The Japanese animation studio "Ghibli" has long established itself as a manufacturer of chic animated films worthy of being called real masterpieces of modern multindustry. The founder and one of the most important people in the studio, Hayao Miyazaki, stands out especially.
It was he who owned the idea of creating the "Laput Castle", which is now considered a cult in its genre.
About the cartoon
The anime "Sky Castle of Laputa" was released worldwide almost immediately after its production was completed. This happened in August 1986, but the cartoon did not reach Russia immediately. Due to the fact that the premiere of the picture took place during the period when the Soviet government acted in the country, the picture was not shown in cinemas.
The official rental of the tape in the Russian Federation took place only in February 2008. Although, of course, amateur versions of the cartoon appeared in RuNet much earlier.
By this time, the tape has already become a truly iconic worldwide. In fact, thanks to her and some other multi-projects, anime as a genre has gained popularity not only in Japan, but also in the rest of the world. In post-socialist countries, of course, anime appeared much later.
"Sky Castle of Laputa": plot
Events take place in an alternative reality, based on the mythological beliefs of the Japanese and the historical realities of the early XX century. Also, the universe of this cartoon is filled with magical and even mystical phenomena.
The main characters of Laputa's Heavenly Castle (cartoon) are a girl named Sita, in whose hands is the Flying Stone, and Padzu is a miner boy who decided to help the girl. The fact is that pirates and government representatives are hunting her, who want to take away the stone from her, thanks to which you can fly.
It is thanks to this stone that Laputa Castle was once one of the most prosperous cities in the world, and it soared in the sky.
Interesting Facts
Hybrid fantastic animal fox squirrel, which looks like a squirrel and a fox, was first shown in the cartoon "Nausicaa from the Valley of the Winds" (1984).
Also, the robot that lives in Laputa Castle is an exact copy of the one that Miyazaki demonstrated back in 1980 in the animated series "Lupine III".
The name of the Laputa castle was borrowed from the work of J. Swift's "Gulliver's Journey", which took it from the Spanish language, where the word denotes fallen women. Therefore, in Spain, “Castle of Laputa” (cartoon) was shown without indecent words in the name, that is, simply “Sky Castle”.
Some legends and the name of the main character were taken from Indian mythology.
Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata created the Ghibli studio specifically to create this cartoon.
Contribution to Culture
Laputa Castle has had a huge impact on modern animation and culture in general. Not only that, to this cartoon, millions of fans owe the appearance of the Ghibli studio, which subsequently released a huge number of worthy and truly masterpieces, but the cartoon itself has become a classic of modern Japanese animation.
It is not surprising that the cartoon was positively received by both critics and viewers. Also, the picture is the owner of two prestigious awards: Anime Grand Prix and Mainity. The presence of these important prizes for the anime cartoon is an additional confirmation of the importance of this animated work for modern people.
It is also worth noting that according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture of Japan in 2007, "Laputa Castle" took third place in the list of anime of all time. Only Evangelion overtook it (1st place) and another work of H. Miyazaki, Nausicaa from the Valley of the Winds (2nd place).
In general, this tape is rightfully considered one of the most important not only in Japanese and contemporary art as a whole, but also in worldwide animation. It is not surprising that the cartoon today looks quite relevant and interesting. But most of all it is important for most people precisely because it became the founder of the Ghibli studio, which created and continues to produce a large number of worthy works. For example, the Ghibli animators presented the world with such significant works as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Walking Castle and The Wind Gains Strength, as well as a huge number of other equally interesting and significant projects.
Conclusion
"Laputa Sky Castle" has become a real classic in its genre. This is one of the most famous works in the anime genre in the world. In addition, this cartoon brought its creators H. Miyazaki and I. Takahatu to a higher level. Largely thanks to him, they became famous outside of their native Japan, and all their subsequent works gained popularity around the world.
The studio they founded to create Laputa Castle allowed them to produce truly outstanding work in much faster time. She now has several dozens of world-class works on her account.