The wife-and-husband team Whip Sugar has taken an iconic part of Studio Ghibli's 1986 classic Laputa: Castle in the Sky (known as Tenkū no Shiro: Laputa in Japan), and recreated the silent and gentle Laputian robot who tends the titular castle's gardens as a stunning sugar cookie.
A short video gives viewers a look into how the edible creation was made, showcasing the delicate piping work that went into crafting the cookie itself and its minute details. It ends with the cookie being dunked into a cup of coffee.
The video has gone viral, with many commenters remarking on the cookie's ultimate fate. One wrote, "It's sinking!" and another joked, "It's enjoying a bubble bath!" The image of the robot also stirred up emotions in some viewers; one comment read, "The quality is amazing - it makes it even more surreal to see it sinking into the sea" and another stated, "That image is heartbreaking." Whip Sugar responded to the more forlorn comments, saying optimistically, "As sugar, it's completed its mission."
Laputa: Castle in the Sky was written and directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki with Isao Takahata (Grave of Fireflies, Kiki's Delivery Service) serving as producer. Joe Hisaishi (Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke) composed the film's music, Hirokata Takahashi oversaw the cinematography and Yoshihiro Kasahara and Takeshi Seyama (My Neighbor Totoro, My Neighbors the Yamadas) handled the editing. It stars Mayumi Tanaka (One Piece, Dragon Ball Z) as Pazu, Keiko Yokozawa (Astro Boy) as Sheeta and Minori Terada (Kamen Rider W, Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy) as Colonel Muska.
Upon its release, Laputa: Castle in the Sky received positive reviews from critics and went on to earn roughly $157 million in box office, home video and soundtrack sales. The film also won the Animage Anime Grand Prix in 1986. Whip Sugar's cookie creation highlights the enduring legacy and popularity that the story has within the anime community.
The video isn't the only recent development that spotlights the ongoing fascination with Studio Ghibli's classic films. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has released a catalog of Miyazaki's never-before-seen production artwork, and the Studio Ghibli Museum in Japan was saved by a crowdfunding campaign earlier this year.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky is currently available to stream on HBO Max alongside other beloved Studio Ghibli films like When Marnie Was There, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.
Source: YouTube, via SoreNews24