Alright folks, I’ve just revisited one of my all-time childhood favorites, “Laputa – The Castle in the Sky.” Yeah, that’s right — the Miyazaki classic. And you know what? It still holds up. Well, mostly. There are a few bits that feel a tad dated, but it’s like listening to ABBA; it never really gets old.

First off, the animation. Måste säga, it’s stunning. Even if you’re not a fan of anime, you gotta appreciate the artistry. Hayao Miyazaki really nails the whole steampunk aesthetic here. It’s like a mashup of old-school adventure with some seriously imaginative technology. I still remember being gobsmacked the first time I saw that massive floating island. It’s magical, like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.

But, here’s the thing – the story does get a little slow in spots. Not painfully slow, but enough for me to start checking my watch now and then. I mean, I’m usually all in for a deep dive into world-building, but there are moments where you’re just begging for something to happen.

That said, the characters are what make this film shine. Pazu and Sheeta aren’t just cardboard cutouts; they’re kids you root for, like Emil i Lönneberga but with airships. The baddies are proper nasty too, which always makes things more fun.

One personal tidbit – I actually dragged my old man to see this at the Stockholm Film Festival back in the day. He wasn’t the type for “cartoons” (his words, not mine), but even he was hooked. He still brings it up sometimes, and trust me, he doesn’t remember much else about that year.

Honestly, if you’re a sucker for adventure and beautiful artistry, you owe it to yourself to check this out. Just be ready for a few slow patches. And hey, maybe it’s even worth the nostalgia trip.

For a lil’ taste of that magic, check out the trailer here: Laputa – The Castle in the Sky

So, grab some popcorn and let’s get lost in the sky.