Castle in the Sky, Volume 1 by Hayao Miyazaki

Castle in the Sky, Volume 1 by Hayao Miyazaki
Young Adult Manga
ISBN 1-59116-170-3
164 pp.
Suitable All Ages

Readers Annotation: Set in the nineteen century, this Gulliver's Travels inspired manga is based on Laputa, which is the mythical castle in the sky with many treasures. Pazu's father once saw it, and Pazu is going to find it.

Plot Summary: Inspired by Gulliver's Travels, this story set in the nineteen century during the first days of flying machines. This book starts off with an airship being assaulted by air pirates. The pirates are after a little girl named Sheeta, but she escapes by falling out of the airship only to safely float down to the ground by her magical pendant. An orphan boy named Pazu catches the girl in midair while she floats down. Pazu is building an airship that will take him to Laputa, a mythical sky castle that his father saw many years ago. Sheeta recovers at Pazo's house, but then the pirates arrive. Pazu and Sheeta are chased through town and barely escape on the train, but the pirates are still hot on their trail. However, the pirates run into the military but will that be enough or will the pirates catch Pazu and Sheeta?

Critical Evaluation: This mini series is completely based on Hayao Miyazaki's movie, The Castle in the Sky. The manga series uses shots from the movie with English text but has Japanese sound effects, which makes it very imaginative and stylish. It is also read in classic manga format, from right to left. There is, however, a translation section in the back (front) of the book. This wonderful story is probably better told in film. The ending leaves room for a sequel so perhaps to get the full story the other three volumes have to be read. It is a quick read with a fast paced storyline that is both entertaining and fun with very likeable protagonists. This unique graphic novel shows that when someone yearns for something, anything is possible.

Author: Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved illustrator's and author's. In 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and his Studio Ghibli received the festival's Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. Miyazaki's films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo.

All of his films have have received great acclaim in the U.S. His other achievements include the highly regarded manga series Nausica? of the Valley of the Wind and Starting Point: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that chronicle his early career and the development of his theories of animation. Both are published in English by VIZ Media.

Booktalking Ideas:
1) Mythology
2) Pirates
3) Military
4) Yearning
5) Sequel

Challenge Issues: There are none in this novel.

Why Included: This is yet another random graphic novel that I picked up from my library and read. I didn't know that it had such an interesting author and back story, which surprised me.