An English dub commissioned by Tokuma Shoten in 1988 was distributed in North America by Streamline Pictures, and another dub was produced by Disney in 1998, released internationally by Buena Vista in 2003. It performed below expectations at the box office, but later achieved commercial success through rereleases, earning over US$157 million as of 2021. The film released in Japanese theaters on August 2, 1986. The young protagonists also provide a unique perspective on the narrative, as a result of Miyazaki's desire to portray 'the honesty and goodness of children in work.' Many aspects of the film's retrofuturistic style – the flying machines in particular – are influenced by nineteenth-century approaches, which has earned the film a reputation in the modern steampunk genre. The island of Laputa is used to highlight the theme of environmentalism, exploring the relationships between humanity, nature, and technology, a reflection of Miyazaki's ecological philosophy. The film was partly inspired by Miyazaki's trips to Wales, where he witnessed the aftermath of the 1984 coal miners' strike. The studio's intent was to create original feature films without any compromise of quality.

Laputa is the first film to be animated by Studio Ghibli, with a production team comprising many of Miyazaki's longtime collaborators, who would continue to work with the studio for the following three decades. Laputa turns out to harbor a dangerous weapons system, which Sheeta and Pazu destroy to halt Muska's destruction, causing Laputa to rise into space. They discover that the crystal leads them to Laputa, a mythical castle flying in the sky, and join the pirates on their journey to reach the island before the military. The film follows orphans Sheeta and Pazu, who are chased by Muska, the army, and a group of pirates over Sheeta's crystal necklace. In voice acting roles, the original Japanese version stars Mayumi Tanaka, Keiko Yokozawa, Kotoe Hatsui, and Minori Terada, while the 2003 English dub stars James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, and Mark Hamill. It was produced by Isao Takahata, animated by Studio Ghibli, and distributed by the Toei Company.

Shop Other Arrangements of 'Howl's Moving Castle (arr.Laputa: Castle in the Sky ( Japanese: 天空の城ラピュタ, Hepburn: Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta), released as Castle in the Sky in North America, is a 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

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