The first film under the newly-formed Studio Ghibli, Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986) follows a boy named Pazu, whose life changes when he meets Sheeta, a girl being pursued by the military and a family of pirates for her crystal amulet.
The pair try to protect the crystal from falling into the wrong hands, which holds the power to locate Laputa, a legendary floating castle in the sky.
Now marking its 40th anniversary, this early work has themes familiar to the career of director Hayao Miyazaki - anti-war, environmental protection - with Studio Ghibli later producing beloved classics such as My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.
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- Joe Harris
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