History Anime / CastleInTheSky

* LostInTranslation: Although faithful in spirit overall, some aspects of the original script didn't survive in the script for the Disney dub. The references to "Gulliver's Travels" and "Treasure Island" are both omitted, and the last part of Sheeta's speech at the end of the film is changed from "you can't survive without mother Earth" to "the world cannot live without love," which feels out of place with the actual song.
** Oddly enough, even though the forgotten '80s JAL dub maintains the last part of Sheeta's speech and the "Treasure's Island" reference, it too omits the "Gulliver's Travels" reference.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: General Muoro decides Muska has outlived his usefulness after he [[spoiler:test-fires one of Laputa's superweapons on the surface (the understated enthusiasm Muska showed while doing so [[EvenEvilHasStandards may have also pushed the General toward this]]). Unfortunately, he finds out that he's only shooting at a hologram of Muska and Muska feels the same way about ''him'' and subjects him to a DisneyVillainDeath]].
** Earlier, Dola implies to Pazu that this is likely the fate that awaits Sheeta once she fulfills her end of the bargain with Muska in helping him find Laputa.

** Earlier, Dola implies to Pazu that this is likely the fate that awaits Sheeta once she fulfulls her end of the bargain with Muska in helping him find Laputa.

%%* SteamPunk: Mixed with a little Feudal Punk.
%%* StealthPun: When Muska [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness disposes of the general and his men]] by dropping them from Laputa into the ocean, it's quite literally raining men.

%%* SurpriseCheckmate: When Dola is playing chess in her room.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/castle_in_the_sky_3.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:[[ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld Flying machines]]? [[PluckyGirl Brave young heroine]]? [[SignatureStyle It must be Miyazaki]]!]]

Not to be confused with either the ChineseSeries ''Franchise/{{Novoland}}: The Castle in the Sky'' or ''Literature/CastleInTheAir'', the literary sequel to ''Howl's Moving Castle'', the latter of which was also adapted into a film by Studio Ghibli.

Not to be confused with either the ChineseSeries ''Novoland: The Castle in the Sky'' or ''Literature/CastleInTheAir'', the literary sequel to ''Howl's Moving Castle'', the latter of which was also adapted into a film by Studio Ghibli.

As part of their distribution deal, Disney has brought this film to America with a voice cast which includes Creator/AnnaPaquin, James Van Der Beek, Creator/ClorisLeachman, Creator/MandyPatinkin, Creator/MarkHamill, and Andy Dick as well as a new score provided by Music/JoeHisaishi (who wrote the original soundtrack). This latter decision caused controversy with fans and critics more familiar with the more silent Japanese version, [[ApprovalOfGod but Joe Hisaishi mentioned in his blog that he and Miyazaki were pleased with the soundtrack]].

The dub, originally recorded in 1998, was initially scheduled for a 1999 video release, but continually delayed before finally debuting on VHS and DVD in April 2003, alongside ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' and ''Anime/KikisDeliveryService''. This dub is one of only two Ghibli films (the other being ''Kiki's Delivery Service'') which Disney "Americanized"; future Ghibli releases only featured new voicework instead of the extensive musical reworking that ''Castle in the Sky'' and ''Kiki's Delivery Service'' underwent. A 2010 re-release of the film replaced the re-scored soundtrack with the original for the subs and also removed some of the additional chatter added to the dub, but the faithful subtitle track on the 2003 DVD release was replaced with a {{dubtitle}}. This has been rectified with a reissue on BD and DVD in 2017, providing fans with the choice to see the Disney dub with either score (minus extra dialogue and redone sound effects) -- as well as a subtitle track for fans of the Japanese version.

A little known fact: there also exists a rare English dub distributed, but not produced, by Carl Macek's company Creator/StreamlinePictures, dubbed by Streamline regulars, apparently as an exclusive for Japan Air Lines as an in-flight movie.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: General Muoro decides Muska has outlived his usefulness after he test-fires one of Laputa's superweapons on the surface (the understated enthusiasm Muska showed while doing so [[EvenEvilHasStandards may have also pushed The General toward this]]). [[spoiler: Unfortunately, he finds out that he's only shooting at a hologram of Muska and Muska feels the same way about ''him'' and subjects him to a DisneyVillainDeath]].

** The Laputian robot's "eyes" are the muzzles of ''two'' of them: A slashing laser and a Destructo-Beam. It's worth noting that the lasers used by the robots follow a realistic theory about the capability of laser weapons: They don't have a maximum range and they travel near-instantly. This is most clearly demonstrated when [[spoiler:Sheeta throws off the damaged Fortress robot's aim and the beam shoots off across the countryside for ''miles'' before it can cut the beam to avoid risking harm to Sheeta]].
** The city itself has a ''huge'' WaveMotionGun that makes the entire edifice a floating KillSat. When Muska test-fires it, it triggers what looks a whole lot like a ''nuclear'' explosion in the sea below. DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything

* TooDumbToLive: The Army and General Muoro ultimately play this trope straight, all too happy to follow Muska to Laputa's many treasures no matter how much they test the immense power of Laputa and the crystal carried by Sheeta. When they finally realize Muska's true intentions, the General shoots at what is just a hologram of Muska. This proves a fatal mistake and the Army is quickly massacred as they try to flee the city.

* StealthPun: When Muska [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness disposes of the general and his men]] by dropping them from Laputa into the ocean, it's quite literally raining men.

* TheSocialDarwinist: Muska, as he reveals in a MotiveRant, believes that he is a superior breed of humanity and must use Laputa's power to guide the stupid commoners.

* RoyalBlood: [[spoiler: Sheeta and Muska are both descendants of the Laputian royal family. This is necessary for using Laputa's powers]].

* RedshirtArmy: The Army becomes this once Muska gains control of Laputa; when they resist, they are absolutely massacred as Muska sends them all falling to their deaths, and finishes off the survivors on ''Goliath'' when they flee the scene and try to destroy the dome beneath the city.

* PreMortemOneLiner: Muska's "Goodbye! Enjoy the ride!" quip in the Disney dub before dropping the soldiers to their deaths.

* MissingStepsPlan: Muska disposes of his own men after he seizes control of Laputa. He is alone. His folly is even pointed out to him by Sheeta, for a king ''cannot rule'' over an empty kingdom.

** In Disney's dub Cloris Leachman's performance as Dola in general. When Muska goes crazy at the end, Mark Hamill really gets to have fun, laughing maniacally and spouting a very memorable "Goodbye! Enjoy the ride!" prior to sending the soldiers to their deaths. There are even places where he sounds like ComicBook/TheJoker.

* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold: [[spoiler:Implied in-universe at the ending. The entire military expedition sent to find Laputa was killed by Muska before they could report their discovery to their government and Laputa itself has relocated to the world's upper atmosphere, out of reach of humanity's current level of technology. The only survivors of the incident are Sheeta, Pazu and the Dola Gang, who all agree that keeping Laputa's existence a secret from the rest of the world is for the best.]]

* EvilLaugh: Muska, when he takes control of Laputa's power and uses it to dispose of the General and his army and their almighty battleship.

* DisneyVillainDeath: Muska [[spoiler:[[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness disposes of the general and his men]] by dropping them from Laputa into the ocean, but then [[KarmicDeath Muska himself dies in the same way]] after the city is destroyed]].

* DisappearedDad: Pazu's father, the only man who had seen Laputa with his own eyes. It's implied that after his neighbors mocked him for his glimpse of 'a city in the sky', Pazu's father went on an expedition to get proof and never returned. Sheeta's parents are explicitly said to be dead.
* DisneyVillainDeath: Muska [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness disposes of the general and his men]] by dropping them from Laputa into the ocean, [[spoiler: [[KarmicDeath which is how Muska himself dies]] after the city is destroyed]].

* AdvancedAncientAcropolis: Laputa is a relic of an earlier, more advanced civilization. Before [[spoiler:Muska activates A LOT more of them]], there is only one robot still active and walking around in the city.

* AdvancedAncientAcropolis: Laputa is a relic of an earlier, more advanced civilization. Before [[spoilers:Muska activates A LOT more of them]], there is only one robot still active and walking around in the city.

* AfterTheEnd: Laputa is a relic of an earlier, but more advanced, civilization. The environment on the Earth's surface also seems to display signs of past violence - see GhibliHills.