Once upon a time in the UK
The strikes started on March 3th of 1984 and lasted for almost a whole year. The coal industry deemed non profitable anymore struggles to survive as a way of life for the miners and families. A victory for the government of Margaret Thatcher, but the year-long strike allowed the closure of almost all of Britain’s coal mines. Some remember it as “the most bitter industrial dispute in Britain ever”. 175 of the working pits no longer exist today and much of the mining areas became the poorest of Britain.
A Japanese in Wales before Castle in the Sky
After the success of Nausicaa, Miyazaki Hayao went to Wales in the early stages of his next anime movie. The European architect will influence his movies many times, like France will shape the town of Howl’s Moving Castle or even the beaches of the Adriatic Sea will be reflected in Porco Rosso. Captivated by the architecture of the Island he was a witness of the coal miners’ strike in Britain. Deeply moved by the strike he remembered the miner of Japan. “Many of my generation think of miners as the strong fighting spirit man”. But he saw the miners fighting not for money or a job but to keep their way of life. Their culture. The legacy.
Studio Ghibli anime and Miyazaki’s perspective
Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli together with Takahata Isao (the mind behind another Ghibli’s hit “Grave of the Fireflies”) and Suzuki as producer on June 15 1985. Many of the staff who worked in Nausicaa were contracted once again for the Studio’s first anime movie. Much of the inspiration Miyazaki took from the strikes developed into the old technology seen in the new movie. A way to show how the times change leaving in the dust even advanced technologies like Robots. A retro-futurist representation of a future that in the movie is a world left behind. And as shown in Nausicaa before, the director’s passion for airplanes is displayed in the new movie as well.
Laputa, Castle in the Sky: No Spoilers
The name came from Gulliver’s Travels island of the same name. In the words of the director, the portrayal of pure hearted children helps to create a point of view that most adults can’t see. Miyazaki said “I realized I should depict the honesty and goodness of children in my work”, during a lecture at Waseda University in 1982. A departure from the strong proud Princess of his last movie, the protagonists in Laputa: Castle in the Sky are orphans. And the lack of the parent figure promotes the independence of both protagonists. Living a life-like adventure for them to grow.
The film was released on August 2, 1986. Miyazaki and Suzuki later expressed their disappointment at a lower office box in comparison to Nausicaa. For a second time Hisaishi Joe composed the soundtrack for Miyazaki’s production. Defining a relationship with Studio Ghibli that continued for every of Miyazaki’s works. The movie’s music theme took influence after Nausicaa’s own theme. Being one of the more recognizable melodies of Ghibli’s rich music history.
The movie is still today one of the best of the Studio as well the celebrated Director. The common critic you heard about the movie are its two-hours runtime. Almost a compliment if you think about it. Animation is sublime even by these day standards. The heartful story and narrative is unforgettable. And the robots from Laputa are a symbol of Ghibli that everyone can see on the Studio’s museum terrace in Mitaka, Tokyo.
Influence
The influence of Laputa: Castle in the sky is easy to see in Japanese anime as well as the video game industry. For instance, acclaimed directors like Oshii Mamoru and Shinkai Makoto named it among their favorite movies of all time. And even Sakaguchi Hironobu cited the movie as an influence for the airships of earlier Final Fantasy games.