Timothy J. Rush

The Hayao Miyazaki oeuvre covers so many beloved classics of anime such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke. Often overlooked is his very first film directorial effort, The Castle of Cagliostro. It’s not hard to see why: it doesn’t quite fit with the themes and elements that characterize much of the rest of his work. There isn’t a young girl protagonist, no moving to a new country home, no emphasis on the importance of preserving nature. Instead, we have a film that is part of a different large body of work, specifically the Lupin the Third series by Monkey Punch, an anime series Miyazaki himself worked on. But let me tell you right now, The Castle of Cagliostro is not merely my favorite animated film of all time, but also in my top three movies (live action or animated) ever.

You see, Castle of Cagliostro has what I like in movies on a base, visceral level: excitement, adventure, and really wild things. Castle of Cagliostro starts with a Monaco casino heist at the height of conflict, our “heroes” Lupin and Jigen running away from the police with arms stuffed so overly full of cash bills stream behind them as they impossibly hurdle over obstacles on their way to their getaway vehicle. The police bumble their way into their own vehicles, which proceed to fall apart in spectacular and equally impossible ways: splitting down the middle, wheels flying off, crunching to a halt after moving mere inches — all of these the product of sabotage by Lupin, as revealed by his taunting note left on the engine compartment of one of the now-useless cars.

This illustrates what is the true hallmark of this movie: portraying a thrilling adventure where the rules of physics shall bend beyond that of reality, but only in ways that enhance the thrills and humor without destroying important dramatic tension. The most obvious example of this is my favorite sequence of the film, a car chase around a winding cliff path with Lupin and Jigen trying to intercede on behalf of a woman being chased by some thugs. At one point in this tense chase, Lupin drives his Fiat 500 (a ridiculous car to even be in such a chase) sideways up the side of the cliff. It’s completely mad, but just wonderful to watch. Yet while physics have been defied, dramatic tension remains — we are still worried for the well being of the woman in the pursued car, as it creeps toward falling off a cliff. Even in later action sequences we still hold our breath, hoping our hero can make it through.

This says nothing of the lavish setting of the movie, where even on his limited budget Miyazaki fills the fictional Grand Duchy of Cagliostro with detail and intricacies. Miyazaki’s love of visual landscapes packed with wonders to explore can be seen even here in his earliest directorial work. There are more than a few long, lingering shots that may not move the plot forward but help immerse you in this little independent city-state where most of the movie takes place.

But of course, we need to address the 500-pound gorilla in the room: can you enjoy The Castle of Cagliostro without knowing a lick about Lupin the Third? Honestly, it’s actually ideal not to have preconceived notions of the Lupin characters. On its initial release in the late seventies, The Castle of Cagliostro was actually criticized for its portrayal of the beloved Lupin the Third characters. For instance, Miyazaki’s Lupin is far more heroic and less arrogant, and his treatment of female lead Fujiko Mine gives her depth and skill as opposed to being a sex object. Miyazaki makes these characters his own, and the movie is better for it. You get all the needed history in the film itself, from Lupin and Fujiko’s mutual admiration to the complex relationship of Lupin and his law enforcement foil Koichi Zenigata.

The Castle of Cagliostro has also stood the test of time for me, personally. As one of the three movies I will pop on the TV whenever I truly need a pick-me-up, it has never failed to put a smile on my face. I have watched it dozens of times, only rivalled in number by the other members of my movie holy trilogy (Jaws and Shaun of the Dead), and it is always the right choice to watch. It is my favorite anime of any sort, movie or series, and you absolutely should give it a try.