10. Nausicaa (1984) - Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Some films are able to instantly teleport me back in time to that magical moment when I first saw them, no matter how many repeat viewings. Films like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Once Upon a Time in the West and Jaws, among others, all have this power. Whether it is due to a visual or audio cue, these films have the significant ability to conjure up large doses of nostalgia and admiration.
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind is also such a film. From the very first moment, I am immediately filled with feelings of reverence and appreciation for the fine cinematic experience underway. I believe without doubt, that Nausicaa is Hayao Miyazaki’s crowning achievement, and the film is in fact a landmark for the medium.
Clocking in at just under two-hours, the film is truly epic in scope and execution. It is here, on his second feature film, that Miyazaki zeros in on the strong female archetype and environmental themes that would become the prevalent tropes in most of his life’s work. The narrative details the journey of the eponymous hero, and her rise from a simple princess in a quaint mountain village to worldwide savior.
Because of her empathetic ways with the harsh natural conditions that plague her world, Nausicaa is able to unite two warring kingdoms and teach the people how to be at one with their natural surroundings. Through conflicts with giant bug-kings, warring military factions, gargantuan organic war machines, and conniving ne’er-do-wells, the small and peaceful Valley of the Wind is slapped in the face with mechanical progress and a loss of their innocent way of life. It is only through Nausicaa that the world at war with itself is able to live to see another day.
The narrative, written by the director, is a classic example of the hero’s journey. One can literally check off each individual step as Nausicaa traverses the course of her adventure. Because Miyazaki chooses to work with such classic narrative styles, his films are easily some of the most accessible to those outside of Japan. Nausicaa is so infused with the conventions of the mono-myth, that even without subtitles the narrative is still engaging and interesting.
One could say that the art style used here is iconic Miyazaki, maybe even to a fault. Although the actual movement and fluidity of his animated features improves from film to film, his character designs often look identical, especially his lead female characters – one might argue that many are in fact drawn from the same model. If this is the case, then Nausicaa’s animated lineage can be directly traced to Lady Clarisse, the lead female and love interest from his first film The Castle of Cagliostro.
While they may share similar facial features, and many of his female characters do, what differentiates them from one another is their personalities. Where Lady Clarisse was the typical damsel in distress, needing to be rescued at every turn, Nausicaa is a take-charge hero ready to tackle everything thrown at her no matter the personal sacrifice.
Another iconic feature debuting here is the wonderful score written by Joe Hisaishi. Hisaishi’s score for Nausicaa is one of my favorites. The main theme encapsulates the film's beautiful and mysterious world, and sets the tone for the epic narrative. Through careful attention to detail, Miyazaki and Hisaishi craft an audio-video marriage that is totally engaging and memorable at each and every turn.
Although Miyazaki and studio Ghibli would go on to craft more technically advance animated features, Nausicaa remains a personal favorite of mine. It is often said that fans of his work typically site their first experience as their favorite, and I don't disagree. Everything about this film touches me on a level reserved only for the most breathtaking of films. Animated or not, Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind is, and will remain, a truly moving experience that I will revisit for years to come.
