Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael S

  
  Stunning animation, memorable characters, and a timeless message inhabit Hayao Miyazaki's earliest masterpiece. Though it's environmental lecturing is a bit obvious and it looks dated compared to Studio Ghibli's later efforts, "Nausicaa of the Valley of the… More
  Stunning animation, memorable characters, and a timeless message inhabit Hayao Miyazaki's earliest masterpiece. Though it's environmental lecturing is a bit obvious and it looks dated compared to Studio Ghibli's later efforts, "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" remains both a benchmark in the world of animation and a brilliant work of cinema. There is a power and grace here rarely present in other films; animated or not.

• Christopher H

  
  The first movie created by Studio Ghibli, this film provides a good introduction into Hayao Miyazaki's work. In the animation world, the name Hayao Miyazaki needs no introduction, the animated movies he has created surpass even that of Pixar. As far as the animation is concern,… More
  The first movie created by Studio Ghibli, this film provides a good introduction into Hayao Miyazaki's work. In the animation world, the name Hayao Miyazaki needs no introduction, the animated movies he has created surpass even that of Pixar. As far as the animation is concern, it is breath-taking. The post-apocalyptic landscape is brought to life in very stunning detail. The second-half of the movie contains some really good action sequences. The story is pretty good but not without its flaws. Despite its friendly environmental message, it gets too heavy-handed and can get really preachy at times. Nausicaa is a decent protagonist but she tends to be bit too complainy. Another flaw is the confusing plot element of Great Warriors. The film never takes time to explain what these Great Warriors are or were they came from. However, aside from a few plot issues, Nausicaa is still a good effort from Studio Ghibli but the best was yet to come.

• Matthew S

  
  In his second film, Miyazaki more strongly makes his case to be environmentally aware than in any of his other movies. The human race is on the line, and the quaint childhood adventure movie I've grown accustomed to in his later works is replaced with a princess caught between… More
  In his second film, Miyazaki more strongly makes his case to be environmentally aware than in any of his other movies. The human race is on the line, and the quaint childhood adventure movie I've grown accustomed to in his later works is replaced with a princess caught between two (well, three) warring armies with planes, tanks, guns, and swords, and rage. Lots of rage. The result is a very epic movie: instead of a heart-breaking, precious and innocent protagonist, we have an awe-inspiring warrior of peace and harmony, in control of her emotions and already much further down the line of understanding the world than anyone else. Luckily, Miyazaki did find a way to add playful moments of children as well as tender and physically broken characters.

• Anthony L

  
  Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was a great debut for Studio Ghibli and is a good introduction to Hayao Miyazaki's work. The story was retold as, the far superior Princess Mononoke but Nausicaa should be as highly regarded. The animation, story and music are typical of Studio… More
  Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was a great debut for Studio Ghibli and is a good introduction to Hayao Miyazaki's work. The story was retold as, the far superior Princess Mononoke but Nausicaa should be as highly regarded. The animation, story and music are typical of Studio Ghibli and typical of what we have come to expect - although it keeps getting better. Brilliant.

• Lewis C

  
  A thoroughly typical Studio Ghibli movie, which means that it's charmingly and expertly animated, and has an environmentally friendly message. I can't place Nausicaä among my favorite Ghibli films like Spirited Away and The Cat Returns, though. Other than Nausicaä… More
  A thoroughly typical Studio Ghibli movie, which means that it's charmingly and expertly animated, and has an environmentally friendly message. I can't place Nausicaä among my favorite Ghibli films like Spirited Away and The Cat Returns, though. Other than Nausicaä herself, the characters aren't very memorable. The story is simple and straightforward, almost to the point of being bland, and the pro-nature message is very heavy-handed, even though it's appreciated. The first half of the movie is also better than the latter half, in my opinion. Still, this is a movie I like to revisit from time to time, even though it lacks some of the imagination and immersion of superior Ghibli films. It's beautifully animated, though in a way that's more utilitarian than awe-inducing. Keep in mind, that even a merely "decent" Ghibli film is still more than worth checking out.

• Dean M

  
  Masterpiece Hayao Miyazaki animated film with adventure after an apocalypse that brings it's imaginative and well-coneived world puts me in mind of <i>Dune</i> with its feuding factions, its giant creatures, and its strong ecological message. There are fantastic… More
  Masterpiece Hayao Miyazaki animated film with adventure after an apocalypse that brings it's imaginative and well-coneived world puts me in mind of <i>Dune</i> with its feuding factions, its giant creatures, and its strong ecological message. There are fantastic aerial sequences like the jet-glider evading the flying snakes, which are just a tour-de-force of imagination and geometry. And yet this is a world that feels very organic, not geometric, with a cast of characters drawn in a unique cross between hobo, samurai, and pirate - totally blending in to an imaginary post apocalyptic world where humans scratch out a precarious life in villages hidden in the few green valleys left in a world of desert, where the only remaining resources are wind, sunlight, and humans. It really is a film which is perfectly pitched at both a young and an adult audience. As Miyazaki's second feature film it is also, rightly or wrongly, usually considered the start of Studio Ghibli, and is arguably worth watching for historical reasons, too.

• Daniel M

  
  No-one could ever accuse Hayao Miyazaki of aiming low. His second full-length feature, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, is a hugely ambitious epic combining environmentalism, gender politics and the respective ethics of war and pacifism. And while like so many epics it is… More
  No-one could ever accuse Hayao Miyazaki of aiming low. His second full-length feature, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, is a hugely ambitious epic combining environmentalism, gender politics and the respective ethics of war and pacifism. And while like so many epics it is ultimately loose and sprawling, it contains all the classic ingredients which have made him the godfather of modern Japanese animation. The first and most obvious of these ingredients is the animation itself. Although it might not have the bright, glossy sheen of Miyazaki's more recent offerings, there can be no denying that Nausicaa looks fantastic. The detail in every frame is immaculate, accurately capturing every changing hue in the ohmu's eyes or every strand of the princess' billowing hair. The colour scheme blends pale pastel shades for the Valley of the Wind with the ethereal blues of the underground forest and the sharper, more metallic tones of the ohmu and aeroplanes. What makes Miyazaki's animation distinctive is his ability to make the beautiful seem creepy and vice versa without any real change in physical composition. What we initially view as being inherently malicious or horrid (like the charging ohmu) eventually reveal themselves as being good-natured, albeit easily led. Likewise when the Tolmekians arrive, their advanced technology and regal uniforms lead them to appear benevolent and civilised. But long before the Giant Warrior has been prematurely raised, we understand where their loyalties and intentions truly lie. There are a number of through-lines in Nausicaa to Miyazaki's later, better works. As in Princess Mononoke, the central protagonist is a woman who defies traditional gender roles, a pacifist who hates bloodshed but is willing to fight to the death to protect her people. Both films also feature a domineering matriarch seeking to use the power of ancient gods for world domination. And like Porco Rosso, the film sees Miyazaki playing out his obsession with flight, giving us amazing flying machines and jet-powered gliders whose designs are enough to take one's breath away. Like so much of Miyazaki's work, there are clear hints of Western film and literature in the story and characters of Nausicaa. But where later works would draw heavily on Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz, the biggest influence in this case is the original Star Wars trilogy. The opening section, with Nausicaa wandering through the murky forest in her strange mask, recalls the mynocks sequence in The Empire Strikes Back. The design of the Pejitan ship bears a striking resemblance to Jabba's cruise vessel during the sarlacc scenes in Return of the Jedi. And Lady Kushana, with her high neckbrace and bionic limbs, is a clear stand-in for Darth Vader. Despite these prominent overtones of space opera, Nausicaa is much less Star Wars than Silent Running when it comes to its themes and substance. The film is a brilliantly subtle look at environmental politics and the human impact on nature. Aside from making more general points about the need for humans and nature to live side by side and depend upon each other, it insightfully comments on Man's ability to misinterpret His surroundings in a way which is calamitous for both sides. The thrust of Nausicaa is not so much that humans exploit their surroundings, but that they misunderstand them. The film makes no bones about humans being the cause of the Sea of Decay, but it doesn't simply condemn the existing foundations of civilisation and lay out an unrealistic alternative. On the one hand, we are shown that none of the races in this future are safe from the Sea of Decay: even the Valley of the Wind, with its seeming harmony and economy of nature, is rooted in the same toxic soil that covers the whole earth. On the other hand, there is the underground, non-toxic forest in the middle of the Sea of Decay. This symbolises the ability in nature and in humans for something good to come out of the most evil and toxic of places. The film argues that the means of judgement humans employ and the attitudes they take in doing so are every bit as important as the actual actions they take. The problem is not humans using or developing technology, whether windmills or weapons; it is the ends which they serve and the methods of thinking which such decisions cultivate. Lady Kushana's attempts to use the Giant Warrior to fight off the ohmu and the Sea of Decay may be motivated by moral reasons, at least initially. But her efforts are ultimately in vain because they become driven not only by selfish political gain but an ignorance of the true nature of the environment and the insects that inhabit it. Although the film is set in a post-apocalyptic future, the culture of Nausicaa is a blend of mediaeval and modern in terms of its design. The film counterpoints the sedentary lifestyle of the peasant communities in the Valley of the Wind with the WWI-like uniforms worn by the Tolmekian army. In addition to the universal environmental issues facing humanity, we have societies progressing through different stages of economic development, and their attitudes towards their surroundings change. Those in the Valley of the Wind utilise nature without manipulating it, while the Tolmekians use their planes and weapons to brush aside any aspect which opposes them. In amongst all this cutting social and political analysis, we have a series of believable relationships which anchor the themes of the film. The 'romance' between Princess Nausicaa and Asbel never feels contrived and does not follow the predictable course of the male and female protagonists in other such films (Ferngully especially). Like all Miyazaki's works there is an inherent respect for both woman and the elderly, both of whom demonstrate their resilience and usefulness at key points in the storyline. The supporting cast are all believable, with even the smallest of characters feeling or at least appearing distinctive. There are, a couple of flaws with Nausicaa, one contextual and one general. The contextual flaw is the soundtrack, which comprises keyboard or synth-based dance pop that never gels with the main action sequences. Rather like Giorgio Moroder's restructuring of Metropolis, the addition of 1980s keyboard instrumentals to the flying sequences detracts from what we are seeing rather than enhance it, and this is is the one aspect of Nausicaa that hasn't dated well. The more general complaint is one of narrative structure. In the last half hour the film is cutting between so many different aspects of the final confrontation that the plot becomes a bit too much of a jumble. We can just about follow what is going on, but we have to balance so much that all the potentially impressive sequences sort of pass us by. The death of the Giant Warrior, which resembles Ctuhlu from the work of H. P. Lovecraft, is only on screen for a couple of minutes, and its death seems rather too hasty considering the huge amount of build-up. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a very good, brilliantly-made film which hints at the future greatness of Miyazaki as both a storyteller and animator. Despite its narrative shortcomings and dated soundtrack, it is every bit as visually ravishing as it was 27 years ago, and its thematic richness is plain for all to see. It's not Princess Mononoke, or Spirited Away, but it is an entertaining and enlightening introduction to a truly magical career.

• Dead A

  
  This was okay type. Comparing with "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Spirited Away", this seemed to be boring to me. I did liked how Nausicaa have that special power to understand animals. And I did liked some scenes. The ending where everyone thought she died made… More
  This was okay type. Comparing with "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Spirited Away", this seemed to be boring to me. I did liked how Nausicaa have that special power to understand animals. And I did liked some scenes. The ending where everyone thought she died made me upset too. Hayao Miyazaki have that power to bring you into his animated world where you'll get involved, emotionally. But yeah, this didn't (or I must say, couldn't) reached my expectation. p.s: I rate this by judging the movie. Not the creator of it. This is clearly overrated as some people simply rate this because of the director's other (awesome) movies. Please don't do that.

• Emil K

  
  This early Miyazaki is far-cry from his best work, but it still occasionally casts a unique spell and has some good animation in it. The main problem is the uneven script that drowns itself with heavy egolocial themes and elements few too many it can actually carry. It has so many… More
  This early Miyazaki is far-cry from his best work, but it still occasionally casts a unique spell and has some good animation in it. The main problem is the uneven script that drowns itself with heavy egolocial themes and elements few too many it can actually carry. It has so many ideas and details that to make it all as an coherent story would need more hours than just two. Now it feels rushed and unfocused. This would actually work better as a TV-series, not as a film. There are many of Miyazaki's trademarks visible here, but this was only beginning to his marvelous career as an animator, director and a writer.

• Megan S

  
  Not my favorite Miyazaki movie but that's not saying much because I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I found it harder to get into than some of his other works. I definitely enjoyed the premise about the world getting back at the people for destroying it.

• Saskia D

  
  It's been a while ago since I've last seen it, but hey it's a Miyazaki!!

• Dean L

  
  The stage is set on a world ravaged by humans. Having depeleted their resources, remaining at war with nature, and having poisoned their homeworld they seek answers through more destruction. Various factions vie through violence to control the "ultimate weapon" while one… More
  The stage is set on a world ravaged by humans. Having depeleted their resources, remaining at war with nature, and having poisoned their homeworld they seek answers through more destruction. Various factions vie through violence to control the "ultimate weapon" while one persona seeks to unite. In this movie we witness the birth of a Bodhisattva, Nausicaa, becoming. Always looked to lead she puts ego aside and strives to bring peace to all creatures, both human and non-human. This is truly Miyazaki's finest moment and should not be looked upon as anything less than the artful tale of an enlightened soul. Nausicaa will leave you spellbound.

• Tsubaki S

  
  To date i still think this is the best Miyazaki/Ghibli film. All the Miyazaki elements are here, from the ecologic profile of the story to the strong heroine. The animation might be a tad bit dated, but the vast vision of Miyazaki is present as usual, along with the always trustable… More
  To date i still think this is the best Miyazaki/Ghibli film. All the Miyazaki elements are here, from the ecologic profile of the story to the strong heroine. The animation might be a tad bit dated, but the vast vision of Miyazaki is present as usual, along with the always trustable Joe Hisaishi on the music.

• Lanning :

  
  (<i>Kaze no tani no Naushika</i>) If I have a "least" favorite Miyazaki, this is probably it. <i>Nausicä</i> tackles enviromental issues, like <i> Princess Mononoke</i>, but the story lacks the clarity of <i>Mononoke</i>.

• Matthew R

  
  In the far future, a thousand years after a nuclear war left the Earth as a nuclear holocaust. The Valley of the Wind, a small kingdom ruled by King Jil struggles for survival as the community tries to defend the Valley from gigantic Ohm creatures and toxic plants that live beyond the… More
  In the far future, a thousand years after a nuclear war left the Earth as a nuclear holocaust. The Valley of the Wind, a small kingdom ruled by King Jil struggles for survival as the community tries to defend the Valley from gigantic Ohm creatures and toxic plants that live beyond the Valley in the Sea of Decay, whilst Jil's daughter and heiress to the throne, Princess Nausicaa ries to understand and feels it is wrong to destroy the toxic jungle. The Valley is attacked by the Tolmekian people who plan to destroy the Sea of Decay by using the greatest warriors that started the holocaust. After Nausicaa is taken prisoner, Nausicaa escapes and goes beneath the Sea of Decay where she discovers the toxic plants are not what they appear to be... There aren't really any major weak points in Nausicaa; unless you count the frustrating twelve drawings per second animation. The backgrounds aren't as amazing and the animation not as good as the last few Ghibli films but for 1984 it was plenty good enough. The really strong points of the movie are its pacing (at least until the very end, did not like the pace of the end), its story-telling, which manages to be sophisticated without being overly complex, its excellent dubbing, lead by cast Allison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill who were all superb but most of all in the amazing attention to detail in the fully realized post-apocalypse fantasy world in which the story is set. Every little thing is worked out and placed such that you find yourself admiring inventions, ideas, structures, creatures, etc...which don't draw attention to themselves, but simply exist as part of the backdrop of the movie. It's the sort of movie which you can get thoroughly caught up in, and which will stand repeated viewings. (I probably will watch it again).This really is a film which is perfectly pitched at both a young and an adult audience. As Miyazaki's second feature film it seems to be considered the start of Studio Ghibli, and is arguably worth watching for history reasons. In the end, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is not the very best from Miyazaki or Ghibli, but an favorable beginning. Story: A- Acting: B+ Direction: B Visuals: B Overall: B *** out of 4 stars

• Matthew Y

  
  Best Anime of all-time? Best Manga of all-time? Nausicaa has an impressive resume, critical acclaim and audience appeal. I, unfortunately, am a bit on the outside looking in. Nausicaa takes itself very seriously, which it must because it goes for a very meaningful and somber ending.… More
  Best Anime of all-time? Best Manga of all-time? Nausicaa has an impressive resume, critical acclaim and audience appeal. I, unfortunately, am a bit on the outside looking in. Nausicaa takes itself very seriously, which it must because it goes for a very meaningful and somber ending. For my taste it takes itself too seriously and could have benefited from a more whimsical approach, like Castle in the Sky, even if the impact of the ending was lightened. A strong ecological message (which is in just about every Miyazaki film but really shoves it in your face here) and stylish animation make Nausicaa an Anime movie that will long stand the test of time. I wish I was a fan but I think Nausicaa is just too much and it relies too heavily on the audiences acceptance of its concept and belief in it its message.

• Chris B

  
  Miyazaki draws you into Nausicaa's world and her cause so easily you forget you are watching a movie. It's films like this that films are supposed to be, an escapes from the world. With an earth friendly tone, the fantastically aspect far outweighs the political overtones… More
  Miyazaki draws you into Nausicaa's world and her cause so easily you forget you are watching a movie. It's films like this that films are supposed to be, an escapes from the world. With an earth friendly tone, the fantastically aspect far outweighs the political overtones and this is for the best. A beautiful world and a young girl who must protect it, I couldn't take my eyes away! Highly Recommended!

• Angela A

  
  Beautifully done. Definitely one to get people thinking about the environment.

• Bill C

  
  Who can say that many of Miyakazki?s shots or scenes are not the most fluid and beautiful shots ever animated. I guess I was expecting more based on the trailer and ratings. If I went back to 1984 this is a 5 or 5.5 movie, but looking at it now its ½ a dozen beautifully animated… More
  Who can say that many of Miyakazki?s shots or scenes are not the most fluid and beautiful shots ever animated. I guess I was expecting more based on the trailer and ratings. If I went back to 1984 this is a 5 or 5.5 movie, but looking at it now its ½ a dozen beautifully animated scenes with a lot of uninspired animated scenes. My favorite part is a world construction entirely of Miyazaki. Almost all the movies I watch today are sampled derivatives or just plain remakes of other movies. This movie borrows only from nature and then only loosely so. I was stuck by the pool of actors who are doing the dubbing, but in the end the voice talent and the foley (sound effects)work in the movie are my greatest disappointment. The 2.0 stereo just does not live-up to the action on the screen.

• Sam C

  
  The original version of Princess Mononoke. Can't say I blame Miyazaki for tackling this concept again later on. This one is far more heavy-handed than any of his later efforts. Still, it has its fair share of fantastical moments.

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