4) Laputa: Castle In The Sky (1986)
The Oscar winning movie Spirited Away brought Studio Ghibli to international prominence in 2001, but the company often referred to as the Disney of Japan crafted some of the most beautiful animations ever produced long before the rest of the world took notice. Co-founder Hayao Miyazaki was responsible for many of the studio’s most successful features, but some of his earlier work is often overlooked in favour of his more modern classics.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky was technically the first film produced by the studio and provided a blueprint for most of the work that followed. A capable heroine? Check. Ecological concerns? Sure. A unique, fantastical world? A thousand times yes.
Sheeta and Pazu’s quest to find the floating city of Laputa is epic storytelling at its best and had it received worldwide exposure upon its release, the film would surely have become a classic in countries outside of its native Japan.
Fantasy epics have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years, making this the perfect time to adapt one of Miyazaki’s lesser known features. A live action version of Laputa: Castle in the Sky would appeal equally to children who enjoy the action and adults who appreciate the underlying themes that Miyazaki would later expand upon in subsequent films. Also, that one armed robot would just kick all kinds of ass in a live action remake.
Published: Sep 3, 2015 11:26 am