Before 'Howl’s Moving Castle': Miyazaki First Film Shocked Cannes, Won Spielberg’s Praise
The director gave a standing ovation.
While Miyazaki fans argue over which of his masterpieces is more important — Spirited Away or Nausicaä — one modest yet brilliant film remains in the shadows. And yet even Steven Spielberg called it "one of the greatest adventure movies of all time." If that’s not a reason to revisit a classic, what is?
A directorial debut that became a cult hit — Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro — is not just Hayao Miyazaki’s first full-length film, but the real beginning of his signature style: dynamic storytelling, inventive chases, a charismatic hero, and a love for architecture. No flying islands or talking pigs yet, but already that magical feeling is there — like being inside a real fairy tale for grown-ups. The year was 1979. Studio Ghibli was still six years away, but the visual magic was already pulsing in every frame.
Spielberg applauded the chase scene — and he wasn’t alone — Legend has it that Steven Spielberg saw Cagliostro at the Cannes Film Festival and was blown away by the car chase. So much so that he called it "one of the best ever filmed." Whether it’s true or not, DVD releases of the film proudly quoted that praise.
And then, like a chain reaction, the homages began to appear: the clock tower scene in Disney’s The Great Mouse Detective, and even references in Atlantis: The Lost Empire by director Gary Trousdale.
Why should you watch it right now? Because it’s an adventure with soul. Because there’s no computer graphics here — only hand-drawn emotions and the crisp atmosphere of the ’70s. Because Lupin III is a charming thief you can’t help but root for, even as he robs a castle. Because morally grey characters, clever plot twists, stunning music, and a tender sense of nostalgia never go out of style.
This film doesn’t age. It simply waits for you to discover it — If you love anime, heist movies, the aesthetics of old cinema, or just want to feel like a kid for a little over an hour, The Castle of Cagliostro will give you all of that. And maybe, like Spielberg, you too will call it one of the best, writes the source.
