Review of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND: As far as I’ve seen, this is the most well-structured story by Hayao Miyazaki The storytelling in this film is the smoothest I’ve seen in Hayao Miyazaki’s works. The plot is actually developing in every sequence and is driving to a specific direction. It’s not like Hayao Miyazaki’s other works whose juices are the seemingly random everyday things that happen in the protagonist’s life. Nausicaa has a goal, and that is too stop the wars. The story is not just about her going around learning facts about life and herself, which seems to be a recurring technique in HayaoMiyazaki’s works.
It’s also very fast-paced, considering that ‘old’ films tend to be slow because the people back then have longer attention spans. You could just imagine how Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind could have been a rollercoaster ride for the people back then. Another thing that I like about the story is its complexity. It is not straightforward. There are subtle plot elements that create mystery. The best example of this is the giant warriors that have been said to cause the Seven Days of Fire. The inclusions of such plot elements make the viewers ask questions, attaching them to the story more.
The best thing about the story is its subtexts of environmentalism. The fact that it has been released before Princess Mononoke makes me assume that Princess Mononoke is actually based on it. But they are not entirely the same. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind has this post-apocalyptic yet medieval impression, while Princess Mononoke feels more of a sweeping epic. I could also see subtle similarities in characterization. Princess Kushana is strangely similar to Lady Eboshi -- good intentions, evil results. Asbel is also similar to San -- found and befriended in the woods.
Speaking of characters, Nausicaa is probably the most well-made character in all of Hayao Miyazaki’s works. She is very mature, and her actions are very admirable. Her value for humanity and nature is also very noble. What make her more believable are her flaws. She breaks down when her father dies. She loses hope and has self-doubts as well. She has the perfect balance of admirable traits and flawed traits -- just like a real human should be.
This is nothing technical, but just a personal matter. I really don’t like the music of this anime. It sounds like techno or dubstep to me. It doesn’t suit the story at all. It would have been better if it has featured Celtic or orchestral music. There are some orchestral tracks, and they’re good. But that just makes everything more confusing. The composer isn’t very consistent in his themes.
If there’s anything consistent in this film, that would be the incredible portrayal of its setting. The Toxic Jungles, the Valley of the Wind, and even the mere skies in the flying sequences, are brimming with imagination -- especially the jungles, with its mutated insects and natural sceneries.
Overall, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is an excellent Studio Ghibli film. (Yes, I still consider it a Studio Ghibli film even though it has been released prior to the creation of the studio.) The story is riveting, and that has been the result of good story outlining, planning, and structuring. What makes it more compelling is its underlying message. Again, this is just a personal note, but I think the concept of environmentalism has been portrayed better in this film than in Princess Mononoke. I’m not saying that Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is better. In fact, I find it hard to decide which is better. Both are fascinating in their own ways.