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風の谷のナウシカ [Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä] #1-7
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: The Complete Series
[
Box Set
| Book 1 | Book 2 ]
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is an epic fantasy tale written and illustrated by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, creator of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. A modern masterpiece, the entire series is now available in this deluxe box set containing two hardcover volumes with interior color pages and a bonus poster.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is an epic fantasy tale written and illustrated by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, creator of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. A modern masterpiece, the entire series is now available in this deluxe box set containing two hardcover volumes with interior color pages and a bonus poster.
1104 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
467 people are currently reading
4073 people want to read
About the author
Hayao Miyazaki
364 books3,484 followersHayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
June 9, 2020
I love all Hayao Miyazaki movies and I’ve owned this huge hardcover boxed set forever! It has a cool double-sided poster inside as well. I wish they would made these hardbacks out of all of his movies, but I digress!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
October 31, 2018
Far in the future of a world devastated by biological warfare, Nausicaa is the daughter of the chieftain of the Valley of the Wind. When the Torumekian emperor calls upon the Valley to send troops, Nausicaa goes to war against the Doroks. But have mankind learned anything by their past mistakes? And will Nausicaa's ability to speak to plants and animals save humanity or destroy it?
Yeah, it's way more complicated than that but this slipcase contains not one but two kitten-squishers, totaling over 11o0 pages. Some point in the dim past, around the time the earth's crust cooled and hardened, I rented an animated movie called Warriors of the Wind from the video store. It left quite an impression on me. Now, decades later, I've read the work it was based on.
First off, the art is gorgeous, making me think of Moebius at times. I felt vindicated when I read on Wikipedia that Moebius and Miyazaki influenced one another. It's simple yet incredibly detailed at times, even in black and white. Some of the backgrounds are ridiculously intricate, making me think some panels took a couple days on their own.
The story is a sprawling epic of two nations at war while the world threatens to be engulfed by the forces that nearly destroyed it centuries earlier. Even within the two armies, factions work against each other. The world is an odd mix of fantasy and science fiction. Politically the world is like any number of fantasy Europe analogues. However, there are massive insects, forests of giant fungus, and people using the technology of their long-dead ancestors. It's a curious combination but it works very well.
Nausicaa, aided by a small group of allies, works to unlock the secrets of why the world is the way it is, why an ever-expanding forest of blight releases the Miasma, a cloud of spores, into the air, forcing everyone to wear protective masks. She can also talk to plants and animals, like the Ohmu, whale-sized creatures resembling giant pill bugs. This isn't your grandma's fantasy tale.
Nausicaa makes and loses friends over the course of the tale, starting in her remote Valley of the Wind and ending in a faraway place where the death of the world began centuries earlier. While Miyazaki says he didn't mean the story to have themes, there's a strong current of anti-war and environmentalism in the book, not surprising since the story is set after the world has been rocked by biological warfare. It also has a feminist message to some degree. Nausicaa is a strong character, a leader that isn't stuck in some inane love triangle like so many heroines. While being a telepath, she's also a bad ass warrior when she needs to be. Kushana, the Torumekian princess, is cut from a similar cloth.
By the end, the world is a shambles with the survivors left to clean up the mess. It's a strong ending, one I'd rank up there with the Elric Saga or the Amber books. While I was sad it was over, I'm glad it ended rather than dragging on forever.
Of all the classic manga I've read so far in 2018, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is by far the best. Five out of five stars.
Yeah, it's way more complicated than that but this slipcase contains not one but two kitten-squishers, totaling over 11o0 pages. Some point in the dim past, around the time the earth's crust cooled and hardened, I rented an animated movie called Warriors of the Wind from the video store. It left quite an impression on me. Now, decades later, I've read the work it was based on.
First off, the art is gorgeous, making me think of Moebius at times. I felt vindicated when I read on Wikipedia that Moebius and Miyazaki influenced one another. It's simple yet incredibly detailed at times, even in black and white. Some of the backgrounds are ridiculously intricate, making me think some panels took a couple days on their own.
The story is a sprawling epic of two nations at war while the world threatens to be engulfed by the forces that nearly destroyed it centuries earlier. Even within the two armies, factions work against each other. The world is an odd mix of fantasy and science fiction. Politically the world is like any number of fantasy Europe analogues. However, there are massive insects, forests of giant fungus, and people using the technology of their long-dead ancestors. It's a curious combination but it works very well.
Nausicaa, aided by a small group of allies, works to unlock the secrets of why the world is the way it is, why an ever-expanding forest of blight releases the Miasma, a cloud of spores, into the air, forcing everyone to wear protective masks. She can also talk to plants and animals, like the Ohmu, whale-sized creatures resembling giant pill bugs. This isn't your grandma's fantasy tale.
Nausicaa makes and loses friends over the course of the tale, starting in her remote Valley of the Wind and ending in a faraway place where the death of the world began centuries earlier. While Miyazaki says he didn't mean the story to have themes, there's a strong current of anti-war and environmentalism in the book, not surprising since the story is set after the world has been rocked by biological warfare. It also has a feminist message to some degree. Nausicaa is a strong character, a leader that isn't stuck in some inane love triangle like so many heroines. While being a telepath, she's also a bad ass warrior when she needs to be. Kushana, the Torumekian princess, is cut from a similar cloth.
By the end, the world is a shambles with the survivors left to clean up the mess. It's a strong ending, one I'd rank up there with the Elric Saga or the Amber books. While I was sad it was over, I'm glad it ended rather than dragging on forever.
Of all the classic manga I've read so far in 2018, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is by far the best. Five out of five stars.
October 14, 2016
Every bookworm preaches the same words: "If you liked the movie(s), you'll really like the book(s)". Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, however, takes this old adagio to an entirely new level. The movie captures but a sweet breeze of what this hurricane of a story really is.
We follow Nausicaä, a young girl who is far stronger than she is willing to acknowledge. She gets to witness death, suffering, desperation and destruction, but manages to always remain hopeful, even when her attempts to do the right thing often result in the opposite.
This is a dystopian earth, a world almost unrecognizable as that in which we inhabit. It is a tale about humanity's folly, about hope. It is, above all, about setting aside the differences in order to appreciate the things that are common to all of us. In a world that refuses to come to terms with the reality of displaced people, this strikes as particularly relevant concern.
I was a fan of the movie, but this is something completely different. This is a true masterpiece in worldbuilding, characterization, and gripping plot. It is a story that stays with us long after putting the books down. And it has certainly become one of my favourite books of all time.
We follow Nausicaä, a young girl who is far stronger than she is willing to acknowledge. She gets to witness death, suffering, desperation and destruction, but manages to always remain hopeful, even when her attempts to do the right thing often result in the opposite.
This is a dystopian earth, a world almost unrecognizable as that in which we inhabit. It is a tale about humanity's folly, about hope. It is, above all, about setting aside the differences in order to appreciate the things that are common to all of us. In a world that refuses to come to terms with the reality of displaced people, this strikes as particularly relevant concern.
I was a fan of the movie, but this is something completely different. This is a true masterpiece in worldbuilding, characterization, and gripping plot. It is a story that stays with us long after putting the books down. And it has certainly become one of my favourite books of all time.
August 7, 2023
Greatly expands on the movie. Actually the movie came out early in the manga's run (I believe around volume 2) and parts from the climax of the movie happen as just an early incident here. I got a bit confused because the villain from the movie is sort of a good guy here.
What I really enjoy is that there really isn't a clear "bad guy" here. It's a pretty complicated political system that Nausicaa finds herself in the middle of. Her intentions are clear - stop the senseless killing and learn to live with the land. At times she comes off pretty anti-human, but I think that's a part of her personality that Miyazaki successfully explores.
The panel layout is more reminiscent of European comics than manga. Each page has a dozen little panels and quite a bit of text, especially early on. I love the artwork here - which is also quite unique. Sort of Moebius filtered through a manga style. And it was obviously quite influential on a lot of modern creators like Roy Simon (and the whole Prophet series from a few years back that I loved). That said, I did find the artwork got better later on, perhaps a bit less detailed but clearer and easier to read. Early chapters the characters blend into the background and its a bit difficult to decipher.
There are some water-colored art pieces at the start of each volume. And I need someone to go and watercolor this entire book. Matching the style of the art pieces for the whole book would be incredible.
What I really enjoy is that there really isn't a clear "bad guy" here. It's a pretty complicated political system that Nausicaa finds herself in the middle of. Her intentions are clear - stop the senseless killing and learn to live with the land. At times she comes off pretty anti-human, but I think that's a part of her personality that Miyazaki successfully explores.
The panel layout is more reminiscent of European comics than manga. Each page has a dozen little panels and quite a bit of text, especially early on. I love the artwork here - which is also quite unique. Sort of Moebius filtered through a manga style. And it was obviously quite influential on a lot of modern creators like Roy Simon (and the whole Prophet series from a few years back that I loved). That said, I did find the artwork got better later on, perhaps a bit less detailed but clearer and easier to read. Early chapters the characters blend into the background and its a bit difficult to decipher.
There are some water-colored art pieces at the start of each volume. And I need someone to go and watercolor this entire book. Matching the style of the art pieces for the whole book would be incredible.
January 26, 2021
5/5
Ante el desinterés de las editoriales —especialmente de aquella que posee los derechos en España— por reeditar este manga de superlativa calidad, me decidí a comprar la versión inglesa. Y no me arrepiento. Hace justicia por completo a la obra, algo que no es del todo habitual. Está compuesta por dos grandes tomos que reúnen los siete volúmenes originales en algo más de mil páginas. Ambos contienen varias ilustraciones a color, además de un póster que los acompaña. ¡Y hasta cuenta con un apéndice con la traducción de las onomatopeyas!
Hayao Miyazaki es distinguido principalmente por su trabajo para Studio Ghibli, que fundó junto con el fallecido —hace no mucho— Isao Takahata. Su obra de animación es conocida en el mundo entero y ha sido considerada como de las mejores del mundo dentro de la industria. Ahora bien, no tantos conocen su corta carrera como dibujante de manga, no tan prolífica como la otra, pero con obras de inestimable valor, como la que reseño. Ambientada en un mundo definido a raíz de un apocalipsis, de un desastre natural consecuencia de la masiva industrialización de los humanos, la protagonista es la princesa del Valle del Viento, un estado de la periferia de uno de los dos grandes imperios enfrentados. Por su condición de vasallaje tiene la obligación de acudir a la guerra, cuyo desarrollo se ve condicionada por unos insectos muy particulares que han surgido a raíz de la hecatombe y a los que Nausicaä ha cogido cierto cariño.
La obra tiene un profundo mensaje ecológico que es tratado de forma muy característica; el animismo marca toda la historia, así como los episodios belicistas. Gran parte de estos últimos se desarrollan en el aire, pues la presencia de aviones es muy significativa, pasión del autor que necesariamente tuvo que volcar en el manga. Al ser más extensa que su adaptación cinematográfica, logra explorar muchos temas: amor, deber, tristeza, traición, venganza, muerte, catarsis, etc. Es una obra muy madura, sangrienta, con un dibujo de artesano. El trazado de las sombras y el detallismo es fascinante, un regalo para el sentido de la vista. Un regalo para un lector desesperado por encontrar mangas genuinos en un océano de insulsa mediocridad.
Ante el desinterés de las editoriales —especialmente de aquella que posee los derechos en España— por reeditar este manga de superlativa calidad, me decidí a comprar la versión inglesa. Y no me arrepiento. Hace justicia por completo a la obra, algo que no es del todo habitual. Está compuesta por dos grandes tomos que reúnen los siete volúmenes originales en algo más de mil páginas. Ambos contienen varias ilustraciones a color, además de un póster que los acompaña. ¡Y hasta cuenta con un apéndice con la traducción de las onomatopeyas!
Hayao Miyazaki es distinguido principalmente por su trabajo para Studio Ghibli, que fundó junto con el fallecido —hace no mucho— Isao Takahata. Su obra de animación es conocida en el mundo entero y ha sido considerada como de las mejores del mundo dentro de la industria. Ahora bien, no tantos conocen su corta carrera como dibujante de manga, no tan prolífica como la otra, pero con obras de inestimable valor, como la que reseño. Ambientada en un mundo definido a raíz de un apocalipsis, de un desastre natural consecuencia de la masiva industrialización de los humanos, la protagonista es la princesa del Valle del Viento, un estado de la periferia de uno de los dos grandes imperios enfrentados. Por su condición de vasallaje tiene la obligación de acudir a la guerra, cuyo desarrollo se ve condicionada por unos insectos muy particulares que han surgido a raíz de la hecatombe y a los que Nausicaä ha cogido cierto cariño.
La obra tiene un profundo mensaje ecológico que es tratado de forma muy característica; el animismo marca toda la historia, así como los episodios belicistas. Gran parte de estos últimos se desarrollan en el aire, pues la presencia de aviones es muy significativa, pasión del autor que necesariamente tuvo que volcar en el manga. Al ser más extensa que su adaptación cinematográfica, logra explorar muchos temas: amor, deber, tristeza, traición, venganza, muerte, catarsis, etc. Es una obra muy madura, sangrienta, con un dibujo de artesano. El trazado de las sombras y el detallismo es fascinante, un regalo para el sentido de la vista. Un regalo para un lector desesperado por encontrar mangas genuinos en un océano de insulsa mediocridad.
April 30, 2017
For me a no doubt 5 stars.
Fantastic artwork-(who needs color with line work like this)
Great story about life after an environmental disaster and the will of the human spirit/natural world to persevere.
10/10
Fantastic artwork-(who needs color with line work like this)
Great story about life after an environmental disaster and the will of the human spirit/natural world to persevere.
10/10
February 27, 2024
What a heady experience. I'm still reeling from taking it all in (I read the second compilation volume all today), but dang girl, what a masterpiece. This somehow had all of my favorite things: fun, adventure, fascinating characters, deep worldbuilding and lore, fantasy/sci-fi vibes, philosophy, ecology, friendships, politics, ANIMALS YAAAAS
okay you get the point
Um also it is GORGEOUS SO YEAH
THERE IS THAT
okay you get the point
Um also it is GORGEOUS SO YEAH
THERE IS THAT
September 23, 2014
An almost impossibly solid, broad, sweeping epic that reads something like a classical mythology for the deity of nature. It borrows from literary, religious, fantasy, war chronicle, and science fiction traditions, and makes something more beautiful than all of them. The film "adaptation" (used loosely, as the film covers a mere fraction of the story of the manga, and poorly) did a serious disservice to the depth of character, history, and plot packed into these thousand pages. I couldn't put it down and I can't recommend it more strongly.
December 19, 2024
I now know that manga is not a genre I can love. Though I love comics, my manga era is probably never going to happen! Because it would've been set ablaze by this. I still thought this was really good but just not something that really calls to me—it's hard to communicate that conflict! I don't feel impelled to read other manga series, but I do think this was a wonderful read and understand the appeal. This reads like an action/thriller story would in comic form, and as an indie comics reader I feel more at home with slower, more lighthearted realism, and personal stories.
Nausicaä is a story that suffers from a lack of romance, humour, variety in pacing, emotional realism, and characterisation. However it did often move me emotionally more than I expected, and has breathtaking visuals. Nausicaä has a complex world and a moral dilemma with continuous high stakes action. I imagine this was revolutionary for its time (I'm a 90s baby that didn't witness it) and I see how similar plot elements permeate later-written stories I have read. I don't think there would be enough here for me to wait for each issue if this was currently being written because there's no strong personal motivation in this story. I like Nausicaä, but I didn't feel fully personally engaged, and this experience has actively discouraged me from getting involved with manga series in general, or any comic series that aren't completed. Things can simply change too much to invest oneself in an unfinished series.
I am a Studio Ghibli fan but have never read manga before, nor seen the actual film of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä is the only Studio Ghibli film that was first a manga/comic, and the only real comic by Miyazaki. Reading this all together was a wonderful experience, and gives me a renewed sense of respect for Miyazaki's moral values, kindness, and creativity. It seems to serve as a base for the subtle personal integrity, anticapitalist, and antiwar themes of later Studio Ghibli productions. It was unlike my normal reading experiences and I appreciate its novelty. It did however disrupt my sleep schedule in being too high pace, and full of non-stop action. I will appreciate quieter reads, but am glad I own this (the posters and artwork are amazing, it is such a treat to own this!!)
Nausicaä is a story that suffers from a lack of romance, humour, variety in pacing, emotional realism, and characterisation. However it did often move me emotionally more than I expected, and has breathtaking visuals. Nausicaä has a complex world and a moral dilemma with continuous high stakes action. I imagine this was revolutionary for its time (I'm a 90s baby that didn't witness it) and I see how similar plot elements permeate later-written stories I have read. I don't think there would be enough here for me to wait for each issue if this was currently being written because there's no strong personal motivation in this story. I like Nausicaä, but I didn't feel fully personally engaged, and this experience has actively discouraged me from getting involved with manga series in general, or any comic series that aren't completed. Things can simply change too much to invest oneself in an unfinished series.
I am a Studio Ghibli fan but have never read manga before, nor seen the actual film of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä is the only Studio Ghibli film that was first a manga/comic, and the only real comic by Miyazaki. Reading this all together was a wonderful experience, and gives me a renewed sense of respect for Miyazaki's moral values, kindness, and creativity. It seems to serve as a base for the subtle personal integrity, anticapitalist, and antiwar themes of later Studio Ghibli productions. It was unlike my normal reading experiences and I appreciate its novelty. It did however disrupt my sleep schedule in being too high pace, and full of non-stop action. I will appreciate quieter reads, but am glad I own this (the posters and artwork are amazing, it is such a treat to own this!!)
August 18, 2014
I didnt finish this series, but dont let that totally discredit this review. Hayao Miyazaki is a very talented person; I love his work. Nausicaa is at times a charming story, and, as is usually the case with Miyazaki, the art is high quality.
However, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, to me (of course to me), is pretty obnoxious. For one, Nausicaa's displays of selflessness towards any living creature becomes less and less interesting as the story progresses, and the situations she finds herself in are just different variations of the same thing. The answer to the world's problems are simplistic and thoughtless. It doesnt matter if it's good guys, bad guys, bugs or babies, Nausicaa does the same thing EVERY TIME. That is boring and preachy. It's like the recycled animation of the action sequences of Dragon Ball Z: cheap.
Secondly, Nausicaa is not a very believable character. She's like some metaphor for an Eastern environmental religion's ideology. She is more like an avatar of Mother Nature than a real woman, showing that our author does not seem to understand the complexity of either women or nature, a sad flaw of the one-dimentional, magical thinking of basically all eastern religions. Miyazaki also conveniently inserts prophecies regarding Nausicaa into the story, I suppose attempting to make his readers see her a female messiah - a detestible blasphemy. Plus, it's so poorly executed that it's an insult to the reader's intelligence. Instead of building it up and then revealing that she fulfills the requirements of the prophecy, she just conveniently fits the bill of the prophecy that came out of nowhere and that we have no background on whatsoever. I might have bought that when I was an elementary school student.
I sure there's more that I could gripe about, but proof-reading what I do have as caused me to forget. Let me part with this. A better take on environmental concerns from Miyazaki, and a more educated one, is Princess Mononoke. It displays the tension and the dangers between Deep Ecology and Anthropocentrism in a fair and honest way.
However, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, to me (of course to me), is pretty obnoxious. For one, Nausicaa's displays of selflessness towards any living creature becomes less and less interesting as the story progresses, and the situations she finds herself in are just different variations of the same thing. The answer to the world's problems are simplistic and thoughtless. It doesnt matter if it's good guys, bad guys, bugs or babies, Nausicaa does the same thing EVERY TIME. That is boring and preachy. It's like the recycled animation of the action sequences of Dragon Ball Z: cheap.
Secondly, Nausicaa is not a very believable character. She's like some metaphor for an Eastern environmental religion's ideology. She is more like an avatar of Mother Nature than a real woman, showing that our author does not seem to understand the complexity of either women or nature, a sad flaw of the one-dimentional, magical thinking of basically all eastern religions. Miyazaki also conveniently inserts prophecies regarding Nausicaa into the story, I suppose attempting to make his readers see her a female messiah - a detestible blasphemy. Plus, it's so poorly executed that it's an insult to the reader's intelligence. Instead of building it up and then revealing that she fulfills the requirements of the prophecy, she just conveniently fits the bill of the prophecy that came out of nowhere and that we have no background on whatsoever. I might have bought that when I was an elementary school student.
I sure there's more that I could gripe about, but proof-reading what I do have as caused me to forget. Let me part with this. A better take on environmental concerns from Miyazaki, and a more educated one, is Princess Mononoke. It displays the tension and the dangers between Deep Ecology and Anthropocentrism in a fair and honest way.
July 10, 2013
A sprawling, unique post-apocalyptic story. Even if you've seen the movie of the same name, do yourself a favor and read this, Hiayao Miyazaki's most significant work of manga.
To be clear, this isn't a perfect story. When I say it's sprawling, I mean that literally. It just sort of flows outward from its beginning. It starts strong and ends strong, but there's a whole lot of sprawl in the middle that felt a bit unnecessary. The art is gorgeous as you would expect from something hand-drawn by Miyazaki, but the storytelling isn't great. It's frequently muddled. If that sounds like blasphemy, keep in mind that even Miyazaki himself says it wasn't very good at manga storytelling (and if you doubt me, just read the afterward to this book!).
The story has all the usual Miyazaki themes - love, nature, urban decay, etc, and some truly excellent creature design. If you've seen the movie, you should know that the film only covers about a tenth of the entire story. It goes on well after that movie ended, and there's all kinds of amazing stuff in here you've been missing.
It's also worth mentioning that this particular edition of Nausicaa is absolutely gorgeous. It's a fresh translation and presented as two beefy hardcover volumes in a slipcase, containing a poster. The art is in its original right-to-left format, which is commonplace now, but when I first read Nausicaa in the 90s, was unheard of. Sound effects are left untranslated, so what you're seeing are is the original Japanese for those words. It's usually pretty easy to figure out what sound is being conveyed, but if you're ever in doubt, there's an index and translation guide at the back of each book. Really, it's a classy set.
Despite its flaws, Nausicaa is an important work, and one worth tracking down for any Miyazaki fan.
To be clear, this isn't a perfect story. When I say it's sprawling, I mean that literally. It just sort of flows outward from its beginning. It starts strong and ends strong, but there's a whole lot of sprawl in the middle that felt a bit unnecessary. The art is gorgeous as you would expect from something hand-drawn by Miyazaki, but the storytelling isn't great. It's frequently muddled. If that sounds like blasphemy, keep in mind that even Miyazaki himself says it wasn't very good at manga storytelling (and if you doubt me, just read the afterward to this book!).
The story has all the usual Miyazaki themes - love, nature, urban decay, etc, and some truly excellent creature design. If you've seen the movie, you should know that the film only covers about a tenth of the entire story. It goes on well after that movie ended, and there's all kinds of amazing stuff in here you've been missing.
It's also worth mentioning that this particular edition of Nausicaa is absolutely gorgeous. It's a fresh translation and presented as two beefy hardcover volumes in a slipcase, containing a poster. The art is in its original right-to-left format, which is commonplace now, but when I first read Nausicaa in the 90s, was unheard of. Sound effects are left untranslated, so what you're seeing are is the original Japanese for those words. It's usually pretty easy to figure out what sound is being conveyed, but if you're ever in doubt, there's an index and translation guide at the back of each book. Really, it's a classy set.
Despite its flaws, Nausicaa is an important work, and one worth tracking down for any Miyazaki fan.
October 2, 2016
Wow. Just wow. This comic has to be one of the greatest things I've ever read. I don't mean to hype it up too much, but I was personally blown away.
I've seen the Miyazaki Nausicaa movie, and I loved it. But what is great about this comic is that the format allows for the story to go much deeper, a deeper exploration of the themes (humanity, our relation to nature, environmentalism, the lust for power, etc), and a deeper immersion into the world. There is also more nuance and subtlety in regards to the characters and their development.
The art is sublime. The story-boarding, lay-outs, are just impeccable. The linework is gorgeous, you can tell the artist put his heart and soul into every panel. The amount of work this 1000+ page comic must have taken is rather mind-boggling.
The story-telling and pacing are also excellent. Initially it starts off a bit slow, but after a while you become so immersed in the story and characters that things start zipping along. There is a lot of action, a lot of tension, and a great philosophical bent exploring human nature and the environment (themes which I love). Nausicaa is one of my favorite characters of all time, she is inspiring and yet not perfect (although close to it ha). Of course there is the classic trope of "The Chosen One," which Nausicaa is. But Miyazaki executes it really well without the usual corniness and emotional pastiche that tends to plague that concept. There are also a slew of fabulous secondary characters, each with their own evolutions and arcs that are interesting and well-executed. The villains are lots of fun too, although there were instances where I thought Miyazaki could have milked their villainousness a bit more haha.
One thing I will suggest is that it is worth investing in the two-volume hardback edition. It is larger and presents the artwork in all its glory.
This is absolute must reading for those who love comics. But the scope of the story reaches beyond comic lovers, this is something that someone who doesn't generally read comics should at least try reading imo. It is the apotheosis of the art form.
So much hyperbole, I'm sorry. But damn, this comic was just too good. Shockingly good.
I've seen the Miyazaki Nausicaa movie, and I loved it. But what is great about this comic is that the format allows for the story to go much deeper, a deeper exploration of the themes (humanity, our relation to nature, environmentalism, the lust for power, etc), and a deeper immersion into the world. There is also more nuance and subtlety in regards to the characters and their development.
The art is sublime. The story-boarding, lay-outs, are just impeccable. The linework is gorgeous, you can tell the artist put his heart and soul into every panel. The amount of work this 1000+ page comic must have taken is rather mind-boggling.
The story-telling and pacing are also excellent. Initially it starts off a bit slow, but after a while you become so immersed in the story and characters that things start zipping along. There is a lot of action, a lot of tension, and a great philosophical bent exploring human nature and the environment (themes which I love). Nausicaa is one of my favorite characters of all time, she is inspiring and yet not perfect (although close to it ha). Of course there is the classic trope of "The Chosen One," which Nausicaa is. But Miyazaki executes it really well without the usual corniness and emotional pastiche that tends to plague that concept. There are also a slew of fabulous secondary characters, each with their own evolutions and arcs that are interesting and well-executed. The villains are lots of fun too, although there were instances where I thought Miyazaki could have milked their villainousness a bit more haha.
One thing I will suggest is that it is worth investing in the two-volume hardback edition. It is larger and presents the artwork in all its glory.
This is absolute must reading for those who love comics. But the scope of the story reaches beyond comic lovers, this is something that someone who doesn't generally read comics should at least try reading imo. It is the apotheosis of the art form.
So much hyperbole, I'm sorry. But damn, this comic was just too good. Shockingly good.
August 12, 2018
This is a large series and which is taking a bit of time on my part with the book not only being large in size (it has got to be at least 8.5 by 11 inches) but also hardcover so taking it with me on the way to work and other places I go to is not as convenient as a typical manga. That said however these two books and a splendid 2-sided poster make up far more then I remember from the movie. Set in a world where mankind had gotten too smart for there own good and lost far too much wisdom, the world is now a wasteland with some exceptions that must be taken care of lest the Sea of corruption should spread to them. Each character handles the world in their own way including some that like their ancestors are doomed to repeat the past.
Book one
The title character is a young girl who wants to help all living things as best she can. Her spirit has a way of comforting and her kindness is inspiring which makes her an oddity outside her valley that is protected by certain winds allowing her people to live near the sea of corruption. An old friend of her father comes to visit after an exciting rescue from Nausicaä when he angered the large insects that live in the of corruption including an Ohmu which is one of the largest and seemingly most intelligent of the insects.
However trouble is not far behind as war is on the horizon as Nausicaä discovers a freighter being attacked by insects and gets pulled into a conflict that will span the continent as she meets new friends and enemies alike as well as some enemies who become her friend. Watch as Nausicaä does her best to save whatever lives she can as war overtakes the lands and a dark weapon is created that has gone out of control by the end. WIll Nausicaä be able to save humanity or will mistakes of the past haunt everyone to their final breaths? Volume 2 will surely hold some answers for us. :)
My fave moment in Book one would have to be Nausicaä trying to save a baby Ohmu who was being used as bait to bring enraged Ohmus to the enemy of another force and shows her strong desire to save lives and yet how powerless she can be at times. That;s some pretty powerful imagery folks but there is a lot of amazing imagery throughout the book so you should check it out for your own favorite moments. Now to start on Book 2. :)
Book two
Hi everyone. Finished the 2nd book and it was awesome as well. Just a warning for the most prudish amonst us, there is a tub scene in the book with limited nudity of the main heroine so if that bothers you then by all means don't read this story but I assure you it is a very minor scene and would not be worth not experiencing this epic tale.
The second book continues the journeys of Nausicaä as she finds her own answers and has to decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for the stupid human race who continue to do stupid things. Did that sound bitter? Let me ask you how many times do you think that some war machine from any number of countries has discovered something potentially dangerous and immediately wondered how they can use it to wipe out everyone that is not them. In this world where humanity had basically wiped out their world in seven days with the help of god warriors it seems history is not one of their strengths as those of power seek to repeat the past. After all it might not have worked the first time but we are smarter now right? Right?
Giant sentient molds on the rampage, a new ruler on the rise after his brother is soundly defeated brings new threats like the Heedra and a single God Warrior to the conflict, A great insect migration to protect the world, and a tomb hiding the secrets of humanity's past are yours to read and gaze upon as you hopefully enjoy this morality play set in the far future.
Nausicaä is a messiah, a goddess, a saint, and a sad young girl burdened with the crushing weight of what is left of the whole world in her all to mortal frame as her journey offers her and the rest of us answers to what has happened up to now. In addition to Nausicaä others must make sacrifices as well leaving a trail of death, redemption, and ultimately rebellion against a plan for humanity designed long in the past. In addition the ending of the story is fairy open giving us answers but also legends of what might have possibly happened to Nausicaä so our imaginations can take flight like the wind goddess of what ultimately became of her.
With all that said my favorite part would have to be when Nausicaä is caught in a illusionary trap and can be given all that she desires if she just stays there. The similarities of it versus the devil trying to tempt Jesus in the Bible kinda hit it home for me as she fights through her doubts and finds her resolve tempered as hard as steel. :)
Book one
The title character is a young girl who wants to help all living things as best she can. Her spirit has a way of comforting and her kindness is inspiring which makes her an oddity outside her valley that is protected by certain winds allowing her people to live near the sea of corruption. An old friend of her father comes to visit after an exciting rescue from Nausicaä when he angered the large insects that live in the of corruption including an Ohmu which is one of the largest and seemingly most intelligent of the insects.
However trouble is not far behind as war is on the horizon as Nausicaä discovers a freighter being attacked by insects and gets pulled into a conflict that will span the continent as she meets new friends and enemies alike as well as some enemies who become her friend. Watch as Nausicaä does her best to save whatever lives she can as war overtakes the lands and a dark weapon is created that has gone out of control by the end. WIll Nausicaä be able to save humanity or will mistakes of the past haunt everyone to their final breaths? Volume 2 will surely hold some answers for us. :)
My fave moment in Book one would have to be Nausicaä trying to save a baby Ohmu who was being used as bait to bring enraged Ohmus to the enemy of another force and shows her strong desire to save lives and yet how powerless she can be at times. That;s some pretty powerful imagery folks but there is a lot of amazing imagery throughout the book so you should check it out for your own favorite moments. Now to start on Book 2. :)
Book two
Hi everyone. Finished the 2nd book and it was awesome as well. Just a warning for the most prudish amonst us, there is a tub scene in the book with limited nudity of the main heroine so if that bothers you then by all means don't read this story but I assure you it is a very minor scene and would not be worth not experiencing this epic tale.
The second book continues the journeys of Nausicaä as she finds her own answers and has to decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for the stupid human race who continue to do stupid things. Did that sound bitter? Let me ask you how many times do you think that some war machine from any number of countries has discovered something potentially dangerous and immediately wondered how they can use it to wipe out everyone that is not them. In this world where humanity had basically wiped out their world in seven days with the help of god warriors it seems history is not one of their strengths as those of power seek to repeat the past. After all it might not have worked the first time but we are smarter now right? Right?
Giant sentient molds on the rampage, a new ruler on the rise after his brother is soundly defeated brings new threats like the Heedra and a single God Warrior to the conflict, A great insect migration to protect the world, and a tomb hiding the secrets of humanity's past are yours to read and gaze upon as you hopefully enjoy this morality play set in the far future.
Nausicaä is a messiah, a goddess, a saint, and a sad young girl burdened with the crushing weight of what is left of the whole world in her all to mortal frame as her journey offers her and the rest of us answers to what has happened up to now. In addition to Nausicaä others must make sacrifices as well leaving a trail of death, redemption, and ultimately rebellion against a plan for humanity designed long in the past. In addition the ending of the story is fairy open giving us answers but also legends of what might have possibly happened to Nausicaä so our imaginations can take flight like the wind goddess of what ultimately became of her.
With all that said my favorite part would have to be when Nausicaä is caught in a illusionary trap and can be given all that she desires if she just stays there. The similarities of it versus the devil trying to tempt Jesus in the Bible kinda hit it home for me as she fights through her doubts and finds her resolve tempered as hard as steel. :)
August 16, 2021
While each of Miyazaki's movies are magnum opus in their own right, Nausicaa and Mononoke have affected me the most with their central themes about ravaged planet and reckless nature of man. With the written medium, it only had Miyazaki further expand the horizons for a grand fantasy tale of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, allowing his ideas and characters to flesh out and flourish.
Two dominant nations go to war in already war ravaged world where life is precariously balanced but still not respected, (the lesson that we may actually never learn). The smaller vassals to these nations get dragged along in the power struggle of tyrants and political strategists, and a gigantic relentless wave of bloodshed turns into a beast without any purpose other than that of feeding its own hunger. Factions form, alliances change, and cascading affects of collateral damage affect even those who have nothing to gain (or lose) from the conflict. The ultimate end game for dominance is geared towards controlling the remnants of old-world technology, that may or may not have been preserved for considerate motives. Once the battles start rolling out, action becomes relentless, all of which has been exceptionally well done without ever being over the top. There's no deus ex machina or cliched last minute heroic interceptions. People die of hunger, of war, of diseases, of sheer tiredness.
Meanwhile, planet churns out the poison that seeped into its very womb, spewing up deadly miasma, secreted from giant forests of fungus. Great hordes of titanic insects move into what seems to be final migration towards lands far away. Signs of once-in-centuries type of catastrophic event start showing up. A tsunami of mold devours everything in its path, almost having a mind of its own. In deeper forests, tribes of humans that either lived shielded from their kin, or in despised grudge of acceptance, get ready to make their moves.
Part sci-fi and part fantasy, the pseudo genre thus sets up the scene for Nausicaa.
She is a girl with heart of a gold that connects her to the nature- the forests and its many dwellers. She can talk to them (of sorts) and feel their pain. She is princess of Valley of the Wind. Sounds familiar? But wait, this does not even begin to describe what her character really is. For she is not your typical Disney princess who sings and dances, or a damsel in distress waiting for price charming. She lives in an ugly world where even a puff of air from wrong direction could mean an end to her little country. She has a destiny that may ruin her forever, or it might not be a destiny at all but a whim of foolish headstrong girl listening to the creatures of the world gone wrong. She is the one who has to stand firm and rally for cause that she even doesn't fully understand. It will require courage and battles. But her courage and battles will not be of swords and guns alone; she might be the only hope in hopeless world. Along her journey she will come across some amazing cast of characters each of which may have a spin-off books of their own adventures. Such a strong characterization doesn't come easy in fantasy world, let alone graphic novels.
At heart of these books is the profound take on harrowing subject thats scarily relevant with the real global damage to our climate, seas, and wildlife or green covers. The quality of the art work is simply beautiful, with complex layers border lining abstract at times, while providing a stark reflection to ugly side of war, industrial domination, greed for power and control, self-destructing tendencies of "intelligent/sentient" beings, the decay, the ruin, and hope within mold of annihilation. The grand arcs keep evolving between the frames, and yet the thematic philosophy about humans' relation to planet, the repercussions of devastation they inflict, and the reckoning they face, stay grounded.
Two dominant nations go to war in already war ravaged world where life is precariously balanced but still not respected, (the lesson that we may actually never learn). The smaller vassals to these nations get dragged along in the power struggle of tyrants and political strategists, and a gigantic relentless wave of bloodshed turns into a beast without any purpose other than that of feeding its own hunger. Factions form, alliances change, and cascading affects of collateral damage affect even those who have nothing to gain (or lose) from the conflict. The ultimate end game for dominance is geared towards controlling the remnants of old-world technology, that may or may not have been preserved for considerate motives. Once the battles start rolling out, action becomes relentless, all of which has been exceptionally well done without ever being over the top. There's no deus ex machina or cliched last minute heroic interceptions. People die of hunger, of war, of diseases, of sheer tiredness.
Meanwhile, planet churns out the poison that seeped into its very womb, spewing up deadly miasma, secreted from giant forests of fungus. Great hordes of titanic insects move into what seems to be final migration towards lands far away. Signs of once-in-centuries type of catastrophic event start showing up. A tsunami of mold devours everything in its path, almost having a mind of its own. In deeper forests, tribes of humans that either lived shielded from their kin, or in despised grudge of acceptance, get ready to make their moves.
Part sci-fi and part fantasy, the pseudo genre thus sets up the scene for Nausicaa.
She is a girl with heart of a gold that connects her to the nature- the forests and its many dwellers. She can talk to them (of sorts) and feel their pain. She is princess of Valley of the Wind. Sounds familiar? But wait, this does not even begin to describe what her character really is. For she is not your typical Disney princess who sings and dances, or a damsel in distress waiting for price charming. She lives in an ugly world where even a puff of air from wrong direction could mean an end to her little country. She has a destiny that may ruin her forever, or it might not be a destiny at all but a whim of foolish headstrong girl listening to the creatures of the world gone wrong. She is the one who has to stand firm and rally for cause that she even doesn't fully understand. It will require courage and battles. But her courage and battles will not be of swords and guns alone; she might be the only hope in hopeless world. Along her journey she will come across some amazing cast of characters each of which may have a spin-off books of their own adventures. Such a strong characterization doesn't come easy in fantasy world, let alone graphic novels.
At heart of these books is the profound take on harrowing subject thats scarily relevant with the real global damage to our climate, seas, and wildlife or green covers. The quality of the art work is simply beautiful, with complex layers border lining abstract at times, while providing a stark reflection to ugly side of war, industrial domination, greed for power and control, self-destructing tendencies of "intelligent/sentient" beings, the decay, the ruin, and hope within mold of annihilation. The grand arcs keep evolving between the frames, and yet the thematic philosophy about humans' relation to planet, the repercussions of devastation they inflict, and the reckoning they face, stay grounded.
October 4, 2020
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind doesn't read as though Miyazaki wrote it early in his career, before making all of his beloved Studio Ghibli films. It's not a rough early work that hints at greatness to come. On the contrary, this comic feels like Miyazaki's chef d'œuvre, a culmination of his life's work.
All of Miyazaki's big themes are covered here: environmentalism, tension between love of nature and love of humanity, the horror of war, strong female characters, redemption, and the idea that there's goodness in the heart of even the most seemingly evil people. Whereas Miyazaki's films tend to dive into one or two of these themes, or just touch lightly upon several of them, Nausicaä explores them all in great depth. As a result, this work feels fuller, more mature and ultimately more accomplished than in any of the Miyazaki films that I've seen (and I've seen most of them).
Indeed, I'd say this comic is "more Miyazaki" than anything else he's done. Not only does it tackle the same major themes, but it's also full of the quirks, motifs and tropes that characterize his work: aircraft, magic, flag signals, loyal animal companions, cute children, rabbles of kindly old men, love that's more platonic than romantic... Nausicaä is full of images and ideas that immediately evoke Miyazaki's films – right down to the expressions on the characters' faces.
Above all, Nausicaä is reminiscent of my favourite Miyazaki film, Princess Mononoke. Like that film, Nausicaä is much more serious and adult than Miyazaki's more whimsical works, like My Neighbour Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service. Whereas most Miyazaki films feel like fanciful fairy tales, Nausicaä is a full-blown high-fantasy epic, complete with a fleshed out world with its own history, geography, flora and fauna. Nausicaä is also surprisingly bleak, and often quite violent. But despite this, at its heart, this comic is full of the hope and goodness that shines through everything that Miyazaki produced.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is nothing short of a masterpiece. It boasts beautifully detailed art, an exciting and compelling plot, an unforgettable cast of characters, thoughtful reflection on important topics, and a whole lot of heart.
All of Miyazaki's big themes are covered here: environmentalism, tension between love of nature and love of humanity, the horror of war, strong female characters, redemption, and the idea that there's goodness in the heart of even the most seemingly evil people. Whereas Miyazaki's films tend to dive into one or two of these themes, or just touch lightly upon several of them, Nausicaä explores them all in great depth. As a result, this work feels fuller, more mature and ultimately more accomplished than in any of the Miyazaki films that I've seen (and I've seen most of them).
Indeed, I'd say this comic is "more Miyazaki" than anything else he's done. Not only does it tackle the same major themes, but it's also full of the quirks, motifs and tropes that characterize his work: aircraft, magic, flag signals, loyal animal companions, cute children, rabbles of kindly old men, love that's more platonic than romantic... Nausicaä is full of images and ideas that immediately evoke Miyazaki's films – right down to the expressions on the characters' faces.
Above all, Nausicaä is reminiscent of my favourite Miyazaki film, Princess Mononoke. Like that film, Nausicaä is much more serious and adult than Miyazaki's more whimsical works, like My Neighbour Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service. Whereas most Miyazaki films feel like fanciful fairy tales, Nausicaä is a full-blown high-fantasy epic, complete with a fleshed out world with its own history, geography, flora and fauna. Nausicaä is also surprisingly bleak, and often quite violent. But despite this, at its heart, this comic is full of the hope and goodness that shines through everything that Miyazaki produced.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is nothing short of a masterpiece. It boasts beautifully detailed art, an exciting and compelling plot, an unforgettable cast of characters, thoughtful reflection on important topics, and a whole lot of heart.
July 27, 2014
"Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind" is one of my favorite movies ever. So it is with great humility that I say that I like the manga 20 times better than the movie. It's the most beautiful story I've ever read. I actually got goosebumps reading some parts. I would definitely put it in my list of top five favorite novels.
The plot and character development are far deeper and complex than in the movie. The environmentalism and spirituality takes on much more meaning. It has an interesting Dune-vibe. The giant worm-like creatures, the barren planet, the religion, the messiah figure (I love how Nausicaä is a female messiah). While reading the book I often wondered if Miyazaki had read Herbert's "Dune" before he wrote Nausicaä.
I was sad to see the manga end, but I did feel satisfied as I closed the book - the mark of a great read. :) I'm so glad I selected this work (and this deluxe edition) for the Duke University Library.
Lastly, if you have kids who loved the movie, be careful about reading the manga. Some parts of the book are very violent.
The plot and character development are far deeper and complex than in the movie. The environmentalism and spirituality takes on much more meaning. It has an interesting Dune-vibe. The giant worm-like creatures, the barren planet, the religion, the messiah figure (I love how Nausicaä is a female messiah). While reading the book I often wondered if Miyazaki had read Herbert's "Dune" before he wrote Nausicaä.
I was sad to see the manga end, but I did feel satisfied as I closed the book - the mark of a great read. :) I'm so glad I selected this work (and this deluxe edition) for the Duke University Library.
Lastly, if you have kids who loved the movie, be careful about reading the manga. Some parts of the book are very violent.
March 25, 2025
Although Hayao Miyazaki will forever be known as a filmmaker where he directed some of the most imaginative fantasy films in Japanese animation, one should never negate his work as a manga artist. While most of his manga titles do not have an official release in the West, the few that have shown how unique his voice is, from his all-watercolour graphic novel Shuna’s Journey and his long-running series that for twelve years, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
In a similar situation to Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, while many western anime fans are aware of the story of Nausicaä through its 1984 film adaptation, it actually started life as a manga which concluded years after the release of the film. Whilst the Nausicaä anime is a great film in its own right, as well as laying the foundation of Studio Ghibli where Miyazaki created several of his most recognized works, the manga expands so much in terms of its themes and world-building that it might as well be its own beast.
Set 1000 years after a cataclysmic global war known as the Seven Days of Fire, most of the world is covered by the Sea of Corruption, a toxic forest of fungal life and plants which is steadily encroaching on the remaining open land, where humanity is trying to survive in their respected kingdoms. Amongst those kingdoms is the Valley of the Wind, where its teenage princess Nausicaä explores the territories surrounding the Valley on a jet-powered glider and studies the Sea of Corruption. However, as she gets involved in a war between kingdoms, an environmental disaster threatens humankind.
Reading the initial chapters will be very familiar to those who watched the film adaptation, from its main setting of the Valley itself, the initial conflict involving Kushana the Imperial Princess of Torumekia, to the giant insects known as the Ohmu. While it is nice seeing the initial chapters of the story told through Miyazaki’s illustrations, what is more exciting is where the story goes afterwards, expanding upon the world that reveals how humanity continues to be the cause of its own destruction.
While there are the obvious themes that you associate with Miyazaki, from the cutesy animals like Teto the Fox Squirrel to the strong female protagonist that arguably has a greater connection with creatures than her own race, Nausicaä has a darker edge than the majority of his works, which largely comes down to its sci-fi influences. While the premise of a post-apocalyptic Earth with a toxic ecosystem is something that we have seen across multiple media from Stephen King’s The Stand to The Last of Us, Nausicaä seems to owe a debt to Frank Herbert’s Dune, in the way it explores war, politics, and religion, whilst a prophecy about a chosen one that will reshape the world.
Even with the lack of colour in Miyazaki’s monochrome pages, the graphic violence is very apparent from its epic war sequences to the gruesome deaths of people being infected by the miasma. While Miyazaki is no stranger to showing the horrors of war, no matter how fantastical his worlds are, Nausicaä is where he pushes that the hardest, with even some of the most innocent characters having a tragic demise.
For as much horror there is, there is also wonder, largely due to Nausicaä, who no doubt has her internal struggles about what means to be a princess who is fighting for her people, as well as protecting all life on Earth, but she always comes out as a positive influence, to the point she ends inspiring those around her to be better. Considering the kingdoms that are shown are very male-dominant, the few female voices have a greater impact, such as Kushana who is initially introduced as an antagonist, she goes through quite the journey that is more than just rising the ranks against her royal brothers and father.
With a total of seven volumes, Hayao Miyazaki pushes the boundaries with what you can do in manga with an art-style that leans closer to European influences like Moebius, as well as expanding upon the world of Nausicaä more than what he achieved with its cinematic equivalent. The film might be amazing, but Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as a manga is a greater masterpiece.
In a similar situation to Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, while many western anime fans are aware of the story of Nausicaä through its 1984 film adaptation, it actually started life as a manga which concluded years after the release of the film. Whilst the Nausicaä anime is a great film in its own right, as well as laying the foundation of Studio Ghibli where Miyazaki created several of his most recognized works, the manga expands so much in terms of its themes and world-building that it might as well be its own beast.
Set 1000 years after a cataclysmic global war known as the Seven Days of Fire, most of the world is covered by the Sea of Corruption, a toxic forest of fungal life and plants which is steadily encroaching on the remaining open land, where humanity is trying to survive in their respected kingdoms. Amongst those kingdoms is the Valley of the Wind, where its teenage princess Nausicaä explores the territories surrounding the Valley on a jet-powered glider and studies the Sea of Corruption. However, as she gets involved in a war between kingdoms, an environmental disaster threatens humankind.
Reading the initial chapters will be very familiar to those who watched the film adaptation, from its main setting of the Valley itself, the initial conflict involving Kushana the Imperial Princess of Torumekia, to the giant insects known as the Ohmu. While it is nice seeing the initial chapters of the story told through Miyazaki’s illustrations, what is more exciting is where the story goes afterwards, expanding upon the world that reveals how humanity continues to be the cause of its own destruction.
While there are the obvious themes that you associate with Miyazaki, from the cutesy animals like Teto the Fox Squirrel to the strong female protagonist that arguably has a greater connection with creatures than her own race, Nausicaä has a darker edge than the majority of his works, which largely comes down to its sci-fi influences. While the premise of a post-apocalyptic Earth with a toxic ecosystem is something that we have seen across multiple media from Stephen King’s The Stand to The Last of Us, Nausicaä seems to owe a debt to Frank Herbert’s Dune, in the way it explores war, politics, and religion, whilst a prophecy about a chosen one that will reshape the world.
Even with the lack of colour in Miyazaki’s monochrome pages, the graphic violence is very apparent from its epic war sequences to the gruesome deaths of people being infected by the miasma. While Miyazaki is no stranger to showing the horrors of war, no matter how fantastical his worlds are, Nausicaä is where he pushes that the hardest, with even some of the most innocent characters having a tragic demise.
For as much horror there is, there is also wonder, largely due to Nausicaä, who no doubt has her internal struggles about what means to be a princess who is fighting for her people, as well as protecting all life on Earth, but she always comes out as a positive influence, to the point she ends inspiring those around her to be better. Considering the kingdoms that are shown are very male-dominant, the few female voices have a greater impact, such as Kushana who is initially introduced as an antagonist, she goes through quite the journey that is more than just rising the ranks against her royal brothers and father.
With a total of seven volumes, Hayao Miyazaki pushes the boundaries with what you can do in manga with an art-style that leans closer to European influences like Moebius, as well as expanding upon the world of Nausicaä more than what he achieved with its cinematic equivalent. The film might be amazing, but Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as a manga is a greater masterpiece.
September 15, 2021
This is the only Manga I've read. If all manga is this marvellous, I'm gonna go poor pretty quickly. A sprawling, epic, beautiful tale. The art is a wonder. The dozens of characters are a joy to be with. The action is adventurous and meaningful.
At 1100 pages, it is far richer than the animated production. It's as if Peter Jackson only adopted Fellowship. A satisfying tale, but only a portion of the scale and scope.
This has it all. Intriquet world building, massive armies, air battles, giant bugs, giant trees, giant robots, surrealist fantasy, political machinations, ancient religions, modern religions, moral musings, and more.
This one will stay with you a while.
At 1100 pages, it is far richer than the animated production. It's as if Peter Jackson only adopted Fellowship. A satisfying tale, but only a portion of the scale and scope.
This has it all. Intriquet world building, massive armies, air battles, giant bugs, giant trees, giant robots, surrealist fantasy, political machinations, ancient religions, modern religions, moral musings, and more.
This one will stay with you a while.
April 10, 2023
Wat begint als een manga met in de hoofdrol Nausicaä, een schattig, Jezus-achtig meisje, eindigt in een epos dat leven, dood, corruptie en het kwaad verenigt in een schier oneindige stroom verwikkelingen waarin facties, religies, loyaliteit en verraad het speelveld vormen en de onstopbare gang van Nausicaä gelijk opgaat met haar karakterontwikkeling naar volledig mens - iemand die het pure en duistere in zichzelf verenigt. BAM godverdomme! En dan heb ik het nog niet eens over de thema’s van natuurvervuiling, apocalyps, wederopstanding en ga zo maar door. Flikker de literaire hype van dit moment uit het raam en lees deze tijdloze manga, die als een pilaster uitstijgt boven die eendagsvliegendrab!
March 27, 2023
Was für ein Koloss, diese edle Ausgabe der gesamten Serie von "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind". Der Manga von Hayao Miyazaki ist inhaltlich nicht weniger gewichtig, präsentiert der Autor eine länderumspannende Geschichte voller Völker, Ideologien, Konflikte und Wandlungen.
Die Geschichte wirkt oft überladen und Weniges wird langsam eingeführt (von Beginn an tobt der Krieg und man springt munter zwischen den Figuren umher), ebenso hatte ich meine Mühe mit den Fantasiebegriffen und -namen.
Die eigentlichen Aussagen des Mangas, die grafische Umsetzung und das Format sind aber auf jeder Seite beeindruckend - so sehr, dass man am Ende noch mehr von Nausicaä und ihren Freund:innen lesen möchte.
Die Geschichte wirkt oft überladen und Weniges wird langsam eingeführt (von Beginn an tobt der Krieg und man springt munter zwischen den Figuren umher), ebenso hatte ich meine Mühe mit den Fantasiebegriffen und -namen.
Die eigentlichen Aussagen des Mangas, die grafische Umsetzung und das Format sind aber auf jeder Seite beeindruckend - so sehr, dass man am Ende noch mehr von Nausicaä und ihren Freund:innen lesen möchte.
June 8, 2025
Ne mogu objektivno reći da je ovo najbolji strip koji sam pročitao ali mi je odmah postao najdraži.
September 11, 2017
BOOK 1
I must be getting old. The days of carefree and breezy, effortless reading are gone. These days you find yourself stumbling through tiny oddly spaced chunks of rest between office work and the rest of your life. My progress with this book has been slower than I'd like. But would you abandon something like this?
The great days of civilization have passed. Half the land is covered with the Sea of Corruption and an evil miasma floats up, choking whatever life it touches. Hordes of Ohmu and other great insects and animals are migrating. As if that's not enough, what humanity is left has caught itself in a war and even though she despices it, Nausicaa has found herself in the middle of it.
Nausicaa, the gentle yet strong willed girl who can read the wind and talk to the Ohmu. Will she be able to stop this catastrophe? The one they call Daikaisho?
As usual, Miyazaki's art is beautiful, almost poetic. My copy came with many full colour illustrations and even a two-sided poster. The only 'funny' thing was the index of sound fx translations that was listed at the end of the book. Most of the sound effects, you can guess based on what's happening in the panel but imagine a whole lot of them listed in an index.
Farewell until I finish part 2!
BOOK 2
I am so conflicted about this book, I don't know what to say. Book 2 picks up from the Daikaisho that has been unleashed on to the earth. It turns a lot darker after that. Characters come,characters go. They have their own strange quirks. A villain who gives up. Another who, weakened and pathetic that he is, redeems himself somehow. As Nausicaa travels to uncover the secrets of the Daikaisho, some of the mystery surrounding it is revealed to the readers. But... the ending. I cannot explain how I felt towards the ending. The ending feels a little... abrupt. A little bit of a let-down after the massive build up of tension and mystery. So much is left unsaid. A fact that even that author mentions. This is besides the fact that I disagree with Nausicaa's actions in the end and while that pinches me a tiny bit, it does not affect my review of the book. It's just how the story turned out.
That said, the art is still breathtaking and beautiful. Despite all my disagreements I will give it a 5/5 for the art and a 3/5 for the ending. Four stars.
I must be getting old. The days of carefree and breezy, effortless reading are gone. These days you find yourself stumbling through tiny oddly spaced chunks of rest between office work and the rest of your life. My progress with this book has been slower than I'd like. But would you abandon something like this?
The great days of civilization have passed. Half the land is covered with the Sea of Corruption and an evil miasma floats up, choking whatever life it touches. Hordes of Ohmu and other great insects and animals are migrating. As if that's not enough, what humanity is left has caught itself in a war and even though she despices it, Nausicaa has found herself in the middle of it.
Nausicaa, the gentle yet strong willed girl who can read the wind and talk to the Ohmu. Will she be able to stop this catastrophe? The one they call Daikaisho?
As usual, Miyazaki's art is beautiful, almost poetic. My copy came with many full colour illustrations and even a two-sided poster. The only 'funny' thing was the index of sound fx translations that was listed at the end of the book. Most of the sound effects, you can guess based on what's happening in the panel but imagine a whole lot of them listed in an index.
Farewell until I finish part 2!
BOOK 2
I am so conflicted about this book, I don't know what to say. Book 2 picks up from the Daikaisho that has been unleashed on to the earth. It turns a lot darker after that. Characters come,characters go. They have their own strange quirks. A villain who gives up. Another who, weakened and pathetic that he is, redeems himself somehow. As Nausicaa travels to uncover the secrets of the Daikaisho, some of the mystery surrounding it is revealed to the readers. But... the ending. I cannot explain how I felt towards the ending. The ending feels a little... abrupt. A little bit of a let-down after the massive build up of tension and mystery. So much is left unsaid. A fact that even that author mentions. This is besides the fact that I disagree with Nausicaa's actions in the end and while that pinches me a tiny bit, it does not affect my review of the book. It's just how the story turned out.
That said, the art is still breathtaking and beautiful. Despite all my disagreements I will give it a 5/5 for the art and a 3/5 for the ending. Four stars.
July 15, 2022
For a graphic novel that took a whole decade and three more years to complete, Miyazaki assumed the title ‘Nausicaä’ from The Odyssey, in which she is a girl who saves Odysseus, and combined her with the Japanese heroine of The Tales of the Past and Present, a young woman who loves nature.
This seven-volume saga takes place a thousand years after a final war in which Earth's industrial society has shattered itself and left the planet a wasteland.
A talented teenage princess, Nausicaä, lives in the Valley of Wind, a small place being endangered by a mounting toxic forest, the Sea of Corruption. There massive insects and plants emit spores that slaughter humans if breathed for even a moment.
Nausicaä's multifaceted ecological and adventure epic has been illustrated with verdant, comprehensive art in an extra-large format.
This is a manga classic and an outstanding paradigm of the form, predominantly in a narrative with a heroine at its foundation.
This seven-volume saga takes place a thousand years after a final war in which Earth's industrial society has shattered itself and left the planet a wasteland.
A talented teenage princess, Nausicaä, lives in the Valley of Wind, a small place being endangered by a mounting toxic forest, the Sea of Corruption. There massive insects and plants emit spores that slaughter humans if breathed for even a moment.
Nausicaä's multifaceted ecological and adventure epic has been illustrated with verdant, comprehensive art in an extra-large format.
This is a manga classic and an outstanding paradigm of the form, predominantly in a narrative with a heroine at its foundation.
June 18, 2021
I loved Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind the film so much that I bought the beautiful hardcover edition of the 1104-page manga...and unfortunately took almost four months to read it, which certainly dilutes its power and my comprehension of the narrative. Hayao Miyazaki's post-apocalyptic sci-fi/fantasy epic is set a thousand years after humans fucked up the world so bad there's now a SEA OF CORRUPTION—actually a forest—making the air so toxic you can't go outside. And Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is about to find herself in the middle of a grand war between the Doroks and the Torumekians. The first couple volumes made me appreciate the film adaptation even more, as Miyazaki cleverly reframed what's actually the beginning of his story into a movie whose climax serves as such a satisfying conclusion that you wouldn't even know you hadn't even met one of the major villains of the series yet.
To my surprise, given how much Miyazaki is known for his contemplative, reflective films, this manga is basically ALL ACTION ALL THE TIME. It moves at breathless speed, rarely offering a good stopping point because he's delivering action sequence after action sequence and following multiple characters in various locations. I often had trouble following the action because of the penciled art without inking or colors to help distinguish people and objects from the background easily, but I basically got the gist? There are airship battles, ground-to-air combat, giant mutant insect attacks, GOD WARRIOR ANNIHILATIONS, everything. Characterization generally happens on the move and in the more mystical sections where Nausicaä communes with magical creatures because she has a special connection. As in the film, her superpower is compassion, but she's a lot more violent in the manga.
Because I went so long in between reading, I started to lose track of the plot and characters and where the fuck they were and I could never fucking remember which side of the war was the bad one. Also where the fuck was Nausicaä this time? I swear, pretty much the entire book is people asking, "Where's Nausicaä?" She keeps getting separated from her pals! Sometimes she's with the enemies, who then become her pals? There's just a lot of war stuff, and also some magic environment stuff, and also an evil psychic emperor or something, and a prophecy, and in retrospect, I can't even tell how much of it was really just spinning wheels until Miyazaki decided to end it. I enjoyed following some of the other characters like Kushana and Kurotawa especially, and Chikuku was cute, and of course who doesn't love ol' Master Yupa? But also there are like a dozen other characters I couldn't keep track of. Still, there's some spectacular imagery and so much imagination at play in how Miyazaki depicts this world and its creatures.
It's a shame I felt so lost by the end I couldn't really appreciate the last volume, which is packed with startling revelations that complicate our understanding of the world and hammer home the themes so present in Miyazaki's work with regards to man's relationship with the environment. Spoilers, it sucks, and humans are bad (it is no surprise he made Princess Mononoke, his angriest movie, after finishing this manga). It's some wild shit, but then again the whole book is pretty wild shit, it's quite an adventure. Though it's quite dense, I loved lots of individual elements throughout, and I always loved Nausicaä the character, who's definitely grown a whole lot by the end. It's a hell of a way to come of age, but that's how Miyazaki rolls.
To my surprise, given how much Miyazaki is known for his contemplative, reflective films, this manga is basically ALL ACTION ALL THE TIME. It moves at breathless speed, rarely offering a good stopping point because he's delivering action sequence after action sequence and following multiple characters in various locations. I often had trouble following the action because of the penciled art without inking or colors to help distinguish people and objects from the background easily, but I basically got the gist? There are airship battles, ground-to-air combat, giant mutant insect attacks, GOD WARRIOR ANNIHILATIONS, everything. Characterization generally happens on the move and in the more mystical sections where Nausicaä communes with magical creatures because she has a special connection. As in the film, her superpower is compassion, but she's a lot more violent in the manga.
Because I went so long in between reading, I started to lose track of the plot and characters and where the fuck they were and I could never fucking remember which side of the war was the bad one. Also where the fuck was Nausicaä this time? I swear, pretty much the entire book is people asking, "Where's Nausicaä?" She keeps getting separated from her pals! Sometimes she's with the enemies, who then become her pals? There's just a lot of war stuff, and also some magic environment stuff, and also an evil psychic emperor or something, and a prophecy, and in retrospect, I can't even tell how much of it was really just spinning wheels until Miyazaki decided to end it. I enjoyed following some of the other characters like Kushana and Kurotawa especially, and Chikuku was cute, and of course who doesn't love ol' Master Yupa? But also there are like a dozen other characters I couldn't keep track of. Still, there's some spectacular imagery and so much imagination at play in how Miyazaki depicts this world and its creatures.
It's a shame I felt so lost by the end I couldn't really appreciate the last volume, which is packed with startling revelations that complicate our understanding of the world and hammer home the themes so present in Miyazaki's work with regards to man's relationship with the environment. Spoilers, it sucks, and humans are bad (it is no surprise he made Princess Mononoke, his angriest movie, after finishing this manga). It's some wild shit, but then again the whole book is pretty wild shit, it's quite an adventure. Though it's quite dense, I loved lots of individual elements throughout, and I always loved Nausicaä the character, who's definitely grown a whole lot by the end. It's a hell of a way to come of age, but that's how Miyazaki rolls.
April 10, 2023
3.5/5
Such an interesting world Miyazaki has created, however I do feel that the level of action is better suited in movie form (which part 1 has been). I would be very interested to know if this is the same world as Castle in the Sky or not. The ending does leave a lot of ends open as well.
Such an interesting world Miyazaki has created, however I do feel that the level of action is better suited in movie form (which part 1 has been). I would be very interested to know if this is the same world as Castle in the Sky or not. The ending does leave a lot of ends open as well.
May 18, 2023
Omg, the world building and the fact that the story goes much much deeper than the movie ! Amazing a need to read for any studio ghibli fan
June 14, 2023
The execution of its plot is incredibly intricate, its characters and even its empires nuanced and their motivations believable. A transcendentally beautiful story gorgeously illustrated, though dialogue is occasionally difficult to trace. A stunning expanse of story, character, and art.
April 30, 2025
Shook by the depth and beauty of this story.
November 7, 2025
Just wow. The movie only covers a fraction of what this world has to offer. Anytime I picked up these books I ended up reading in huge chunks because of how good the art and story was. It's very hard to put down and I found myself wanting to dive deeper and craving more. It makes me wish we had more stories like this in manga form from Miyazaki, but I guess it's all the more reason to cherish this story.
November 26, 2025
“I’ve always felt that we blind ourselves by looking at the world simply in terms of purity and corruption… In my valley, we let the water sit in the reservoir for a while before using it to water the crops, and we boil it before drinking it. The water surely becomes contaminated while sitting in the reservoir, yet the plants grow better that way!”
Two and half years ago, while I was on a flight back home, I made the spontaneous decision to watch the film adaptation of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind with little knowledge of its contents aside from my prior experience with some of Miyazaki’s other films. Ever since I first watched the film it has held a particularly special place in my heart, and I’d probably consider it to be my favourite animated work by Miyazaki. Its environmentalist and anti-war themes are nothing groundbreaking, however, I was enchanted by the fungal post-apocalyptic world created by Miyazaki, with its insect-dominated ecosystem inspiring awe and wonder within me. I was also moved by the perspective of the titular character Nausicaä, as her unwavering love and empathy for Sea of Corruption and its denizens in the face of the sea’s hostile and uninhabitable nature. nature. So deep is Nausicaä’s love for and connection with nature that she is able to ‘see the wind’ itself, an ability that allows her to use a glider, a symbol of freedom in an increasingly mechanised and artificial world. In finding this freedom Nausicaä comes to embrace the uninhabitable fungal Sea, with her desire to understand that which is reviled by the rest of humanity serving as the means she prevents a new apocalypse, her love for the insects triumphing over her own will to survive. Ultimately, the film reaches a positive conclusion in which humanity learns to live alongside nature, with the Valley of the Wind’s residents’ mass-adoption of gliders during the credits sequence demonstrating their newly-heightened understanding of nature. I teared up when I finished the film and it was not lost on me that as I was ten thousand metres above the world in a sterile and cramped cabin, I was as disconnected from the world as one could possibly be. Aside from those within the cabin, I was separated from everything else; the world felt small; I could neither see the wind nor could I hear it.
Miyazaki's manga is far more expansive than his film adaptation, with the film roughly covering first two volumes of seven-volume manga; however, its ending was altered to provide the more positive and satisfying conclusion previously mentioned. Despite my love for the film adaptation, it’s evident that the manga’s extended period of creation (roughly fourteen years, with the film being released around two years into its creation) allowed for Miyazaki’s thoughts to mature. As a result of this, the manga takes a more nuanced perspective and renders certain characters near unrecognisable.
Despite fits of violence throughout the original film, Nausicaä is portrayed as being almost uniquely positive and is able to see the beauty in all things, whether it be the corrupt forest or the pure land of stone that resides beneath the Sea of Corruption, however, this is not the case within the manga. Despite maintaining her unfathomable love for humanity, the Sea of Corruption and the insects within it, Nausicaä slowly becomes disillusioned with humanity’s constant cycle of violence within the manga. Throughout the war between Torumekia and Dorok, Nausicaä constantly goes against traditional military wisdom and shows empathy for her enemies whether this be through her rescuing of orphans or through the release of enemy hostages. Despite the infectiousness of her compassion (which leads to significant character growth for both Kushana and Kurotawa which is absent in the film), she fails to end the cycle of violence and instead witnesses a nascent apocalypse that is only prevented through the sacrifice of the Sea of Corruption’s insects, who prevent a genetically-engineered slime-mould from rendering the earth uninhabitable. Witnessing the insects’ compassionate action, Nausicaä is overwhelmed and decides to die alongside the insects so as to become part of the Sea, however, against Nausicaä’s will the insects protect her, allowing her to live another day and confront the darkness inside herself. In confronting her inner darkness, Nausicaä reaches an enlightened state and becomes aware of the Sea of Corruption’s purpose as a reparative being and is granted a vision of an environment that has been fully restored to a pre-apocalyptic state.
The manga reframes the Sea of Corruption as a man-made object, rather than something that arose naturally as was the case in the film, intentionally bio-engineered as an autonomous tool that would restore the world to its prior, supposedly “pure”, state. Despite the idyllic scene envisioned Nausicaä rejects this vision, believing that if humanity in its current state were to discover this environment it would be rapidly destroyed. Soon after, the manga provides a critique of this seemingly pure land, with it being revealed that it is uninhabitable to the insects and contemporary humanity; it is a land only fit for those beings that existed before the apocalypse and fall of humanity. In this sense the restored forest represents an unattainable utopia, something that is not only physically harmful to humanity, but something that is corrosive to the human spirit.
This criticism of purity comes to a head in the manga’s final volume in which Nausicaä enters a crypt that holds the wisdom of civilisations past, including their technologies and their art. In interacting with the crypt-keeper it becomes evident to Nausicaä that the artificial crypt-keeper views the humans of Nausicaä’s world as lesser beings compared to those of the pre-apocalypse, as contemporary humans had been bio-engineered to become resistant to the Sea of Corruption. The crypt-keeper views Nausicaä’s world as a transitory period and is hence willing to sacrifice all current life to bring forth the pure utopia previously seen by Nausicaä. The crypt-keeper however, is ultimately deluded in its belief that this pure world would be one without conflict, as those unaltered humans are the ones who led to Nausicaä’s “impure” world. Nausicaä rejects this vision of a pure world and destroys the crypt, despite this necessitating the loss of all knowledge from the pre-apocalypse, and decries the crypt-keeper’s goal, saying “Because you were created as an artificial god of purity, you have become the ugliest creature of all, never knowing what it means to be alive!” Life by its very nature cannot be pure, as it does not exist in a vacuum. In this sense life is not light in and of itself, but rather “life is the light that shines in the darkness.”
This ending is far more ambiguous, and even somewhat pessimistic compared to that of the film adaptation, as Nausicaä’s rejection of pre-apocalyptic technology seemingly condemns humanity to extinction in the face of the Sea of Corruption’s relentless purification. In spite of this seemingly inevitable annihilation, Nausicaä finds hope, proclaiming that “if such a morning is to come, then we shall live to face that morning,” as “life survives by the power of life,” alone rather than by the graces of some higher being. From this, Miyazaki’s central thesis becomes evident, with the belief that “life is the light that shines in the darkness,” suggesting that our lives are contextualised and given meaning through our interaction with the negative aspects of the world. In the end, humanity is not necessarily doomed to extinction as Nausicaä’s rejection of the past demonstrates humanity’s ability to learn from the mistakes of the past, so as to move forwards and create a better, although still imperfect, future.
Miyazaki’s film adaptation found a simplistic answer in its resolution of conflict through a combination of empathy, sacrifice, and a reverence for nature, however the manga provides a world where there is no definitive resolution, with the world being just as hostile as it was in the beginning. Indeed, in the manga the distinction between the natural and artificial is far less clear, with the earth itself, its flora, its fauna, and humans themselves having already been fundamentally altered by the actions of those from the past. I personally, have always found myself alienated by artificial environments, whether it be the stifling atmosphere of the plane on which I first watched the film adaptation of Nausicaä, the monotony of the suburbs or the harsh lighting of a hospital. Initially, I ascribed this alienation to the artificial nature of these environments, believing that I instead desired a natural and pure world. I have since come to realise that this hatred was ill-conceived, as an existence without the constructed environments to which I am accustomed would be alien one. Planes physically connect us with others from around the world. Houses provide a quiet retreat from an increasingly complex world. Hospitals are sterile for the sake of our health. Although I may not love these constructed environments and realise that many improvements could be made, I can respect their purpose all the same and must learn to live with them.
Our world has been permanently altered and a return to a pure state of nature is impossible for both those in the world of Nausicaä, as well for those of us in the real world. Yet, we must learn to live within our imperfect world, even if our hearts desire utopia. Without the cold darkness of night it is impossible for us to appreciate the nourishing warmth of the day, just as it is impossible for us to truly appreciate the nature without the contrast of civilisation. Within these contrasts we may find meaning. Although our world is one of many imperfections it would be wrong for us to abandon it in pursuit of some false, pure utopia. Instead, we can learn from the mistakes of the past; seeking to better understand our world and then use this understanding to rectify past wrongs. Although the world may be imperfect and contaminated, we as people may grow all the better for it.
"No matter how difficult it is, we must live.”
Two and half years ago, while I was on a flight back home, I made the spontaneous decision to watch the film adaptation of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind with little knowledge of its contents aside from my prior experience with some of Miyazaki’s other films. Ever since I first watched the film it has held a particularly special place in my heart, and I’d probably consider it to be my favourite animated work by Miyazaki. Its environmentalist and anti-war themes are nothing groundbreaking, however, I was enchanted by the fungal post-apocalyptic world created by Miyazaki, with its insect-dominated ecosystem inspiring awe and wonder within me. I was also moved by the perspective of the titular character Nausicaä, as her unwavering love and empathy for Sea of Corruption and its denizens in the face of the sea’s hostile and uninhabitable nature. nature. So deep is Nausicaä’s love for and connection with nature that she is able to ‘see the wind’ itself, an ability that allows her to use a glider, a symbol of freedom in an increasingly mechanised and artificial world. In finding this freedom Nausicaä comes to embrace the uninhabitable fungal Sea, with her desire to understand that which is reviled by the rest of humanity serving as the means she prevents a new apocalypse, her love for the insects triumphing over her own will to survive. Ultimately, the film reaches a positive conclusion in which humanity learns to live alongside nature, with the Valley of the Wind’s residents’ mass-adoption of gliders during the credits sequence demonstrating their newly-heightened understanding of nature. I teared up when I finished the film and it was not lost on me that as I was ten thousand metres above the world in a sterile and cramped cabin, I was as disconnected from the world as one could possibly be. Aside from those within the cabin, I was separated from everything else; the world felt small; I could neither see the wind nor could I hear it.
Miyazaki's manga is far more expansive than his film adaptation, with the film roughly covering first two volumes of seven-volume manga; however, its ending was altered to provide the more positive and satisfying conclusion previously mentioned. Despite my love for the film adaptation, it’s evident that the manga’s extended period of creation (roughly fourteen years, with the film being released around two years into its creation) allowed for Miyazaki’s thoughts to mature. As a result of this, the manga takes a more nuanced perspective and renders certain characters near unrecognisable.
Despite fits of violence throughout the original film, Nausicaä is portrayed as being almost uniquely positive and is able to see the beauty in all things, whether it be the corrupt forest or the pure land of stone that resides beneath the Sea of Corruption, however, this is not the case within the manga. Despite maintaining her unfathomable love for humanity, the Sea of Corruption and the insects within it, Nausicaä slowly becomes disillusioned with humanity’s constant cycle of violence within the manga. Throughout the war between Torumekia and Dorok, Nausicaä constantly goes against traditional military wisdom and shows empathy for her enemies whether this be through her rescuing of orphans or through the release of enemy hostages. Despite the infectiousness of her compassion (which leads to significant character growth for both Kushana and Kurotawa which is absent in the film), she fails to end the cycle of violence and instead witnesses a nascent apocalypse that is only prevented through the sacrifice of the Sea of Corruption’s insects, who prevent a genetically-engineered slime-mould from rendering the earth uninhabitable. Witnessing the insects’ compassionate action, Nausicaä is overwhelmed and decides to die alongside the insects so as to become part of the Sea, however, against Nausicaä’s will the insects protect her, allowing her to live another day and confront the darkness inside herself. In confronting her inner darkness, Nausicaä reaches an enlightened state and becomes aware of the Sea of Corruption’s purpose as a reparative being and is granted a vision of an environment that has been fully restored to a pre-apocalyptic state.
The manga reframes the Sea of Corruption as a man-made object, rather than something that arose naturally as was the case in the film, intentionally bio-engineered as an autonomous tool that would restore the world to its prior, supposedly “pure”, state. Despite the idyllic scene envisioned Nausicaä rejects this vision, believing that if humanity in its current state were to discover this environment it would be rapidly destroyed. Soon after, the manga provides a critique of this seemingly pure land, with it being revealed that it is uninhabitable to the insects and contemporary humanity; it is a land only fit for those beings that existed before the apocalypse and fall of humanity. In this sense the restored forest represents an unattainable utopia, something that is not only physically harmful to humanity, but something that is corrosive to the human spirit.
This criticism of purity comes to a head in the manga’s final volume in which Nausicaä enters a crypt that holds the wisdom of civilisations past, including their technologies and their art. In interacting with the crypt-keeper it becomes evident to Nausicaä that the artificial crypt-keeper views the humans of Nausicaä’s world as lesser beings compared to those of the pre-apocalypse, as contemporary humans had been bio-engineered to become resistant to the Sea of Corruption. The crypt-keeper views Nausicaä’s world as a transitory period and is hence willing to sacrifice all current life to bring forth the pure utopia previously seen by Nausicaä. The crypt-keeper however, is ultimately deluded in its belief that this pure world would be one without conflict, as those unaltered humans are the ones who led to Nausicaä’s “impure” world. Nausicaä rejects this vision of a pure world and destroys the crypt, despite this necessitating the loss of all knowledge from the pre-apocalypse, and decries the crypt-keeper’s goal, saying “Because you were created as an artificial god of purity, you have become the ugliest creature of all, never knowing what it means to be alive!” Life by its very nature cannot be pure, as it does not exist in a vacuum. In this sense life is not light in and of itself, but rather “life is the light that shines in the darkness.”
This ending is far more ambiguous, and even somewhat pessimistic compared to that of the film adaptation, as Nausicaä’s rejection of pre-apocalyptic technology seemingly condemns humanity to extinction in the face of the Sea of Corruption’s relentless purification. In spite of this seemingly inevitable annihilation, Nausicaä finds hope, proclaiming that “if such a morning is to come, then we shall live to face that morning,” as “life survives by the power of life,” alone rather than by the graces of some higher being. From this, Miyazaki’s central thesis becomes evident, with the belief that “life is the light that shines in the darkness,” suggesting that our lives are contextualised and given meaning through our interaction with the negative aspects of the world. In the end, humanity is not necessarily doomed to extinction as Nausicaä’s rejection of the past demonstrates humanity’s ability to learn from the mistakes of the past, so as to move forwards and create a better, although still imperfect, future.
Miyazaki’s film adaptation found a simplistic answer in its resolution of conflict through a combination of empathy, sacrifice, and a reverence for nature, however the manga provides a world where there is no definitive resolution, with the world being just as hostile as it was in the beginning. Indeed, in the manga the distinction between the natural and artificial is far less clear, with the earth itself, its flora, its fauna, and humans themselves having already been fundamentally altered by the actions of those from the past. I personally, have always found myself alienated by artificial environments, whether it be the stifling atmosphere of the plane on which I first watched the film adaptation of Nausicaä, the monotony of the suburbs or the harsh lighting of a hospital. Initially, I ascribed this alienation to the artificial nature of these environments, believing that I instead desired a natural and pure world. I have since come to realise that this hatred was ill-conceived, as an existence without the constructed environments to which I am accustomed would be alien one. Planes physically connect us with others from around the world. Houses provide a quiet retreat from an increasingly complex world. Hospitals are sterile for the sake of our health. Although I may not love these constructed environments and realise that many improvements could be made, I can respect their purpose all the same and must learn to live with them.
Our world has been permanently altered and a return to a pure state of nature is impossible for both those in the world of Nausicaä, as well for those of us in the real world. Yet, we must learn to live within our imperfect world, even if our hearts desire utopia. Without the cold darkness of night it is impossible for us to appreciate the nourishing warmth of the day, just as it is impossible for us to truly appreciate the nature without the contrast of civilisation. Within these contrasts we may find meaning. Although our world is one of many imperfections it would be wrong for us to abandon it in pursuit of some false, pure utopia. Instead, we can learn from the mistakes of the past; seeking to better understand our world and then use this understanding to rectify past wrongs. Although the world may be imperfect and contaminated, we as people may grow all the better for it.
"No matter how difficult it is, we must live.”
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