Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This movie has wonderful characters, visual appeal, a great story, a strong plot and a message about peace and compassion that is so sorely needed in this world. Like other works of Miyazaki, (Kiki's delivery Service, Spirited Away) this is a story where kindness and love are used to solve difficult problems.

This movie is terrific for both kids and adults. Our whole family thoroughly enjoyed it and we have viewed it several times.

This has one of the best stories and presentations of all of Miyazakis films if you can stand the environmental catastrophe line that is so common in SciFi these days. Say, if there's such catastrophe coming why is everyone living better than ever? The characters are interesting, the dubbing is well done, the artwork as with all Miyazaki films is better than first rate.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Hayao Miyazaki, 1984)

Now I have to say that I'm a big, big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's stuff, usually. But every once in a while he does something that I just can't wrap my head around. Everyone but me is insanely fond of Princess Mononoke. I saw it once, and have had no desire to see it again, even when I've seen Kiki's Delivery Service more times than I can count, and Spirited Away probably a dozen times more than that. Then there is Nausicaa.

What should have been a great story is turned into a political polemic. Nausicaa (voiced, in the American version, by White Oleander's Alison Lohman) is a princess in a post-apocalyptic world, living in the Valley of the Wind, one of the last remaining outposts of humans in a world ruled by the Ohmu, huge insects who protect the Toxic Forest from human encroachment. Nausicaa wants to find some way to bring the humans and the ohmu harmony, but another faction of humans, the warlike Tolmekians, want to revive the Flame Giants to destroy the ohmu and allow humanity to rule the planet again. Along the way, we're treated to knee-jerk environmentalism, pacifism, and various other isms that are quite popular until people actually start thinking about them.

While, technically, it's just as fine as any other Miyazaki film, its syrupy sweetness and staunch refusal to treat the subjects it addresses with any depth whatsoever are hard to choke down, like cake that's little sponge and much frosting. The token "victory pulled from the jaws of defeat" ending is just the poisonous berry that tops it all off. For Miyazaki completists only. * ½

This is NOT a cartoon. There is real depth here. The overarching theme is suvival in a post-apocalyptic world. This apocalypse was precipitated by the hubris of prior generations. As the story unfolds we see that the goodness of the title character is the cure for the past ills.
I first rented this film from NetFlix, primarily based on the strength of other films by Miyazaki. These movies are anime but the background illustration is fine art quality. Distributed by Disney, Disney wishes they could find such compelling story lines and flawless cell-based animation. However, hats off to Disney (and John Lassiter) for bringing this to life in the english-speaking market. Also hats off to the voice actors for bringing emotion and reaity to the characters from a sound booth and in perfect pace to such a foriegn language.
I'm almost 50 and I've been a student of animation all my life. I watched this 7 or 8 times in a row and picked out new layers each time. My 6 year old daughter was just as entranced as I. (I secretly want her to grow up to be just like Nausicaa.)
I will be purchasing more Miyazaki to stand up alongside Star Trek and Babylon 5.

This is a VERY typical Japanese film with their TRUE wish and desire to the WORLD......Promoting LOVE and PEACE via Anime and metaphor. I LOVE the Japanese way of thinking WORLD PEACE, there is no enemy, nothing to kill, nothing to die for, and every Nation has a right to live in love and peace......We Americans can learn so much from this Japanese Anime. Pass it on....and on to your children. GOD BLESS THE WORLD...