Posters - Castle in the Sky #2

The second movie poster for Laputa: Castle in the Sky. It's a more upbeat poster than the first one; the colors are brighter and warmer, and there's more action on display. I've long believed that the most skillful test of any animator is to depict action with a single pose. This image moves in your mind. It takes on a life of its own. This is a vitally important lesson for Western animators to learn.

I have to admit I prefer the blue poster to this one, but that's probably because its darker tones suggest the heavier emotional elements to the movie. That heart - romantic, contemplative, wistful - is what I take away from the experience. This poster shows more of the adventurous side, the fun side. Who wouldn't want to fly around in one of these zany contraptions? Miyazaki always had a gift for crazy flying machines. It's almost a shame that nobody in the real world tried to build something like this.

In any event, Castle in the Sky is an excellent movie. It really is a shame that the American DVD is so shoddy. The Japanese DVD looks so terrific that it may alone convince you of the virtues of importing. I can only imagine what the inevitable Blu-Ray disc will look like. Let's hope and pray that English subtitles will still be retained.