Ghibli's first: 'Castle in the sky' is still intact in its charm

Nearly four decades ago, one of the most renowned Japanese animation film studios, Studio Ghibli -- founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata -- started its journey with their first ever film, 'Castle in the Sky.' Adapted from Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels,' Castle in the Sky (1986) is one of the classics of Miyazaki. 

The story starts with a girl named Sheeta, who is captivated by government forces in charge of Col. Muska and is taken to an airship in the military prison. 

En route to prison, a gang of sky pirates led by the matronly Dola raids the airship. All these events were solely to acquire her mystical blue pendant. Amid their conflict, Sheeta eludes the scene by leaping out of the window. 

Protected by the magical powers of the pendant, she gracefully descends from the sky and encounters Pazu, a young miner, who catches her as she falls from the sky, which sets their journey in motion. 

Pazu affirms the existence of Laputa, a castle in the sky with advanced technological civilisation, a place that his father had captured in photographs and frequently spoke of. He vows to prove his father's theory to make up for all whomever doubted him. 

Later, they discover that the strange necklace owned by Sheeta can lead them to Laputa. The pair decides to discover the flying fortress while outplaying their enemies. While on their quest, they unveil Laputa's secrets and its potential for the destruction of humanity. 

Miyazaki drew inspiration from the 1984 coal miners' strike in Britain. A Welsh mining town inspired the art style of some architecture of Protagonist Pazu's workplace. He paid tribute to the coal miners through his work upon witnessing the after-effects of the protest. 

One of the key focuses of this film is Miyazaki's ideology of pacifism (the belief that war and violence are wrong and all conflicts should end with peaceful measures), which is significantly highlighted in his other films as well. He showcased the vulnerable relationship of humanity with nature and technology and portrayed that greed for power and wealth brings nothing but destruction to humanity. 

Laputa was abandoned many centuries ago; despite being armed with advanced technologies, the civilisation vanished because of alienation from nature. Miyazaki conveyed this heartfelt message through the protagonist, Sheeta, as follows:

"Now I understand why the people of Laputa vanished. This song from my home in the valley of Gondoa explains everything. It says,

'Take root in the ground, live in harmony with the wind, plant your seeds in the winter, and rejoice with the birds in the coming of spring.' No matter how many weapons you have, no matter how great your technology might be, the world cannot live without love."

Considering the timeline of this film, the animation style is futuristic yet nostalgic; according to critics, it has made a spot for itself in the modern 'steampunk' genre. Also, the stunning music composition by Joe Hisaishi is an absolute bliss to the ears. 

For the admirers of Ghibli movies, consisting of an ideal blend of fun, adventure, action and romance, 'Castle in the Sky' is a treat. 

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