Laputa: Castle in the Sky by Hayao Mizaki - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... However, after the critical failure of another Japanese animation, Princess Monoke, the release date was pushed back. It was finally released on video and DVD on 15th April 2003. Its English dubs have been released under 3 different titles, due largely due to the Spanish meaning of Laputa; the whore. Laputa is, however, an adaptation from Gulliver’s travels, which has a floating town by the same name, and is meaningless in Japanese. Through the Disney English dub, Tex Avery’s Laputa: Castle in the sky shattered the Disney cartoon formula via its use of sex, violence and speed, which while prevalent in Japanese animations, were revolutionary in the Disney context. 1. Plot The animation’s back-story sees the building of flying cities by human civilizations. However, a disaster, unspecified in the story, destroys the city, forcing them to inhabit the ground as they did before (McCarthy, 1999). However, Laputa remains hidden by thunderstorms. The animation kicks off with Sheeta being escorted by Colonel Muska’s agents. However, air pirates attack their ship led by Dola, a vivacious old woman. Jumping through the window, Sheeta begins to fall but suddenly floats as a pendant that had belonged to Muska begins to glow. Pazu spies her floating and takes her home with him. Here, he regales Sheeta with tales of Laputa, which his deceased pilot father had photographed. The pirates, led by Dola, pursue them but are cornered by soldiers. During this struggle, the two of them drop from a falling railing. They are again saved by Muska’s pendant and are trapped in the mines. Here, they meet Uncle Pom, who reveals to them a forgotten and mysterious element, aetherium. After showing Pom her pendant, he tells her that what kept Laputa afloat was one of the same pure crystals. He tells her never to use the crystal for violence (McCarthy, 1999). Leaving the mine, Muska and his army capture them and take put them in a fort. Muska and a general look for Laputa, and decide that the crystal and Sheeta is crucial in discovering the city (McCarthy, 1999). As a way of making Sheeta co-operate, Muska shows her a huge robot and tells her that failure to help her will lead him to harming Pazu. She agrees to help the military and tells Pazu so, while also begging him not to think about her any more. Pazu goes back home disillusioned, to find that Dola and her crew have taken over his house. Dola captures him, but they decide to rescue Sheeta together. Sheeta meanwhile is still in captivity. Reciting an old verse taught to her by her grandmother causes a beam of light to point from her pendant to Laputa. The robot is also reanimated by the spell, which causes it to wild out on the fortress. Attempting to rescue Sheeta, the robot is destroyed by Goliath, a warship. Sheeta’s pendant falls to the ground, and Muska recovers it, taking the Goliath to find Laputa (McCarthy, 1999). After Dola and Pazu have rescued Sheeta, they pursue the Goliath. Flying in a glider, a massive storm cloud, the hiding place of Laputa, becomes visible to Pazu, who recognizes it. The Goliath appears as they try to maneuver their way into Laputa and just zaps them. After a sickening flight, they land in the city, and all they find is a robot that cares for the animals and plants. Muska and his army also make it to the city and capture Dola’s pirates, while ripping off the treasures in the city (McCarth ...Download file to see next pagesRead More