When it comes to anime directors it doesn’t get any bigger then Studio Ghibli’s resident genius Hayao Miyazaki. Fans of animation worldwide have become accustomed to the extraordinary when it comes to his work and today we’ll look at the film that brought him to the forefront of the industry. Nausicaa Valley of the Wind is considered the first of Studio Ghibli’s films, even though it actually predates the formation of the company, and boy do they hit the ground running. Despite being released over 20 years ago Nausicaa still stands tall among anime feature films with its vibrant and imaginative animation, charming story, and a heroine who you can’t help but root for. Considered one of the finest animated films ever created, Animage magazine ranked it number one on its list for ten consecutive years, it’s easy to see why Nausicaa has stood the test of time. While the film has some minor flaws its strengths definitely outweigh its weaknesses, this is a film every anime fan should see.
Nausicaa is set in the future, though it does not specify exactly when, after humanity has basically destroyed the environment. A ravenous toxic jungle is consuming the world and threatening the very existence of mankind. Giant insects, such as the giant rolly-polly Ohmu, encroach on the tiny human settlements and with each passing day they destroy more kingdoms. Princess Nausicaa of The Valley of the Wind has a unique ability to communicate with animals, her skills will prove pivotal in saving the remnants of civilization from the hordes of insects and giving humanity a second chance.
The setting of Nausicaa is perhaps the film’s greatest strength. The detailed environments, from the poisonous jungles to the few remaining villages, bring the world to life. While not as sharp and clean as modern day Ghibli works the animation quality is incredible for its time and still looks quite good. The film does an excellent job of using color to set the mood. In light-hearted scenes you’ll find that everything is bright while nearly every scene that features conflict makes extensive use of blacks and grays. It’s not something that you notice initially but it’s subtle and effective.
The storyline of Nausicaa is the film’s weakest point. While it keeps you occupied and entertained throughout there are some considerable flaws, especially towards the end, that keep it from being perfect. The origin of the toxic jungle and the explanation of how the world became barren is interesting, and the way revelations are slowly uncovered as the film unfolds allows the viewer to think as little or as much about it as they would like. This is important because Nausicaa has a heavy environmentalist tilt if you really delve under the surface. I’ve watched numerous animated films in the past that have tried to push awareness and have suffered for it, becoming heavy-handed and losing entertainment value. Nausicaa avoids this pitfall by giving you all the information about how the new eco-system works in great detail without ever trying to tell you what to think about it. Viewers will come to the conclusion it was foolish for mankind to cause the toxic jungle to form and while it could be very easy for the film to paint humanity as the villains it doesn’t because it doesn’t have to. This is a good example for other animated films with a public service undertone to follow, it keeps things fast and fun while delivering its point rather then letting the message grind things to a halt. The film’s story is very well done for about 80% of the way, but the ending is basically the definition of dues ex machina. Nonetheless it gives you exactly what you want to see and for that reason it’s easy to forgive it for not being overly clever.
Nausicaa’s sountrack is a bit uneven. The main theme is catchy and uplifting and most the background music sets the tone well while never grinding on your nerves. But things go a bit awry when the action begins. Every action scene in the movie has been given 80s-tastic synthesized tunes that clash with the rest of the score. While it doesn’t really detract from your enjoyment and the songs aren’t truly terrible it makes you question why they chose to make the music so dramatically different during these key scenes. Disney has done a spectacular job dubbing the film, the voice work is strong across the board and features respected names such as Patrick Stewart and Mark Hamill. They really went the extra mile to make sure this classic got the attention it deserved, a tip of the hat to them.
In the end while Nausicaa is far from perfect its many strong points and charm make it easy to brush off the minor imperfections. While it’s a bit rough around the edges, most likely because it was Miyazaki’s first major original work, Nausicaa has a certain magic to it that’s indescribable. While other Ghibli movies have better animation and a more cohesive storyline Nausicaa may be the most endearing of the lot. Highly recommended viewing for any anime fan, and a great film for children as well.
Final Score: 9.3Story: Good
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Excellent
Also Try: Laputa Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away
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