In Hayao Miyazaki’s anime Castle in the Sky Laputa is a magical floating island with an amazing history and advanced technology. Inspired by Jonathan Swift’s book Gulliver’s Travels, this anime mixes fantasy, adventure, and a bit of steampunk.
The Dream of Flight
The story starts with people who wanted to fly like birds. At first, they worked on the ground with cattle, dreaming of flying. Over time, they built flying machines. Some worked, others didn’t. When industrialization came, they found a special element called Volculite, which helped them build huge flying machines, even big enough to be floating cities. But strong winds made these cities crash, leaving only one floating island: Laputa.
Finding Laputa
People thought Laputa was just a myth because it was mentioned in Gulliver’s Travels. Most didn’t believe such an advanced city existed. Sheeta, the main character, wouldn’t have known about Laputa if not for Pazu and Muska. Pazu’s father had seen and photographed Laputa, but no one believed him. Muska, however, was determined to find Laputa, and his search gained a clue when a robot from Laputa fell from the sky.
The Journey to Laputa
Sheeta had a special flying stone needed to find Laputa. When she said a magic word, the stone lit up and showed the way. Laputa hovers in a cloud-filled area called the dragon’s cave (龍 の 巣, ryuu no su), which pulls in nearby flying machines with its strong winds and lightning.
Exploring Laputa
When Sheeta and Pazu reach Laputa, they find a giant tree in the center, inside a greenhouse made of white buildings. The island is full of moss-covered robots and old tablets with writing on them, suggesting a tomb and a lively ecosystem with birds and other animals.
The Dome and Volculite Crystal
Under the tree is a dome that holds the Volculite crystal, which makes Laputa float. The crystal, in a pond with tree roots around it, powers Laputa’s advanced technology. Muska, using Sheeta’s stone, can control the island’s technology, including its defense systems and high-tech library.
Gardens and Outer Ring
Laputa has beautiful gardens cared for by robots, home to many animals like fox squirrels, beavers with four eyes, and dragonflies with many wings. The outer ring has columns, walls, and platforms for landing. It also keeps Laputa from floating into space.
The Fall of Laputa
At the story’s climax, Sheeta and Pazu use a special spell to make the dome and outer ring crumble. The battle robots stop working, and the Volculite crystal rises, making Laputa lighter and float towards space. However, it’s said that Laputa stays in a celestial sphere, where its animals can survive.
Laputa’s People and Technology
Laputa’s people were very advanced. They built smart, flying robots and weapons. This technology hints that they might have been at war. They also knew how to use Aetherium to make materials that could fly. Laputa was rich and ruled by a royal family, whose descendants are Muska and Sheeta. While Muska’s family remembered Laputa, Sheeta’s family only had the flying stone and magic words.
In Castle in the Sky, Laputa symbolizes human creativity, the mystery of the unknown, and the balance between technology and nature. Its story, full of myth and adventure, continues to fascinate audiences, making it a timeless anime classic.
