Studio Ghibli Fest 2021 presents ‘Castle in the Sky’

Above : Hayao Miyazaki’s “Castle in the Sky” will screen on Sunday, Monday and Thursday at selected theaters. (Photo/Fathom Events)

When it comes to animated films, I can think of two words that I never get tired of typing. And, no, they aren’t Disney Pixar.

The words are Hayao Miyazaki .

I look forward every year to the Studio Ghibli Film Festival because it reminds me of just how great the work of Miyazaki really is. And we’ll get another reminder this coming Sunday, Monday and Thursday as Studio Ghibli Fest 2021 continues with screenings of Miyazaki’s 1986 film “Castle in the Sky.”

The screenings will be held at two Spokane theaters, at Regal Northtown Mall and AMC River Park Square . Sunday’s dubbed screening will be at 3 p.m., Monday’s subtitled screening will be at 7 p.m. as will be Thursday’s screening (also dubbed).

“Castle in the Sky,” the dubbed version of which include the voices of Anna Paquin, Mark Hamill and Cloris Leachman, was the first film produced by Studio Ghibli . It tells the story of a young girl and boy who flee a group of villains seeking information on the mythical flying castle Laputa.

Critic James Berardinelli wrote, “ ‘Castle in the Sky’ is a good enough film to benefit from multiple viewings. And, for anyone unfamiliar with Miyazaki’s canon, it provides a great introduction to a wonderfully rich animated catalog.”

Washington Post critic Richard Harrington , meanwhile, wrote, “Miyazaki’s world, so full of color and life, is always just across the borderline of imagination, its acute details softened by clouds and shadows, its principles revealed by actions more than words.”

We, of course, now get to have our say. Well, you do, anyway.

I’ve already had mine.