edge of the hurricane encircling Laputa, is an oft-repeated, key part of Laputa’s old world imagery. So too quasi-WW2 cannonades, aerial and land cannonades.
Sheeta and Pazu’s enemies are also reminiscient of WW2 imagery, most often either American Dola and her overgrown sons or a home army, or secret service agents.
And, while much of the Industrial imagery looks European, Industrial East Asia is also recalled.
I thus propose that Japanese Imperial Nostalgia following WW2 defeat looms large as an ultimate cause, inspiration.

By: doc

doc — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:05:25 +0000

The filmmaker captures the early romance and wonder of aviation, when technology mattered and every flight was an adventure.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:41:53 +0000

This is one of my all time favorite animated films