Hayao Miyazaki's 1984 animated film stands as my personal favorite of his repertoire. While he typically gives us worlds that are whimsical and magical, touching for both children and the inner child in all of us, Nausicaä stands as the man's bleakest and most sobering universe imaginable. The film journeys far into the distant future, where war and pollution has transformed the Earth in frightening ways. It's a world overrun with giant insects, and toxic forests that spew lethal spores, all threatening to smudge out humanity. As for the human race, little has changed.
With this setting, the film offers up a sci-fi/fantasy adventure that is evenly thrilling and quite unique. Miyazaki's perilous world is filled up with fantastic airships and gliders, and characters swash-buckle their way through with swords and muskets. They confront warring kingdoms, sporting tanks and planes, in addition to gargantuan insects and other odd creatures. Once the plot picks up, the action and peril becomes enthralling, without getting overly bloody or brutal about anything. The film is rarely funny or lighthearted the way other Studio Ghibli films are, but when the bullets aren't flying and the airships aren't blasting each other away, the film does take its time to breathe, and let a certain sense of wonder permeate through the characters and settings.
In addition to having such a strongly-developed setting, the film has a quality story. The plot is well-structured, with many layers of problems and conflicts heaped on in a coherent manner, which ultimately leads to a profound climax. Above all, the film has a very strong pathos; I've always found it very easy to relate to princess Nausicaä, who stands as the single most sensible and moral character in the film. It's especially inspiring to watch her take the pacifist stand, always willing to be selfless and sacrifice herself for a greater good. These characteristics prove to be the best way to handle the bigger issues that the film harps on: themes of war and the desolation of the environment. The film's ultimate message seems to be that rage and destruction doesn't solve anything, whereas compassion and understanding facilitates the healing process. With such profound and inspiring themes at work, additional themes of rebirth emerge as well.
This is an older anime film, so it does look a little rough around the edges. A few scenes clearly use cheap tricks to create the illusions of movement or action. Regardless, the film still boasts some quality artwork, especially with the settings and military hardware. Designs for all the settings, characters, vehicles, props, costumes, and everything else are pretty decent. Voice-acting has its cheesy moments, but there's nothing I found particularly cringe-worthy. Music is pretty weird.
While the film's fantastic aerial battles and frenetic fights captivated me initially, it was the imaginative world and the compelling characters that gives this film a deeper heart and significance. Recommended!
5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect)
This film appears on my Top 100 Favorite Asian Films at #2, and my Top 100 Favorite Films at #18.
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