DVD, Studio Ghibli (Japan)
Anime
2 August 1986
Fantasy
English dubbing, excellent
124m
The movie opens in an airship, similar but not quite, like a blimp. There is a young girl, Sheeta, unhappy, and an evil man in the same room. She looks out and sees pirates coming for the air ship. She knocks out the man, reaches in his pocket for a necklace, puts it on, and escapes out the window.
The pirates want her. The government wants her. Or, rather, they want the necklace she’s wearing as it holds magical powers, of which she is not yet aware. Rescued by a young boy, they take off on the run trying to evade the government men, the pirates, and anyone else who wants her crystal necklace. Laputa is an old country that ‘floats’ above the earth, in the eye of a great storm, unable to be seen from Earth.
People want to find Laputa, steal its riches, especially the technology so they can rule earth. Some know Sheeta is descended from Laputa’s royalty, they want her and her crystal. And will stop at nothing to have them both.No one does these movies like Studio Ghibli. Inspired by the book, Gulliver’s Travels by Dr. Jonathan Swift.
“The Earth speaks to all of us, and if we listen, we can understand,”—Uncle Pom