Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Thousands of years after a catastrophic event nearly destroyed the Earth, the Valley of the Wind is one of the last vestiges of safety from the ever growing Toxic Jungles.  When an airship carrying dangerous and forbidden cargo crashes into her home, Princess Nausicaa finds herself the last hope to prevent an all out war that could finish off the rest of the planet.  Aided by her most trusted friends and utilizing her knowledge of the Jungle, Nausicaa races against time to save her home and bring peace between the last of Humanity and the Insectoid Giants they share a world with.

Nausicaa.  It’s a title so synonymous with Studio Ghibli that even though it was released before the groups official founding, it is still considered a part of their long lasting legacy.  And it’s for good reason it’s considered as such.  Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind stands not just as a titan of Anime filmmaking but also serves as the creation of the official Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki playbook when it comes to their many collaborations.  Granted, other films have gone on to perfect and even improve on the formula Nausicaa presents.  So does Nausicaa stand the test of time and deserve to be held in as high regard as Ghibli and Miyazaki’s other works?
 
The world of Nausicaa grabs you from the get go with beautiful paintings depicting the fall of the old world and the rise of the new.  As far as desert dystopia’s go, the films scenery feels like it was inspired by one of my favorite SciFi novels, Frank Herbert’s Dune, considering the vast desert landscapes most of the film takes place upon and the massive Oum that roam it give the Sandworms of Arrakis a run for their money (there’s also a fair bit of green from the later novels but I’m not here to talk about Dune beyond this mention).  It’s a very lived in world that is somehow getting by despite a millennia of wear and tear.   While I get that such a long time passing after the apocalypse, I did kind of want to know more about the Giants Warriors, how they came to be and how exactly they brought Earth to ruin and Humanity to the brink of extinction.  Also, the fact that these behemoths could still exist in some way isnt cause for concern?  It’s a plot thread that kind of peeters out without delving into the deeper implications of such a game changing development.
 
Flying the friendly skies of this new world is Nausicaa, the archetype of all Miyazaki heroines.  Nausicaa is a beautiful, kind and gentle soul who would rather settle all matter with words, patience and understanding, be it with Humans or any of the many Insects they share the Earth with (just look at how she wins over the uber adorable Teto).  But make no mistake, Nausicaa might not like fighting but some of the best moments of the movie come when she does get pushed into throwing down.  Let me tell ya, she isnt just a pretty face and you do not want to piss her off.  Beyond that, I love how Nausicaa’s not helpless no matter the situation.  She’s grown up in this world and knows its ins and outs, making her a perfect guide and problem solver.  And when it comes to the Nature vs. Technology argument which is a staple of Miyazaki features: Nausicaa is the best of both worlds.  She lives for the preservation of the Jungles and the creatures that inhabit them but is also highly skilled with gliders and can use them to save Humans and Insect alike.  Nausicaa may rank up there with Princess Mononoke’s San or Spirited Away’s Chihiro as one of my all time favorite Ghibli heroines, a Princess worth following no matter the odds against her. 
 
There’s a solid supporting cast backing our girl up too.  Two in particular that stand out are Kushana, Warrior Princess of the nation of Tolmekia, and Lord Yupa, Nausicaa’s trusted teacher.  Kushana is a perfect mirror image of Nausicaa: older, scared, more cynical and violent.  The womans got Nausicaa’s knack for tactics but isnt above just saying “screw it” and using full frontal force to solve her problems.  It’s no wonder her and Nausicaa’s scenes work so well.  You want Nausicaa to save this darker version of herself before things get even worse for her.  As for Lord Yupa, he’s just a total bad ass.  He’s a renowned Swordsman and when you see him in action, you understand why.  If anything, you really wanna see more of his adventures, either in a sequel or even a prequel.  Also, if you’ll allow another Dune detour: Lord Yupa is voiced by the one and only Patrick Stewart, who played Atredies Sword Master Gurney Halleck in the 1984 David Lynch Dune Movie.  Coincidence they cast him as Lord Yupa because of this? Hmmmm.
 
While I don’t think I need to state the obvious, Nausicaa is a freaking gorgeous movie.  It’s easily one of the best looking Anime films of the 1980’s and in Ghibli’s impressive resume.  The Oum in particular are a point of praise.  Whether they’re hand drawn or painted in the background, Miyazaki gives these guys the scale they deserve and they have your attention whether it’s just one or thousands on screen (which is itself a very terrifying image too).  Not only can you feel the magic and wonder in every frame of animation, Joe Hisashi’s score compliments and enhances the overall experience.  From the main character themes to the Song of the Oum that plays at various intervals, it solidifies you’re being transported to the future that you cant take your eyes off of, whether it’s looking at the wildlife of the Toxic Jungle or an aerial dogfight between airships.  God, this movie’s just freaking beautiful. 
 
So yeah, I cant give it a perfect 10 but Nausicaa is pretty damn near close to it.  While I feel the movie glosses over some pretty important and world view changing details, this is still the Miyazaki Movie that is the template for all Miyazaki movies.  Memorable heroine, check.  Environmental messages, check.  Fantasy action and high flying adventure, check and check.  Beautiful Joe Hisashi score, also check.  It not only stands the test of time but stands as one of the Queens of the Ghibli mountain.  And also, sorry one more Dune reference, but how cool would it be to ride on top of an Oum?
 
9/10
 
It’s a heck of a start to a month of Studio Ghibli.  Next Monday, we look at the first official feature film from Ghibli and see if it can reach the high bar set by Nausicaa, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.