You are here:

The Castle of Cagliostro

Name: The Castle of Cagliostro
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Released: 1979
Duration: 102 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

1979

PG-13

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Runtime

102 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Miyazaki’s adventure fable succeeds by prioritizing individual morality over corrupt institutional power. The film's strength lies in its subtle deconstruction of class-based corruption and its refusal to treat aristocracy as infallible. While the film operates within a traditional genre framework, it elevates its female characters through genuine ability to act. This prevents the story from falling into purely passive clichés, even as it adheres to certain romantic archetypes. The work is limited by its homogeneous, European-inspired setting and a lack of diverse identity representation. It functions as a moral tale rather than a modern exploration of multi-layered identities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Castle of Cagliostro have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film adheres to traditional structures that assume everyone is straight or cisgender. It focuses on conventional romantic and platonic relationships without including characters who identify differently.

How does The Castle of Cagliostro portray gender?

Fair

Clarisse stands out by having her own choices and emotional depth. While the film challenges the passive damsel cliché, it still includes some traditional romantic pursuit dynamics.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Castle of Cagliostro?

Limited

The setting is a stylized, romanticized European fantasy with a largely homogeneous cast. It avoids harmful racial stereotypes but does not include diverse representations of identity.

How does The Castle of Cagliostro represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative critiques concentrated wealth and the corruption of absolute power. It emphasizes individual integrity over the stability of corrupt aristocratic institutions.

Does The Castle of Cagliostro include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that serve as central plot points or character arcs.

Present on Screen

Challenges the 'damsel in distress' cliché by giving female characters autonomy and emotional depth.
Provides a strong critique of systemic corruption and the misuse of absolute power.
Prioritizes individual ability to act and moral integrity over rigid social hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender perspectives.
Features a homogeneous cast within a stylized, Western-fantasy setting.
Maintains some traditional romantic pursuit dynamics that limit gender progression.

Official Synopsis

After a successful robbery leaves famed thief Lupin the Third and his partner Jigen with nothing but a large amount of expertly crafted counterfeit bills, he decides to track down the forgers responsible—and steal any other treasures he may find in the Castle of Cagliostro, including the 'damsel in distress' he finds imprisoned there.

How are these scores produced? →