i just realise i have be use imdb for year now and i have never review my favourite film . by favourite i do not mean something i like for now and i mean this film be so supernaturally perfect that there be never another animated experience go to touch it . this be obvious because i be never go to be a child again while i saw this film on itv in the early ninety . i be 12 which be the age group this film be direct at and i be also male and the gender that this film be intend for ( the overwhelming majority of miyazaki protagonist be female ) . consequently this film indelibly inspire my childhood psychology and i be forever indebted to carl macek ( sp . ) for produce the english dub of this film which be far superior to the di $ ney production which be not even funny i have never even be able to watch that one of course subtitle be the only way ultimately however the macek version be so good ( the voice almost exactly correspond to the original japanese actor ) that this version be available on the japanese dvd . it not available on any distribution in an english speaking country . go figure . there be hundred of competent review so i be go to put some trivia here and not that i be the definitive archive of information for this film . first up i would like to agree with the reviewer who state that you need 2 negative to review miyazaki film they be so in their own league that they make almost the whole catalogue on imdb combine pale into insignificance . the fascinating story with this film be that miyazaki base the countryside around slag ravine ( pazu town area ) on the welsh mining community . he visit wale for a few month in the early 80 ( might be late 70 ) just after one of the great mining strike . be an avid supporter of the student socialist movement in the sixty he felt their plight . the fight between the townsfolk and the pirate at the begin serf to illustrate this empathy with the work man . the countryside and the cloud especially in this film remind me of where i grow up a his film depict a fantasised version of the roll hill of the midwest british isle . the island be of course from swift genius satirical novel of the eighteenth century the story in swift book be and deliberately and ridiculous . in castle in the sky and miyazaki weave together myth such a atlantis and the tower of babel i think the architecture in addition be base on peruvian ruin though i be not sure and someone tell me that . anyone who get round to read this review and who like this film really will want to check out miyazaki epic series mirai shounen conan future boy conan base on the short sci fi novel the incredible tide by alexander key ( novel be available online ) . conan be basically a prototype for laputa pazu and shita . in addition you may not be familiar with his early work for masterpiece theatre some of his key frame animation . he also do key frame for sherlock hound this have some of the fine background i have ever see too . also check out miyazaki and takahata first feature film horus prince of the sun ( 1968 ) amazing by today standard in fact . what else . gauche the cellist and the fly ghost ship though theyre pretty rare . this film be such a gift and i do not know what we would do without it with all this other crap storytelling around and this be like an oasis . arigatou miyazaki sensei .