Castle in the Sky: Full Synopsis & Analysis (Spoilers Explained)

“Castle in the Sky(Studio Ghibli Official)” is an animated feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released on August 2, 1986. It was the first film produced by Studio Ghibli (or rather, Studio Ghibli was founded to create this movie). It still boasts enduring popularity, and many would likely name it as their favorite Ghibli film.

I myself love this film, and there was a time during elementary school when I watched it over and over again every day. This time, I’d like to write about the synopsis and three mysteries of “Castle in the Sky.” However, when I say synopsis, I’m going to spoil everything, so if you dislike spoilers, please read only partway through and then watch the actual movie.

*This article is an English translation of the original Japanese article, “「天空の城ラピュタ」のネタバレあらすじと考察ポイント-人物相関図付きでラストまで解説-“.

“Castle in the Sky” Synopsis (Spoilers Ahead)

Quick Summary

The key points of the “Castle in the Sky” synopsis can be summarized as follows:

Story Explanation

If “Castle in the Sky” were to be described in one sentence, it would be an adventure epic centered around a “treasure island floating in the sky” hidden from this world. At the same time, for the protagonist, Pazu, it is a story of “reclaiming his father.”

Pazu’s father once succeeded in photographing the “floating island,” but he was branded a fraud, and no one believed in its existence. The reason Pazu worked hard in the harsh mines and built an ornithopter night after night was likely driven by a desire to “restore his father’s honor.”

However, even for Pazu, it was unclear whether “Laputa” truly existed, so it’s understandable that the appearance of Sheeta was a great blessing for him. Her arrival made the existence of “Laputa” a certainty.

The reason Pazu risked his life to protect Sheeta was likely due to his desire to repay the “blessing” that Sheeta’s existence had given him.

With that said, let’s take a more detailed look at the synopsis of “Castle in the Sky.”

A Spider’s Thread

The story’s protagonist is a young boy named Pazu. Though still a child, he endures harsh days as a laborer in a deserted mine. On that day too, Pazu was working overtime, but he was living an unchanged daily life, surrounded by kind townspeople.

As Pazu returned to his workplace after getting a meal, a mysterious light slowly falling from the sky caught his eye. Looking closely, it seemed to be a person.

Pazu rushed in a panic towards the person falling from the sky. When he finally reached them, he saw a girl with pigtails. And on her chest, a mysterious stone was shining brightly.

The next morning, the girl wakes up in Pazu’s house. A little confused by the unfamiliar room, she hears the sound of a trumpet from outside. Guided by the sound, she climbs onto the roof to find a boy playing the trumpet. It is there that the two finally speak. The boy’s name is Pazu, and the girl’s name is Sheeta.

After introducing themselves, Pazu asked to borrow the stone around Sheeta’s neck. He believed the stone was the cause of the strange phenomenon he had witnessed the previous night. After borrowing the stone from Sheeta and putting it on, Pazu jumped off the roof.

Unfortunately, Sheeta’s stone didn’t exhibit the power Pazu had hoped for, but luckily, Pazu escaped with only minor bruises.

Shaking it off, the two decide to have a meal. While Pazu is preparing food, Sheeta discovers a photograph of a mysterious castle towering in the clouds. According to Pazu, it was taken by his father and is an island floating in the sky called “Laputa.”

Pazu believed his father who took the picture, but his father was ultimately treated as a fraud and died in despair. Perhaps to clear his father’s name, Pazu had been independently developing an airplane (ornithopter) amidst his extremely busy days.

As they were talking, an automobile stopped outside Pazu’s house. Pazu was a little excited by the rare automobile, but Sheeta’s expression was strange. According to Sheeta, they were pirates (sky pirates) and were targeting her. Pazu moves to protect Sheeta.

With the help of the townspeople, Pazu and Sheeta managed to shake off their initial pursuers, but the pursuit by the pirate leader, Dola, was intense, and the two were cornered.

Fleeing, Pazu and Sheeta were running on the train tracks. Chased down by Dola, the two were knocked off the tracks. As they fell deep into the mine, a miracle happened again. The stone around Sheeta’s neck glowed brightly, levitating both their bodies in the air.

Slowly descending into a mine cave, the two managed to escape from Dola and her gang. Inside the abandoned mine, they could finally eat a meal.

An old man appears. Sheeta was a bit wary, but he was an acquaintance of Pazu’s. The old man was called Old Man Pom.

According to Old Man Pom, the stones in the cave were “buzzing,” and he liked to be in the cave when that happened. Pom showed them by breaking a small stone. For a short time, the inside of the broken stone glowed blue, then quickly returned to a normal stone. Then, Old Man Pom extinguished the light and looked around.

The rocks in the cave began to sparkle like stars. According to Pom, the rocks in this area contain “Levistone,” and they glow in the dark.

At that moment, Sheeta felt something strange. The stone around her neck was glowing intensely.

The stone Sheeta had was a crystallized Levistone. According to Old Man Pom, the technology to crystallize Levistone was once possessed only by the “Laputans.” And he had also heard that the stones “buzz” because Laputa is passing overhead.

Pazu was overjoyed at these words. For Pazu, who had been aiming for Laputa alone since his father’s death, this was the first positive information he had heard. And for Pazu, who had just experienced floating in the air by the power of the Levistone, the existence of Laputa was now a fact.

Guided out of the cave by Old Man Pom, Pazu’s thoughts turned more and more to Laputa. Sheeta then tells Pazu a secret name passed down from her parents. The name is “Lusheeta Toel Ul Laputa.” Sheeta had a secret name connected to “Laputa.” Pazu was surprised by this fact, but at that moment, the military surrounded them. The pirates weren’t the only ones after Sheeta.

Pazu tried desperately to protect Sheeta, but against the overwhelming number of soldiers, the two were captured.

Sheeta’s Rescue

Pazu was thrown into a jail cell, but Sheeta, though confined to a tower, was treated well. Sheeta was taken deep into the basement of a military facility by a man named “Muska.” There, a mysterious robot lay broken and motionless.

Muska was leading the military’s search for Laputa, but the main reason the military began searching in earnest was because this robot had fallen from the sky.

Muska also knew Sheeta’s secret name and pressed her to tell him the secret words to activate the Levistone.

Sheeta pleaded, “I don’t know anything like that, please let me see Pazu,” but Muska told her, “If you cooperate, he can be set free.” Sheeta gave in to these words.

Pazu, who had been in prison, was suddenly released. Sheeta was there, but she seemed like a different person, telling Pazu to stay away from Laputa. Confused by the situation, Pazu was forcibly given money by Muska, who said, “Thank you for protecting her from the pirates.”

Faced with overwhelming power, Pazu had no choice but to yield. Blaming himself for his powerlessness, Pazu quietly headed home. He thought about throwing away the money he had received, but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Pazu was expecting to return to the harsh days of labor in the mine… or so he thought.

When he arrived home, he found the pirates who had been chasing Sheeta occupying his house and eating his food.

Pazu was somehow restrained by the pirates in his own home. To make matters worse, when the pirates saw the large sum of money Pazu had, they laughed at him, saying, “Did you sell the girl for money?”

He tried to bluff, saying “Sheeta told me to do it!” but the pirate leader scoffed, “Don’t you understand the heart of a woman who tried desperately to save a man?” It was then that Pazu finally realized Sheeta’s true intentions.

At that moment, the pirates intercepted a military communication and once again moved to seize the Levistone.

Seeing this, Pazu pleaded to go with them. The pirate leader allowed him to come along, calculating that “the girl might be more cooperative if Pazu is there.”

Unaware of this situation, Sheeta was spending her time in lonely confinement in the tower. She suddenly remembered her childhood. Her mother had taught her a magic spell to regain her spirits when things were tough. As she whispered the words, the Levistone around her neck began to glow brightly.

In response to the glow, the robot sleeping in the basement awakened and began to move, searching for something.

The awakened robot displayed overwhelming destructive power, devastating the military base where Sheeta was being held. Upon finding Sheeta, the robot continued its rampage as if to protect her.

At that moment, Pazu arrived with the pirates. He came riding a “flapter,” a small aircraft (ornithopter) used by the pirates. Rescuing Sheeta was extremely difficult, but Pazu succeeded.

In the chaos, Sheeta lost the Levistone, but she managed to get back to Pazu.

Having lost the Levistone and no longer pursued by the military or the pirates, the two expressed their wish to accompany the pirates to uncover the “truth of Laputa.” The pirate leader reluctantly agreed, but the other members were overjoyed at the prospect of having someone to do their chores. These seemingly good-natured pirates were known as the “Dola Gang,” named after their leader.

To Laputa

The Laputa search party, led by Muska, who had obtained Sheeta’s Levistone, was heading towards the location indicated by the stone’s light. The words Sheeta had remembered caused the Levistone to emit a light pointing to Laputa’s location.

Although Sheeta had already lost the Levistone, she remembered clearly the moment it first pointed towards Laputa. The Dola Gang’s flagship, the “Tiger Moth,” set its course for Laputa based on Sheeta’s testimony. Meanwhile, Pazu and Sheeta were handling chores on the “Tiger Moth.”

Pazu and the others headed for Laputa, keeping a lookout for the military’s flagship, the “Goliath,” which was also heading there. They took turns keeping watch visually, and Pazu was on duty. Sheeta appeared. Pazu, worried, told her to go back, but they ended up keeping watch together. There, they spent a special, albeit informal, time together. It was a very precious time for both of them.

After a period of quiet, Pazu spotted the Goliath in the clouds directly below the Tiger Moth. They immediately took evasive action and managed to shake off the Goliath for a while, but to strengthen their reconnaissance, Pazu and Sheeta were sent up in a “tethered kite.”

They spotted the Goliath again, but its attack was fierce, and the Tiger Moth was in a desperate situation. At that moment, the group encountered a massive cumulonimbus cloud, the “Dragon’s Nest.” Dola tried to flee from the Dragon’s Nest, but Pazu suggested they fly into it. Pazu had not forgotten his father’s words. His father had discovered Laputa inside the Dragon’s Nest, where a reverse wind blew like a barrier. Dola steeled herself and decided to enter the Dragon’s Nest, but at that moment, an attack from the Goliath hit the Tiger Moth directly.

Due to the Goliath’s attack, the kite carrying Pazu and Sheeta was severed from the Tiger Moth, and they were swallowed alone into the Dragon’s Nest. In the clouds filled with strong winds and roaring thunder, Pazu thought he saw his father’s figure……

When he came to, the kite carrying the two had landed in a strange place. Looking around, it was a castle towering in the sky. It was Laputa.

Unfortunately, Pazu and Sheeta were not the only ones to reach Laputa. Muska’s group from the Goliath had also arrived and were plundering everything in sight. The silver lining was that the Dola Gang had only been captured, not killed.

Pazu decided to rescue the Dola Gang, who had helped him.

The two got close to the captured Dola, but just as they were about to succeed, Sheeta was captured by Muska again. As Muska and his men disappeared behind a wall of Laputa using the power of the Levistone, Pazu reluctantly prioritized rescuing Dola.

Taking advantage of the military’s chaos as they plundered Laputa, Pazu succeeded in rescuing Dola and her gang. In the process, Dola entrusted him with a large cannon. With the cannon in hand, Pazu went to save Sheeta.

Meanwhile, Muska, having captured Sheeta, had reached the “central core” of Laputa using the power of the Levistone. There, Sheeta learned from Muska that he too possessed a secret name bearing the name of Laputa. Muska’s secret name was “Romuska Palo Ul Laputa.” Both Muska and Sheeta originated from the royal family of Laputa. While Sheeta’s clan had entrusted their future to a life on the ground, Muska’s clan had never lost their craving for the lost Laputa.

Muska finally revealed his true nature, seized control of Laputa’s functions, and declared himself “King of Laputa.”

Not only Pazu was confused by this situation. The military personnel who had accompanied Muska to Laputa were also bewildered by his claim and openly showed their hostility towards the already disliked Muska. However, Muska, now in control of Laputa’s functions, attacked the soldiers who came with him. Under his command, robots of the same type as the one that fell to the ground began to move. They had no choice but to flee, but the robots’ pursuit was relentless.

In the midst of the chaos, Pazu approached the “central core” of Laputa where Muska and Sheeta were. Sheeta, who had escaped from Muska’s grasp, also sought out Pazu.

Muska was the first to find the fleeing Sheeta, but Pazu immediately caught up to her. Pazu confronted Muska once again.

Muska, an excellent marksman, was still composed. He showed his余裕 to Pazu who was aiming the cannon at him and gave the two of them a “final moment.” At that time, Pazu suggested to Sheeta that they use “that word.” It was Pazu’s “final decision,” having overheard the word that would end everything aboard the Tiger Moth.

Sheeta and Pazu shouted at Muska, “Balse!”

In that instant, “Laputa,” which had been barely holding its form, began to crumble.

The Dola Gang tried to escape on their flapter, waiting for Pazu and Sheeta until the last possible moment. However, Pazu and Sheeta, who had lost consciousness from the impact of chanting “Balse,” did not return to them. Reluctantly, the Dola Gang left Laputa, resigning themselves to the children’s deaths.

Pazu and Sheeta, who had been unconscious, had miraculously been saved from Laputa’s collapse by getting tangled in the branches of a tree. Having had a narrow escape, the two left Laputa on the kite they had arrived on.

Pazu and Sheeta reunited with the Dola Gang and said their final goodbyes.

Pazu’s adventure, which began with a single photograph left by his father, came to an end, and his own life finally began. What kind of life will he lead with Sheeta?

---

That is the synopsis of “Castle in the Sky.” As I tried to summarize it, I realized that the scenario is so meticulously crafted that there are almost no parts that can be omitted. Perhaps this meticulousness is what gives Laputa its brisk pace. Also, there were many parts that were visually stunning but extremely difficult to describe in writing. It makes me think that visual works should be enjoyed as visual works after all.

Next, let’s move on to the points for discussion.

Points for Discussion in “Castle in the Sky”

The Fallen Robot Soldier

The character Muska has a unique charm in the film, but the fundamental reason he was able to mobilize the military and lead the search for Laputa was the “robot crash incident.”

We easily accept it because it fits so naturally into the progression of the story, but why did that robot fall from Laputa? I have compiled my personal thoughts on this matter in the following article.

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In this article, I write about the reason for the crash as well as “the meaning of the robot’s fall.” Please give it a read if you have time.

Pazu’s Quest for Laputa

The protagonist of “Castle in the Sky,” Pazu, spent his days before meeting Sheeta diligently building an ornithopter (airplane). This was, of course, to aim for Laputa.

But the important question here is, why did Pazu have to aim for Laputa? Of course, it was undoubtedly to clear the name of his father, who died after being labeled a fraud. However, it seems to me that the inner truth is not as straightforward and simple as that. I have summarized my thoughts on this in the following article.

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Why did Pazu work so hard, night after night, to build an ornithopter?

The Mystery of Old Man Pom

Although his screen time in “Castle in the Sky” is not very long, “Old Man Pom” is a character who leaves a special impression on us. In the story, Old Man Pom’s role is to make Pazu believe in the existence of Laputa. With Sheeta’s appearance and Old Man Pom’s testimony, Pazu was able to truly believe in Laputa.

But I want you all to remember something. We know of one person who should have originally played Old Man Pom’s role. There is someone who could have made Pazu believe in Laputa with more conviction than Old Man Pom. And that person had a responsibility to tell Pazu the truth about Laputa. However, that character does not reappear, and Old Man Pom performed the role that character was supposed to.

So, who is this person? Why did Old Man Pom do what that person was supposed to do? I wrote about this in the “Appendix” section of the following article.

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What do you all think?

Appendix: How Was Sheeta Carried?

This might actually be the biggest mystery in “Castle in the Sky,” but how did Pazu carry Sheeta to his home?

To begin with, Sheeta, who fell from the sky, was initially lying next to a giant gear, and Pazu first had to get her down from there. This would be extremely difficult even for a very strong man.

But the fact is that Pazu got her down from there and carried her to his home. I still don’t have an answer for this. One could argue, “Maybe they didn’t think that far,” but I believe Hayao Miyazaki would have thought about it. At the very least, I can’t imagine producer Isao Takahata overlooking it.

How did Pazu carry Sheeta? It’s an important mystery, but since I don’t have a personal answer yet, I’ve included it as a “Appendix.” What does everyone think?

The images used in this article are from the “Studio Ghibli Still Images” collection.