Nausicaä Anime Review

Quick Review

• Reviewer: Marc
• Review Date: 2002-02-10 (updated 2010-09-03)
• 5 stars out of 5 (?)

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a true masterpiece of anime by the master himself, Hayao Miyazaki. The plot is a sort of cautionary ecological tale, but is not as simplistic or formula as it could have easily been. Imbued with life and meaning by the fact that none of the characters (including the faceless bugs and fungus) are quite as two-dimensional as they initially seem, and given form by the imagination of Miyazaki, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a grand drama, exciting adventure, and meaningful all at the same time. Despite the film's age, it is also beautiful in every sense of the word--from sweeping landscapes full of imagination and subtle beauty to breathtaking flight sequences to the little details of ordinary motion. Completed by an impressive Japanese performance behind Nausicaa and Joe Hisaishi's marvelous score, the only legitimate complaint I've heard about the film is that the lengthy comic version is better--hardly an issue with the film itself.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a masterpiece of anime, and I would say of filmmaking of any sort. It is simultaneously beautiful, exciting, touching, and tells a meaningfully allegorical tale, plus it is filled with the sort of imagination that would make any film worth watching. This is one anime movie that almost anyone, fan or not, should enjoy.

Read the full-length review...

Full Review

• Reviewer: Marc
• Review Date: 2002-02-10 (updated 2010-09-03)
• 5 stars out of 5 (?)

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind has been among my favorite anime movies since before I could even understand any of the dialogue, and when I found a translation to give meaning to the characters' words I enjoyed it that much more. It is a true masterpiece of anime by the master himself, Hayao Miyazaki.

The plot is a sort of cautionary ecological tale, but is not as simplistic or formula as it could have easily been. Imbued with life and meaning by the fact that none of the characters (including the faceless bugs and fungus) are quite as two-dimensional as they initially seem, and given form by the imagination of Miyazaki and the masterful animation of his Studio Ghibli, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a grand drama, exciting adventure, and meaningful all at the same time.

Although the movie is old and the coloring is a bit dated, it is a truly beautiful film in every sense of the word. The backgrounds, as is to be expected from Ghibli, are works of art in and of themselves--sweeping landscapes full of imagination and subtle beauty. The character designs are the prototypes for every Miyazaki movie that followed--nearly every Miyazaki girl looks like Nausicaa, but she was basically the first. The animation is also second to none; although it's not the most expensive movie ever made, it is fluid and beautifully executed, from the action, to the fanciful-yet-gripping flight sequences, to the little details of ordinary motion--the initial sequence of Nausicaa removing the eye casing from an Ohm's shed shell is a perfect example.

The Japanese acting is of a similarly high calibre. It is distinctively voiced, well cast, and, although a little broad because of the archetypal characters, quite believable. Sumi Shimamoto is particularly impressive as Nausicaa--nearly perfect through a wide range of emotions, from gentle girl to angry warrior to impassioned savior, all while remaining believable for her age--never too cute, never too adult. Disney's dub features a very high-profile voice cast, but I haven't heard it to comment on.

Joe Hisaishi's marvelous score is also worth noting. A wide variety of musical styles are represented, ranging from India-inspired sitar themes to broad, beautiful orchestral pieces. It also boasts a piece that is among the most memorable anime music I know, a small tune voiced by a little girl that, both haunting and innocent, serves as Nausicaa's theme.

There are only two possible caveats about Nausicaa. One is the comic book version; it is Miyazaki's only major comic, and is considered a masterpiece of the medium by many. The manga is seven volumes long, and since the movie only tells a very simplified version of the same story, it's often said that it just can't live up. Probably true, but even if the story is reduced to its most basic form, it is still powerful and meaningful, and the beauty of the production itself makes the movie a masterpiece regardless of its roots.

The other possible issue relates to a newer Miyazaki production, Princess Mononoke. Mononoke tells essentially the same story as Nausicaa with a slightly harder edge and a setting that is less black and white, and since it also looks a little better as a result of higher budget and modern computer techniques, it steals a bit of the thunder, so to speak. In any case, though, both films easily rank as masterpieces in my opinion, and I believe which is actually better is arguable. In my personal opinion, the character of Nausicaa herself and the breathtaking airborne action sequences edge this movie ahead in the running, but Princess Mononoke also has its strong points, and many will probably prefer it.

In all, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a masterpiece of anime, and I would say of filmmaking of any sort. It is simultaneously beautiful, exciting, touching, and tells a meaningfully allegorical tale, plus it is filled with the sort of imagination that would make any film worth watching. It is sad in many ways that two decades passed between when it was first released in the US as the heavily edited video "Warriors of the Wind" and Disney's proper, unaltered treatment, but those dark days are past. This is one anime movie that almost anyone, fan or not, should enjoy.

Have something to say about this anime? Join our newly-resurrected forums and speak your mind.

Related Recommendations

Many of Miyazaki's films are quite similar to Nausicaa; Princess Mononoke has a very similar plot but a harder edge, Laputa has a similarly grandiose story and truly fantastic flight sequences, and Porco Rosso shares a bit of the sense of imagination, although it has little to do with Nausicaa thematically.