Castle in the Sky

( 49 )

Overview

Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy adventure Castle in the Sky begins with a chase scene through a flying ship, where all the passengers are after the young girl, Sheeta voice of Anna Paquin. Going overboard to avoid capture, Sheeta is rescued by her powerful crystal necklace which floats her down to safety. She's recovered by Pazu voice of James Van Der Beek, a young resourceful boy who works in a small mining town. Sharing a common desire to see Laputa, the castle in the sky, Pazu and Sheeta team up to outrun the pirates...
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More About This Product

Overview

Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy adventure Castle in the Sky begins with a chase scene through a flying ship, where all the passengers are after the young girl, Sheeta voice of Anna Paquin. Going overboard to avoid capture, Sheeta is rescued by her powerful crystal necklace which floats her down to safety. She's recovered by Pazu voice of James Van Der Beek, a young resourceful boy who works in a small mining town. Sharing a common desire to see Laputa, the castle in the sky, Pazu and Sheeta team up to outrun the pirates and the military. Led by hard-bitten matriarch Dola voice of Cloris Leachman, the pirates are a rowdy yet dimwitted group of brothers who are after Laputa's treasure. Led by the greedy yet civilized Muska voice of Mark Hamill, the military is after Laputa's secret powers. Everyone races to get to the abandoned castle of Laputa, which has been overgrown with vines and plant life. Its only inhabitants are the animals and robots who protect a magical garden. As the different parties fight over who gets to control Laputa, it's up to Sheeta to use her ancient knowledge to save it from ultimate destruction. The English-language version also includes the voices of Mandy Patinkin and Andy Dick.
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Special Features

The World Of Ghibli-Visit Castle In The Sky In This Imaginative Interactive Experience!; ; Enter the Lands- Meet the Characters and Hear the Story of the Movie; ; Behind The Studio-Discover the Film's Inspiration through Documentaries, including new Interviews with Hayao Miyazaki; ; Introduction by John Lasseter; Storyboard Presentation Of The Movie
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble
Perhaps the finest early creation by Spirited Away's anime auteur Hayao Miyazaki, Castle in the Sky 1986 is a soaring mix of gentle fairy-tale enchantment and high-flying aerial adventure. Inspired as much by Jonathan Swift who conceived of the idea of a "castle in the sky" in Gulliver's Travels as by Miyazaki's avowed love of aircraft, the story concerns two young children, Sheeta, a tragically orphaned girl, and Pazu, a boy determined to journey to a legendary kingdom in the clouds that his father once discovered. With the help of a band of air pirates led by one of Miyazaki's most memorable creations, the fiery Ma Dola, Sheeta and Pazu make it to the castle in the sky, but only to face the threat of Muska, a scheming government agent who wants control of the kingdom's ancient-but-lethal technology. Although considered a box office disappointment when first released to Japanese theaters, Castle in the Sky retains all the linchpins of a Miyazaki classic: strong child characters, fantastic gadgets, and a visionary's sense of wonder. In a continued championing of the director's work, Disney's DVD offers a new English dub of the movie, featuring performances by Anna Paquin as Sheeta, James Van Der Beek as Pazu, and Cloris Leachman as Dola. Volk Lindsay
All Movie Guide - Andrea LeVasseur
Inspired by a passage in Gulliver's Travels about a floating castle, Hayao Miyazaki created the myth of Laputa for Castle in the Sky. Well-suited to younger audiences, it's a fast-paced adventure story filled with many daring chases, captures, and escapes. One of the first feature-length animé films from Japan to receive international distribution, the setting has a strange Western feel to it with Industrial Revolution-style machinery and Caucasian-looking main characters. Being an aviation adventure, a lot of the action takes place in the air, with wildly contrasting flying machines and thousands of propellers. The design is especially notable when they all get to Laputa, which has a futuristic structure amazingly in tune with the natural surroundings. In this film, it seems that Miyazaki is developing the ecological themes, morally complex characters, and fantastic settings that he often returns to. For instance, the lovingly grotesque pirate mom Dora (excellently voiced by Cloris Leachman in the English-language version) manages to stride the line between good and evil like the characters in his subsequent works. Even the robots of Laputa are simultaneously creepy, destructive, and amazingly gentle beings. Though it's visually proficient and contains an expertly re-recorded musical score by Joe Hisaishi, some of the dialogue in the English version is corny and inconsistent with the original images. The story still delivers a standard fantasy adventure with glimpses of the director's trademark humanism and whimsy. Assembling the production team for Castle in the Sky led to the formation of the successful animation company Studio Ghibli.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/2/2010
  • UPC: 786936791617
  • Original Release: 1986

    • Rating:

  • Source: Walt Disney Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Special Edition / Wide Screen
  • Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
  • Language: Français
  • Time: 2:05:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 1,393

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
James Van Der Beek Voice Only
Anna Paquin Voice Only
Mark Hamill Voice Only
Cloris Leachman Voice Only
Richard Dysart Voice Only
Jim Cummings Voice Only
John Hostetter Voice Only
Michael McShane Voice Only
Mandy Patinkin Voice Only
Andy Dick Voice Only
Mayumi Tanaka Voice Only
Keiko Yokozawa Voice Only
Technical Credits
Hayao Miyazaki Director, Original Story, Screenwriter
Joe Hisaishi Score Composer
Isao Takahata Producer
Yasuyoshi Tokuma Executive Producer
Tatsumi Yamashita Producer
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Castle in the Sky
1. Opening Credits/ A Special Stone [1:00]
2. The Legend of the Castle In The Sky [:19]
3. Beware of the Pirates [1:06]
4. Lost in the Mine [:06]
5. Captured [1:25]
6. A Broken Promise [:06]
7. The Rescue [1:09]
8. An Adventurous Trip [:06]
9. Something's Wrong [1:44]
10. The Wonder of a New Place [:06]
11. The Invasion [1:32]
12. Redemption/ End Credits [:31]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Castle in the Sky
   Play
   Scene Selection
   Bonus Features
      Introduction By John Lasseter
   Set Up
      Audio Options
         English
         Français
         Japanese
      Subtitles
         English for the Hearing Impaired
         English
         Français
         Subtitles: None
      Register Your DVD
   Sneak Peeks
      Play All
         Walt Disney Presents - The Princess And The Frog
         Disney-Pixar - Toy Story/Toy Story 2
         Walt Disney Pictures - Tinkerbell And The Great Fairy Rescue
         Ponyo
         Disney - Friends For Change: Project Green
         Genuine Treasure
         Disney Blu-ray Magic In High-Def
         Toy Story 3
         Disney Movie Rewards
         Walt Disney Pictures Presents - Beauty And The Beast
         The World Of Ghibli
Disc #2 -- Castle in the Sky - Bonus Disc
   Bonus Features
      Original Japanese Storyboards
      The World Of Ghibli
         Behind The Studio
            The World Of Laputa
            Creating Castle In The Sky
            Character Sketches
            Producer's Perspective: Meeting Miyazaki
            Scoring Miyazaki
            Original Japanese Trailers
            Behind The Microphone
            Ponyo: Creating Ponyo
            My Neighbor Totoro: Creating My Neighbor Totoro
            Kiki's Delivery Service: Creating Kiki's Delivery Service
   Set Up
      Audio Options
         English
         Français
         Japanese
      Subtitles
         English for the Hearing Impaired
         English
         Français
         Subtitles: None
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 49 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(31)

4 Star

(11)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(2)

Your Rating:

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 49 Customer Reviews

  • Posted February 20, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Great cartoon movie

    A cartoon movie from HAYAO MIYAZAKI, rest assured that storyline would be wonderful, visuals would be absolutely stunning and above all it would be emotional. CASTLE IN THE SKY is a story of a girl from an enigmatic location floating in the sky. Everyone, from gov officials to sky pirates, is after her for their on selfish ends. But, she is not alone ....

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  • Posted January 3, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Peril Above.

    *Great animation, good storyline with a "cool" and "neat" protagonist, and the other characters are developed enough for you to enjoy this voyage. This DVD is suitable for 10 to 14 year olds; it has some action violence.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    A wonderful "Castles in the Sky" movie

    My husband and I had the blessing to watch this wonderful dvd yesterday and let me tell you that its a great movie. If you like to watch any films that are a creation of fantasy and cheerful creativity then this is your movie. The movie has some dark moments but the message of the movie turns out to be very uplifting that I would go as far as to say that one could watch this movie with youngsters. As one of the reviewers mentioned much of the movie takes place up in the sky but the movie carefully mixes fantasy and cartoon originality in such a way that it ends up being very pleasing to watch. This is a great family movie that will appeal to all ages. At the beginning of the film, it showed a scene where one of Pixar's creators was recommending the film and how he is friends with the Castle in the Sky's creator. I already had a good feeling about the movie but when one of Pixar's own creators recommends this movie it gives a great hint that this movie is also a classic (considering that Pixar has made many wonderful movies in their own right).

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Howl's Moving Castle
    Spirited Away
    Princess Mononoke
    My Neighbor Totoro
    Kiki's Delivery Service

    Very Nice FAMILY Movie!

    Laputa:Castle in the Sky is a very nice movie for the entire family to watch again and again. Younger kids can cheer for the two kids (Pazu and Sheeta), boo and hiss the nasty general and the evil government agent (mushka) and figure out for themselves whether to cheer or boo/hiss Captain Dora and her gang/family of pirates. Older kids will appreciate and enjoy the innocent friendship between Pazu and Sheeta and laugh at the cartoon-like antics of the pirate gang. Adults will really appreciate that there's NOTHING suggestive, R-rated or otherwise offensive to even the youngest eyes and ears. But this movie won't just babysit your kids; it'll give them (and you) something to think about. Miyazaki put a green message in the movie (hint: why did the Laputans abandon their city?). But the message doesn't slap you in the face; you have to look at it a bit to really see it. It might even take a second viewing to see it fully, so let your kids talk you into watching it again. You'll all enjoy it very much. And then go get all of Hayao Miyazaki's other movies, especially Kiki's Delivery Service. I think that's the best on e of them all. I also recommend Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. All are sweet and innocent and a lot of fun. Even disney thinks so; they're the ones bringing them over to America. Unlike many anime movies, you can't tell if the settings are Japanese, American or wherever. And a lot of the story takes place in the air or some other extraordinary setting.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Howl's Moving Castle
    Spirited Away
    Princess Mononoke
    My Neighbor Totoro

    Laputa: Castle in the Sky

    I first saw this movie in my high school Japanese class. It has stuck with me ever since. This is perhaps my favorite Miyazaki movie. Two children on the run from the government and pirates must solve the mystery of the castle in the sky. Full of flying machines and awesome robots. It doesn't get better than this.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Good movie.

    I liked this movie! If you like this genre you will enjoy it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Power of Laputa

    As a fan of Miyazaki's films, I can proudly say that Castle in the Sky is my favorite. Although the animation is old-this film was originally out in 1985/86-it still contains a well written story, lovable characters, and outstanding music. It is the story of Sheeta, an orphaned child, and Pazu, an eager boy struggling to redeem his father's name. The pair meet after Sheeta carefully falls from the sky, with the help of the ancient crystal. Both seek a castle in the sky, Laputa. As does the military and a gang of pirates led by the rowdy Dola, voiced by Cloris Leachman. Being pirates, they are after the treasure. Whereas the special government agent Muska, whom is voiced by Mark Hamill, is acting leader of the military, and only wants one thing. The ancient power of Laputa. The three sides meet and Sheeta must decide to let Laputa fall into the hands of an abusing power or save Laputa the only way she knows how. Immerse yourself in this witty tale spiced with action, science fiction, technology, and a hint of romance. If the film itself does not capture you, the characters or the musical score will. You will not be disappointed with this work of Miyazaki.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    awsome movies of all time

    Castle in the Sky alonge with every other movie by Hayao Miyazaki is ensperational and heart worming films. They worm the hearts of the viewers and can show them how hard but special life can be. I know that these films will always be remembered and thought of along with Hayao Miyazaki time and time again for making such master pieces. Thanks.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    dubbed...

    okay so the movie was one of this guys best works second to Nausicaa in my opinion. but watchinga dubbed version is torturing, the original japanese recording with english subtitles is thse best way to watch

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 26, 2004

    this will be a great movie to buy

    it was the most wounderful movie I ever saw

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Miyazaki is a genius

    This, as with most of Miyazaki's titles, is a feast for the eyes, for the intellect, for the soul, and for all ages. These seeming boundaries are effortlessly dissolved by one of the modern world's master storytellers, who deserves even far more celebration internationally than he is currently given. Sit back and and quietly enjoy as Ojiisama spins another enthralling yarn. With the success of Princess Mononoke and Sen To Chihiro (Spirited Away), the rest of the world is finally slowly waking up to the rare brilliance of Miyazaki Hayao. The fact that some of his finest work is STILL not available to the rest of the world in its original form is criminal. Here in Japan, Miyazaki is a household word. I have been tearing my hair out to find a region 1 version of Laputa, as well as of Totoro and Nausicaa, with original Japanese audio and English subtitles. I don't know why that's so much to ask, but apparently it is. (Incidentally, if anyone wants to help me out with information, I would be grateful.) I can't even tell if this version of Laputa has the original Japanese audio or not, but I won't buy it until I'm sure. I'm also reading in the reviews on this thread that the soundtrack has been tampered with as well, which isn't encouraging. The original music is fine, and often BEAUTIFUL. It was also composed by Miyazaki himself. WHY tamper with it? Maybe the producers of this DVD couldn't get the rights, I don't know. A visit to the model of Miyazaki's study in the Ghibli museum in Mitaka reveals a glimpse of his wealth of knowledge of and respect for all things organic and devised, which finds its way into, and augments the richness of, his stories. His bookshelves are loaded with volumes on history (his books on the history of the U.S. Navy alone take up an entire shelf!) art, landscapes, human form, crafts, photography, architecture, technology, as well as fiction. His desk is flooded with stacks of CDs which engulf a player and the headphones plugged into it. Laputa definitely has all of the themes one would expect from a Miyazaki film: timelessness, respect for nature, whimsical technology that seems to be based on historical designs, yet are fantastical creations all their own, seemingly futuristic and rustic at the same time (an airship powered by propellers, communication by telegraph), child heroes, and a wealth of three-dimensional characters that constantly defy the stock Western profiles of 'good guys' and 'bad guys.' Also, as in his other films, Miyazaki gives Laputa a somewhat open ending, something else that may be uncomfortable to Western viewers. This is one of his trademarks, however, and part of what has come to be expected from his Japanese fans who love him so. As one of my students, a 14 year-old girl from Kagawa explained it, he leaves it to our own imaginations to wonder how and where the characters finally 'end up.' In Miyazaki's world, as in our world, there is no end. Just as every history is merely a part of a bigger one, so Miyazaki does not follow every line to the end. Instead he weaves his tales into the latticework of a bigger, yet untold tale.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Disappointing

    The new voice acting and sound track totally butcher the film, the original English version was one of my favourite films of all time however I think I've worn out the tape. The voice acting is extremely poor and the music isnt a patch on the original. Rather than complement the beautiful artwork and wonderful story line it clashes with horrific results. However, with all the above the story is still fantastic, as is the original artwork. As above, if any knows where to find the original please contact me at tal0san@hotmail.com

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Odd. And about time.

    I saw this title originally waaaay back in 1985-86 when I caught a sneak preview at a convention in San Jose, CA. Couldn't wait for it to come out on LD. Fast forward nearly twenty years and finally, here it is. Odd to see after so long. At the same time, it is about time.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Castle in the Sky-Good or Not?

    OK, so I never really did get to love this film, but I bought it anyway because I'm collecting all the Miyazaki films. It's really my 5th pick for Best Miyazaki Films, so you can see that I don't really reccomend it. I definitely liked Princess Mononoke better. Anna Paquin could have done much, much better, but Mark Hamill and Cloris Leachman did an OUTSTANDING job. Personally, I think it was some of the actors' faults for not bringing the movie to life enough. I seriously skip the scene with the mine because it's so dull (but you really need to see it in order to understand Sheeta's crystal's power). The ending, I think most people will agree, is not good. The story needs to go on at least to say where Sheeta and Pazu finally end up! As a lover of anime, you've got to take it from me: this isn't the best anime. I'm not saying don't buy it, just that you might want to really, REALLY think about it before you do. But I do have to salute Mark Hamill for his performance. Awesome!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    beautiful, eerie, and sad

    I thought this movie was utterly, stunningly, gorgeous. It is not violent or sexual anime, which I think is why some other reviewers were...disappointed. Rather than an action flick (though there _is_ action) it is a parable about violence, technology, and the human spirit. I would recommend it to any thoughtful adult.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2003

    The original UK realease was so much better.

    Although it's nice to finally have this classic anime film on DVD I was severely disappointed with the new voice acting which made the film dull and uninspiring. In the original UK release the voices used were 100 times better and really brought the film to life. If you know where I can get ahold of the original UK release please contact me. Thank You.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    awesome one of the best Miazaki films

    it was awesome....laputa is the coolest castle thing with the etherem cyrstal!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Laputa The ORIGINAL english version

    My God Castle in the sky sucks big time. The original laputa, that was put on TV in the UK is far superior. If anyone can tell me where this copy is available please will you text me at ben59876@hotmail.com. Thanx

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Greatest Movie in the world

    you should show this movie to the little chiledren. it create imagination and dream!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 13, 2003

    I love Castle In The Sky it was so cool!!!

    A great story line.I like that it has love and friendship.The girl was so nice and was the boy.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 49 Customer Reviews