Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind main image

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind｜Anime

2024.02.17

“Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” is a Japanese animated film released in 1984. It is the second animated feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
It is based on Miyazaki’s manga of the same title (“Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind”), which was serialized in “Animage” in 1982. From the standpoint of the original seven-volume book, this anime work was created when the manga was serialized up to the middle of the second volume, which is the early stage of the manga, and the content is also visualized up to page 66 of the second volume. The content differs from that of the manga, which resumed serialization after the release of the film.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind scene 1

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind scene 2

Synopsis

The story takes place 1,000 years after the destruction of an advanced civilization in the great war known as the “Seven Days of Fire. A fungus forest called the “putrefaction sea,” which covered the land with rust and ceramic fragments, was expanding its territory. Humans who could not live there lived in fear of the putrefying sea.
Nausicaa lives in the Valley of the Winds, a small country protected from the toxic miasma of the Sea of Putrefaction by the winds blowing from the sea. Nausicaa cherished all living creatures and had the power to tame Ohmu, a giant insect that lived in the Sea of Putrefaction. Nausicaa is adored by the people of the Valley of the Wind and lives a peaceful life, but one day, a large ship transporting the fetus of the Giant God Warrior, the monster that is said to have burned the old world to the ground, crashes in the Valley of the Wind. This incident led Nausicaa and the people of the Valley of the Wind to become involved in the battle of the empire.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind scene 3

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind | Recommendations

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” has an excellent worldview and theme, and it is hard to believe that it is 40 years old. It is a masterpiece of animation that can be viewed and interpreted in various ways by watching it multiple times, and new discoveries can be made. The sound is so wonderful that just by listening to the first piano piece, your brain is absorbed into the world of the film.
The animation is so high that it is overwhelmingly perfect, and especially Mauvais, who appears in the beginning of the film, gives me a sense of the romance of flying freely in the sky itself. The design of the flying objects, including Mauvais, the beauty of the curves, and the detailed design of the airships, machines, and weapons give the viewer an overwhelming sense of otaku.
The combination of all the elements, from the many world views to the details, creates a unique atmosphere that is one-of-a-kind.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind scene 4

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind scene 5

The depth of the themes, the visual beauty, and the charm of the characters combine to make “Nausicaa” a wonderful film to watch over and over again, which is why it continues to be so loved.
The original (comic book version) is truly amazing and should be read by everyone. I have never seen a manga as good as “Nausicaa”.