Laputa: Castle in the Sky is where it all began for Studio Ghibli. The film company dominated the Japanese (and global) animation scene for three decades and many of the themes they explored throughout this time can be seen in this, their first film. Laputa tells the story of a young boy and girl who are racing against pirates and foreign agents in the pursuit of a legendary floating castle.

The film touches on environmental themes that director Hayao Miyazaki would later explore in Princess Mononoke and shares the swashbuckling action of Porco Rosso. Plus it continues the trend of his previous film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind with a narrative that focuses on a female protagonist, a trend that continued throughout his career. A great film in its own right, Laputa: Castle in the Sky is an essential part of the history of an animation titan.