Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta (Laputa: Castle in the Sky)
1986
****
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Keiko Yokozawa, Mayumi Tanaka, Kotoe Hatsui, Minori Terada
Sheeta carries a mysterious crystal amulet, which is coveted by goverment agents and sky pirates alike. After a narrow escape, Sheeta meets Pazu who is determined to find Laputa, the legedary floating city, to which the amulet could hold the key. Ghibli's first feature film lays down the groundwork for the animation studio's recognisable brand: wonderful hand-drawn visuals, lovely characterisation, and a sense of wonder with an undercurrent of dread. The film is long but filled with imagination, especially in the final third.
