Reviewed by: James Zhang
Ratings:
Other name(s): Tenku-no Shiro Rapyuta
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Year: 1986
Series Length: Movie

In any form of art, it is difficult to find – let alone create - something understandable, meaningful, entertaining, and magical all at the same time. Laputa bears the distinction of achieving this, and rather spectacularly too.

Pazu is a youth living and working in a mining town, whose age betrays a grand ambition – to find Laputa, a legendary airborne island. His father before him obtained a photograph of it that nobody believed, and Pazu is set on following his footsteps to prove the island's existence to the world.

The adventure properly begins when a girl named Sheeta falls from the sky. She is saved and revived by Pazu, who quickly befriends her. She holds the key to something that is of interest to the army and a group of notorious pirates, and the two are instantly on the run.

Through an odd mix-up where Sheeta is captured by the army, and Pazu by the pirates, and Pazu rescues Sheeta with the help of the pirates, the two end up on the pirates' airship.

It turns out the pirates and the army are after the same thing as Pazu, with the former interested in treasure and the latter in something more sinister. What will become of the floating island once the parties reach there? Will it hold treasure, a store of advanced technology, or a horror to mankind?

The plot is in itself very exciting, but the brilliance of this movie lies in its exploration of themes integral to humanity. There is the innocence of young people with grand visions and good intentions, who gradually mature to realise that there is something more important than self-serving goals. There is the group who looks for shortcuts in life through looting instead of working honestly, but who like everyone else, values humour and humility within their hearts. And then there is the militarism and pomposity of an army with no superiors, compounded by secret agents who seem to operate under their own agenda.

The floating island itself opens the door to many other issues, such as power and its ability to corrupt, the simple pleasures that freedom can mean, and the attachment of humanity to Mother Earth.

With a girl who is at once a princess, moralist, and damsel-in-distress, and a boy who is the dreamer, adventurer, and rationalist, not to mention a matriarchal pirate syndicate with its distinctive personality and flair, and the contradictory personalities within the military hierarchy, Laputa has something for everyone. And this is without mentioning the interesting aircraft and multi-functional robots…

The artwork is flawless and the music heavenly – all combined with a superb plot makes Laputa the apex of animedom. Truly, something that warms the heart, ignites the imagination, and stays in the mind - an experience to be cherished for time immemorial.

This title is licensed in Australia.

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