Celebrating The Most Prolific Animation Studio In The World
Ghibli Month — Prologue: Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
27 May 2020 marks the launch of HBO Max, which also happens to be the first time the entire Studio Ghibli catalog is available for streaming in the United States. This brings classics such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle, as well as some lesser-known titles like Whisper of the Heart and From Up on Poppy Hill, to the eyes of millions of new viewers.
Studio Ghibli is a powerhouse in animation and the film industry as a whole, creating 21 films in all (22 if you count the fantastic Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind). Their work has inspired the likes of Pixar, Wes Anderson, and many others. The world is in debt to Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Studio Ghibli. So what better way to honor them than to binge-watch all of their films and write about it.
As of 27 May, Ghibli Month will officially begin. It will be a time to reflect on the works of Studio Ghibli, a time to rewatch the classics and discover new favorites. And for me, it will be a time to watch every single film in Studio Ghibli’s catalog. Over the next month, I will watch every Studio Ghibli film in order of release, starting with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and ending with When Marnie Was There.
And yes, I know, Nausicaä, is not a Studio Ghibli film. But for all intents and purposes, I’m including it in Ghibli Month. Without it, what would Studio Ghibli be today?
As a prologue of sorts, I will begin with Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro — Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial debut. While not a Studio Ghibli film, it set the stage for Miyazaki’s later works with Studio Ghibli. It works well as a prelude to Ghibli month.
On 12 March 2019, my life changed forever. It was a night yet to be matched, for on the docket was a double feature for the ages: Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name and Dreamwork’s Shrek, a pairing to rival peanut butter and jelly. While I had, of course, seen Shrek countless times (a classic in its own right), this would be my first foray into the world of anime films.
Your Name is unlike anything I had ever seen. Its animation is gorgeous, its characters are compelling, the story is great, and did I mention how beautiful it is? I needed more of this, which obviously led me to the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
A couple of days later, I had the privilege of seeing Kiki’s Delivery Service at my local second-run theater. I was utterly delighted. It was at that moment that I was officially diagnosed with Miyazaki Madness (trademark pending). I made it my mission to watch every one of Hayao Miyazaki’s as fast as possible, a task made unnecessarily difficult with no streaming options for his entire filmography. Well, except for one film.
The year was 1979. The sun was shining through the sheer curtains of a quaint Tokyo apartment. A pencil drops to the table along with a single bead of sweat. A cool can of Suntory beer cracks open. “I’ve done it. I’ve finally done it. The world will forever know the name of Hayao Miyazaki!” The storyboards were finally completed for what would become Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial debut. Well, at least I hope that’s how it went.
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (often stylised as The Castle of Cagliostro) follows Arsène Lupin III, a comedic James Bond type. He is a gentleman thief, with an impressive track record. After successfully robbing a casino, he discovers the bills to be counterfeit. Aiming to find those behind the operation, he heads to the small nation of Cagliostro where he discovers a more sinister plot at play.
The Castle of Cagliostro was the second Miyazaki film I ever saw, as it was conveniently streaming on Netflix. Being an anime infant, I wasn’t able to fully appreciate this film. It wasn’t until my second viewing where I gained a real appreciation for Miyazaki’s freshman debut.
The combination of a fortunate thief and suave hero works tremendously. The Castle of Cagliostro is an undeniably cool film. Everything about Lupin III screams cool, from his slick black hair and his charming looks to his gallant demeanor and sick alias Wolf. He talks and fights his way through things effortlessly. And can we stop kidding ourselves and finally admit that Lupin is hot? No? Just me?
fine.
Regardless, quite a bit can be said for Miyazaki’s take on Wolf. He successfully balanced the fun with the serious, never dipping too far into either. Yes, it was silly, but never at the expense of the story. It is a perfect blend, giving The Castle of Cagliostro a very distinct voice, one that sounds a lot like the titular Lupin III.
Unlike the majority of Miyazaki's film, there is a very clear villain, Count Lazare d’Cagliostro. He holds a similar coolness factor to Wolf. I mean, just look at that strong moustache. Only a cool guy can pull that off. And instead of using a ladder to descend from his Autogyro (basically just a helicopter but cool), he steps onto a living breathing person. He is an ominous, but very very cool, foe. However, as cool as he is, he is equally evil, lusting for power and money, doing anything necessary to get it (often uncool things like locking pretty princesses in towers and forcing them to marry him in order to steal the Cagliostro fortune).
Not cool, broh.
This is what sets Cagliostro apart, a well-developed story with strong characters and fantastic set pieces. Everything about this film is believable. You cannot help but root for the enigmatic Wolf through all of the twists and turns the story takes. There is so much here to like.
What’s interesting is seeing some of Miyazaki’s ideas and motifs that are prevalent in his later films get their beginnings in The Castle of Cagliostro. We can talk about it for days, but Miyazaki’s love for flying starts all the way back in his directorial debut. Remember that autogyro cool helicopter thing from earlier? That plays a large part in the movie. It might not be as gorgeous as the flying scenes in Kiki’s Delivery Service, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?
Without coming off patronising, Cagliostro is also the beginning of the dignified women Miyazaki is known for. While Lady Clarisse is the token damsel-in-distress, it is with Fujiko that we see a strong woman that makes a great counterpart to Wolf. She is strong and capable on her own merit. She does not need Wolf, rather she helps Wolf in his time of need.
For the sake of not spoiling the end of the film, there is also a strong conservationist message found in Cagliostro that later pervades much of the rest of Miyazaki’s filmography seen later in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke.
It’s clear just from The Castle of Cagliostro that there is something special about Hayao Miyazaki. What he accomplished with Cagliostro is something many directors can only hope to accomplish at some point before the end of their career. This is just the beginning of a life full of wonder and whimsy. Of eleven films all phenomenal in their own right. Of winning an Oscar. Of changing the movie industry forever. Hayao Miyazaki is a living legend and his legacy will survive well past his time on this earth. Hopefully, he’ll be able to add a few more films to his near-perfect resume. (Though at this rate, we’d be lucky if he finishes his next film How Do You Live?)
Best Quotes
“Now, do you know how I’m going to get us out of here? Cuz if you do, I sure hope you’ll tell me.”
“I better warn you, my sword is thirsty tonight.”
Here’s to a happy Ghibli Month! May you learn more about yourself and the world, and maybe even discover your next favorite film.
