#tolmekia

[alethianightsong]

The worldbuilding of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is so f*cking good and so casual.

A thousand years ago, there was a global nuclear war dubbed "The 7 Days of Fire" in which nuclear destruction covered the world and threw humanity back into the Iron Age. In present day, a toxic jungle covers most of the landmass with humans literally being marginalized and pushed to the edge of the map. Within the jungle lives giant peaceful insects that will violently defend their home, meaning if you chop down a tree, they will bulldoze your village in minutes. So it's either die slowly from the toxins in the jungle or die violently but quickly by insect stampede. The result is that humanity is endangered and live in isolated tribes ranging from pacifistic to militaristic. Our heroine Nausicaa lives in a Valley of the Wind where the constant air flow keeps the toxic jungle from seeding there. At the end of the 1st act, Nausicaa reveals that she's been growing plants from the toxic jungle in clean water & soil, rendering them safe for humans. This strongly implies that the Toxic Jungle was bioengineered to be a giant filtration system, cleansing the air, water, & soil of the pollution caused by radioactive fallout; the insects are meant to protect the plants so the jungle can do its job. The problem is that it's been 1,000 years, the jungle still isn't done, and humanity can't wait another century let alone millennium. The rest of humanity isn't fortunate enough to live in a valley of wind so they'll be killed by the encroaching jungle long before the jungle finishes its purification.

[mugbearerscorner]

Gonna be telling The Kids(tm) this was Malenia, Blade of Miquela.

[dulaman-na-farraige]

Tolmekians actually speak Polish with a German accent and no I won't elaborate

[glorifiedspacefiller]

Day 9 NOT THE CAT

[elodee]

HERMIT A DAY - DAY 11

PearlescentMoon x Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

For PearlescentMoon I picked Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind!

Nausicaä is my favourite Ghibli movie and is arguably one of the best solarpunk movies out there, so I thought that it would be a great match for Pearl with her solarpunk theme this season. I also once saw someone else drawing Pearl in a Ghibli style and it fit her so well that I wanted to do it too!

To learn more about Nausicaä and see my style references, continue below the cut!

(Like solarpunk, donating to Gamer's Outreach is cool and awesome)

Nausicaä is a Ghibli movie from the 1980s. It takes place in a future after a massive war that destroyed the ecosystem and created the Toxic Jungle, which has expanded to cover most of the world. The Jungle is deadly, full of poisonous air, spores that destroy crops, and monstrous bug creatures called the Ohm.

Nausicaä and her people live in the Valley of the Wind, which is naturally protected from airborne spores, and thus the spread of the Jungle, by the wind itself. However, the people of the Valley live in fear of attacks from the Ohm, which decimate entire villages and spread spores with their bodies.

The story follows Nausicaä, the princess of the Valley of the Wind, as she tries to learn about the Jungle to protect her people. When a cargo aircraft from the foreign kingdom of Tolmekia crashes into the Valley, Nausicaa finds herself thrown into a deadly conflict between her people, Tolmekia, and the Jungle itself.

The movie is beautiful with rich, interesting worldbuilding and an important environmental message. Nausicaä is often overshadowed in the English-speaking world by other Ghibli films, but it's seriously one of the coolest movies the studio has ever produced.

If you are a Ghibli fan and you haven't seen Nausicaä yet, you're genuinely missing out! Make sure you watch either the original Japanese version or the the 2005 redub though, as the first English dub is heavily edited and loses a lot of the story.

Style references:

Princess Nausicaä - I love her strong, rounded design. She looks like she gives good hugs.

The story of Nausicaä has a lot of solarpunk themes, but you can also see solarpunk influences in the design and lifestyle of the Valley.

I chose this cover as the reference for the title and background of my image because its the one that stuck with me the most. I think it's very pretty.

[dear0hans]

Harry of the Valley of the Wind

Crossover AU, where Harry is the young prince of the Valley of the Wind, and Voldemort is the Emperor of Tolmekia.

[godzillajuniorreborn]

Apparently, Miyazaki has mentioned that he plans on doing a sequel to Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

So, his final film would be a sequel to the first film Ghibli was ever associated with.

Also, it makes sense considering the original manga had so much material it didn't use like the Tolmekia-Dorok War, the Forest People, and the Crypt of Shuwa.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This film was very interesting but I actually did enjoy watching it. The overall plot was very unique and a bit odd, but the storyline was developed very well and it was pretty easy to comprehend what was going on the entire time. In the anime, Nausicaa tries to protect the Valley of the Wind and the Sea of Decay from Tolmekia and people who want to destroy the Sea of Decay. During her time trying to save the Sea of Decay, Nausicaa finds out something extremely important. The Earth is the reason the forest is poisonous, and when spores and other parts of the forest are taken out and grown in a safe environment, they are not toxic. It was thought that the poisonous forest was just filled with harmful spores and also home to the Ohmu, which are abnormally large insects. But the forest is actually cleaning out the environment and the Ohmu have a huge role in that, yet some people do not see it that way and still want to terminate it. The point of this anime is to represent how in the environment and nature, everything has its own role and it is important to leave animals and natural environments alone, instead of trying to alter them. Also, it shows how pollution and human damage to the environment is detrimental to nature and if it continues, the world will become a dangerous place. It is essential to preserve animals and plants that wildlife need in order to succeed and be healthy. I personally can not relate to this anime due to my lack of involvement in environmental issues and my lack of understanding. I was never really into nature or anything in that aspect, so I have a lack of knowledge regarding the whole situation. Overall, this anime was interesting but it was also entertaining, and I am happy I got the chance to watch it.

[matchachas-blog]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

It was nice to watch this film again as a 22 year-old because the first time I watched it was probably when I around 10 and therefore didn't remember much of it.

I have to say, I love Nausicaa. She is so strong and smart and most of all, kind to all living thngs. This tale revolves around the adventures of Nausicaa and the warring countries of Tolmekia and Pejite, as well as the Sea of Decay that produces toxic fumes and water and keeps on spreading.

It is clear of the man vs nature theme in this movie but there is also a man vs man theme. The Seven Days War can be seen as nuclear and biochemical weapons that humans have created and used, killing many. The Sea of Decay's large and unnatural insects can be seen as mutations that have occurred due to the harmful chemicals of nuclear and biochemical weapons.

Tolmekia and Pejite's fight over a Giant Warrior embryo can be seen as the stalemate of the Cold War, where instead of nuclear war it is the awakening of the embryo they are waiting for.

This movie shows that everyone loses in war, and that we will eventually not even have the time to be partaking in war once the time comes when nature will come to destroy us. It shows Nausicaa exemplifying being kind toward nature and protecting her village with her life being rewarded with being brought back to life.

In the end, we see a ray of hope shining down on a sapling that is growing in the pure space underneath the Sea of Decay. It was nice to see a movie that is hopeful for the future but does not leave out the realities of the actions of greed, violence, and search for power.

I also have to add on the I also love Joe Hisaishi, I especially liked the repeating motifs in the pieces in this movie.

[killdeercheer]

Studio Ghibli Reviews: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

I know I know this film was technically made before the founding of Studio Ghibli, but it's now currently sold under that umbrella so it also technically counts as a Ghibli film, so there.

Nausicaä started life as a serialized manga for the magazine Animage by Hayao Miyazaki himself and his involvement in the animated adaptation was only on the table if he could direct. Having just come off his first directing role on Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (a very fine action film I can't recommend enough), Nausicaä would prove particularly challenging for Miyazaki as he had barely moved his manga along story-wise. But, even so, the film was completed and went on to become an enormous Ohm-sized success, especially as the funds received helped found Miyazaki's own animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

Plot: Set in a post-apocalyptic future after a fabled "Seven Days of Fire" in which humans bioengineered giant-warriors who spewed nuclear weapons, the namesake Nausicaä is the princess of the peaceful and secluded Valley of the Wind. This is one of the last strongholds of human society, as the rest of the world is being consumed by a "toxic jungle" of poisonous sporophyte-plants and ferocious arthropods. The remaining nations frequently fight amongst each other, and one of these, Tolmekia, accidently crashes their ship into the Valley and reveals their acquisition of one of the long-dormant giant-warriors. Nausicaä must navigate the increasingly-bitter struggle between the Tolmekians (who desire to use the warrior to destroy the jungle and bring humanity back from the brink), the Pejites (another kingdom caught in the conflict with similar goals), her own kingdom (who just wishes to live in peace), and her pacifist, naturalist persona.

- this review will be mainly spoiler-free -

Right away, I will admit to being slightly biased in this review as this is my favorite of the Ghibli films (hence why I chose to discuss it first). It was also very influential as - while I had been aware of and seen several Studio Ghibli films - this was the one that really kickstarted my (almost excessive) interest in their output and history, having been entranced by their storytelling formulas, animation, themes, and complex characters. Nausicaä also hit a lot of chords with me, being a film with strong environmental themes that include a crucial lesson on the need for recognition of humans as a part of nature that must coexist with other organisms if they are to survive.

At its core, Nausicaä is a film about pacifism, and how ultimately fruitless violence is. It is the creation and use of enormous biological-weapons which destroys global human society and the environment; it is the conquering-practices of the Tolmekians which leads to the deaths of many of their people as well as their enemies; and so on. Nausicaä herself abhors violence, choosing instead to use nonviolent methods to achieve peaceful ends. However, even she is not immune, and in one scene (following an emotional reaction to the death of a family member) she proceeds to wipe out several soldiers, realizing "I didn't know my rage could drive me to kill." This action almost causes great troubles for the kingdom. I have my own complex thoughts on the meaning and effectiveness of nonviolent vs. violent methods in certain situations, but in the spirit of the themes which Miyazaki explores in his films and in the context of the plot, I feel that Nausicaä does a fair job at showing how unnecessary thoughtless violence can be.

Either way, the film presents a good textbook-example of how out-of-control wartime struggles are. The kingdoms of Tolmekia and Pejite are never shown, but based on the actions and comments of their citizens, these are communities starved for times of plenty and always at the mercy of a toxic jungle they wish would vanish. Contrast this with the Valley of the Wind, whose position by the windy sea prevents the spores of the jungle from spreading (hence their name), allowing the people to grow crops and survive with relative security even with the jungle on its doorstep. Throw these nations together and conflict could not be far behind, presenting an increasing dreadfulness that ends the film in a spectacular climax.

The cast of the film - like the majority of Studio Ghibli films - is full of wonderful characters. Nausicaä is a remarkable and charming hero; her passion for nature and for her people is admirable, and every time she flies on her glider (called a mehve in production material) I can't help but want to soar with her. Curiously, she seems to be the only lead-role in the film, with the rest of the cast coming in-and-out of the film at various times, only when they're needed. As much as I love these characters, the more I think about it, the more I realize that most lack the complexity of later Ghibli casts. Our antagonists, Princess Kushana of Tolmekia and her second-in-command Kurotowa, are more traditional villains for a Ghibli film, serving as conquerors leading a ruthless army and seeking their goals no matter what. Nausicaä's allies include Prince Asbel, a scrapping fly-boy whose main role is escorting her to Pejite and revealing his people's horrid plans for the Valley, and Uncle Mito, who helps Nausicaä return to the Valley following her journey. Lord Yupa is probably the highlight of the film, being a master swordsman who only uses his skills when necessary. But, for all intents-and-purposes, this is Nausicaä's story.

Commenting on the English dub for a moment (as this is how I know the film), I really love the voicework and casting choices. I adore Alison Lohman as Nausicaä, who brings a vibrant, youthful air to the character. Uma Thurman as Kushana, an actor who I know mainly from the PBS nature documentaries she narrates, plays a good villain with an air of prideful authority (almost a parallel to Nausicaä). Patrick Stewart is Yupa and, as always, kills the performance. Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf is Asbel, and I enjoy his role mainly due to my nostalgia (he would have finished filming Holes not long before the English dub was recorded). Chris Sarandon (Kurotowa) & Edward James Olmos (Mito), I also enjoy for their distinct voices that are absolutely perfect for their characters.

I could say much about the worldbuilding. The toxic jungle has the air of a haunted Carboniferous forest and though we only get to explore it twice in the film, it's enough to sell me on its mystery and danger. The arthropods (called insects in the film) are particularly fascinating, with the giant Ohm (a cross between a pill-bug, a grub, and a spider) taking center stage. They are implied to have highly complex cognition and I find they behave like African elephants, herding and caring for their young while communicating messages through non-verbal means. The other arthropod designs are mainly good, although some play a bit fast and loose with the anatomy for my tastes (for example, some have reptilian jaws). The rest of the planet, scarred by the Seven Days of Fire, is desolate and bleak, enough to make even the toxic jungle seem like a refuge. Of course, its important role in the story becomes apparent halfway through. The human settlements are curious as well, bearing a mix of modern and medieval elements that make for a neat combination.

Although it is not addressed in the film, according to the manga, the other animals in the film (including Teto, a "fox squirrel" companion to Nausicaä whose more like a small carnivoran, and Yupa's giant Gastornis-like riding-birds) are supposed to be genetically-engineered as well, but personally I prefer to see them as natural elements in the world of Nausicaä.

For a film that is over 2 hours long, I feel Nausicaä has very good set-up and pacing. The intro effortlessly establishes the situation of the world, including a beautiful sequence of medieval-mosaics where the backstory is laid out without words. Several scenes flesh out the characters and stakes without much explanation, which is excellent considering the English dubs often require characters practically telling the audience what's happening on screen. Even though there are some scenes that can drag on a bit, in terms of their contrast with the action scenes, they are a welcome reprieve. They are made all the better by the score, which is a delightfully weird mix of 80s synth and more typical orchestration. Joe Hisaishi is the legendary conductor for the Ghibli films and his main theme for Nausicaä is necessarily enchanting and grand for a film of this type. I always get goose-bumps listening to it.

Overall, everything in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is big. The scope of the world, the conflict, and the overarching themes. Every time I watch this film I get sucked into the story, which is a running theme with all the Ghibli films I've watched. But in terms of favorites, Nausicaä remains #1 in my book. It's a great film with an inspiring main-lead that paved the way for Studio Ghibli and many other projects by others around the world. You can't pass it up.

Speaking of books, for the record, I have read the original manga. It's excellent, a tour-de-force of literary storytelling... but, it does significantly detract from the story of the film to the point where they are two-different versions. Don't get me wrong, it does expand the world-building and add more characters, but I didn't care for some of the decisions made and the fates of some of the characters left me feeling down, so I do much prefer the film. But that's just me.

I hope y'all enjoyed this slighly-rambling review. I thought I'd try something new for a change and help bring my attention back to this tumblr blog. Expect more of these, for as long as my Studio Ghibli hyper-fixation keeps up XD

[plusultranumber1]

My Thoughts on Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

I thought that this film was pretty okay, it wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible. The heroism of Nausicaa and Lord Yupa definitely carried. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world a 1000 years after the collapse of industrial civilization, and the landscape has turned to a toxic jungle like The Last of Us, which spreads and threatens the survival of the human race. I thought the dynamics of the plot also held similarities to Dune. The film has a strong anti-war sentiment and is heavily focused on the dire ecological consequences of humanity’s pollution. The film features a young princess named Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and her struggle to protect her people and save humanity from certain extinction. Nausicaa is a protector of all life, and uses her strong connection to nature and her strong yet gentle disposition to save the day.

Nausicaa is portrayed as an idealistic strong female protagonist, as she is capable of overcoming insane tribulations while maintaining traditional femininity. She is a pacifist and nature conservationist at heart, and is willing to be the sacrificial lamb at any moment. While she is more than capable of fighting for her people, she becomes afraid of herself when her rage drives her to kill during the siege, and breaks down when she encounters others who are willing to wage war. This is meant to show the downside of the hegemonic masculine norm, and the harm of violence and warfare. Nausicaa represents a balance of a kind spirit who is willing to lay it all on the line for the righteous cause. Her selflessness and steadfast determination make her the ideal candidate as the prophesied savior, a metaphorical Christ-figure, who is meant to guide humanity back to purity. 

The film’s anti-war sentiment can be seen through the devastating effects of war on not only the planet, but also its inhabitants. The Kingdoms beyond the Valley of the Wind are torn by war and starvation, which have led them to become heartless conquerors and rulers. Despite Tolmekia coming in the name of peace, its true goals were much more nefarious, and its counterpart Pejite was no better. The nations have become infected with greed, and have lost sight of their shared humanity, much like the world of their past. The differences in ideology can also be seen in Princesses Kushana, a warmongering maniac who, despite being saved and shown mercy, continues on her destructive path. Nausicaa on the other hand is appalled at the justification of killing people for the good of the planet, and stands in defiance of solutions born of violence. 

The film’s stance on the protection of the ecosystem is evident throughout its runtime. While the people believe that the creatures which have come in response to rid humanity, the insects only serve to preserve the planet because of humanity’s failure in the past. Aside from Nausicaa and the Obaba, humanity believes that humans and insects cannot coexist, and the insects are meant to be exterminated despite having done nothing wrong.  Because of her belief that life is sacred, Nausicaa learns to make a connection with the creatures, and becomes the only one able to communicate with them. I found the scene towards the end of the film when Obaba gives up hope when she sees the stampede of Ohms as a symbol of the old generation who has given up trying to save the earth, while the Princess, representing the younger generation, has not yet given up. Ultimately, the Princess is rewarded for her efforts to save the Ohms, and is given new life, representative of nature giving humanity a chance to change its way in its rebirth. 

[lunacyn24]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This was an interesting watch. I had never heard of the movie, to be honest, but I saw that it was directed by Miyazaki, so I figured it had to be good and I wasn’t wrong. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind tells the story of a Princess named Nausicaa who is admired and cherished by everyone in her village. Everyone in this film lives in a world of toxicity. The people live in a constant state of fear because of the poisonous air that pollutes the air and the rage of the Ohm’s. But, Nausicaa knows how to read them and interpret them. She holds and symbolizes a lot of qualities cherished by the people, in which she is brave, kind, resourceful, and determined. This is further shown in Nausicaa's interaction with the villagers, they listen to her without a second's thought because of the love and trust they hold for her. We can tell throughout the course of the movie that Nausicaa cares for her people and her valley. She is truly one with the valley because of how attuned to the Ohm’s, the jungle, and the wind she is. When Nausicaa believes in something, her actions will further back up her words. In the film, I noticed that Nausicaa has both masculine and feminine characteristics. Some masculine characteristics and societal expectations that Nausicaa had would be the ability to fight, to “hunt” for the sake of the village, and the quickness to lead. Some stereotypical feminine characteristics she exudes would be the ability to soothe, to care, and look after. Nausicaa knows the insects and communication between them like the back of her hand and she constantly uses that knowledge to soothe, aid, and/or dissuade the insects of the valley from their rage. Nausicaa understands the severity of the Ohm’s and the other insects and constantly works to live in harmony with them because she understands that they only want to protect themselves and their home, just like she is. Humanity was also being called into question as we see these 3 nations, the Pejite, Tolmekia, and the Valley of the Wind, fight to survive. Fighting either amongst themselves, or in general, as they navigate their world of Ohm’s and the toxic jungle. The 3 nations represent either the culmination of society’s humanity.

[bluelockholytrinity-jpt1311]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was a great movie to watch as it depicts a major concern humans are facing right now in climate change and pollution.

One of the main themes of the film was environmentalism. The toxic forest and the Sea of Decay were caused by the "Seven days of fire." The film portrays a world in which humans have caused widespread destruction and devastation to the environment, leading to the emergence of a toxic jungle that threatens to consume all life on Earth. The film portrays the forest as a living entity that must be protected and respected rather than destroyed. This message is particularly relevant in today's world, where climate change and environmental degradation are major concerns. The film is a warning about the dangers of environmental destruction and the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.

The movie also showcased the leadership and responsibility that Nausicaa had to attain in order to keep her village and environment. After her dad was killed by the Tolmekian army, she embraced the responsibility, unlike Shinji from the last anime we watched. She is brave and never hesitates to do the right thing to achieve the goal of protecting her village and environment. She is also very empathetic towards nature. She tried to see the world through their eyes and understand their pain and suffering. Through her understanding of nature and the insect, she was able to build a bridge between the insects, the kingdom of Tolmekia, and the kingdom of Pejite.

Overall, this movie was a great watch. I would recommend it to anyone who watches anime or don't. This movie provides some special messages that we all could incorporate into our lives, like trying to protect the earth instead of trying to destroy it. I rate this movie at a 9.5/10.

[dulaman-na-farraige]

What if we kissed in front of the flag of Tolmekia 😳🙈

It's been more than one year since I'd first drawn them together. It's insane how much their designs in my style changed since then. I've decided to change their color pallettes because there are a lot of references to South Asia in the worldbuilding and the designs but everyone is strangely white and this might have been the best decision in my life

[brooklynbutterflyarts]

Nausicaä Anime Poster Framed NAUSICCA , SHARP SUPER HD PRINT. Highest quality framing Molding:Professional 1" Flat Black (solid Maple-wood) Includes glass and metal wire installed. Comes ready for hanging on your wall. Print: Bonded & Dry-mounted Print on Foam Core. Perfectly flat and smooth finish High Resolution and Quality Full Color Poster Print Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Japanese: 風の谷のナウシカ, Hepburn: Kaze no Tani no Naushika) is a 1984 Japanese post-apocalyptic anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on his 1982 manga. It was animated by Topcraft for Tokuma Shoten and Hakuhodo, and distributed by the Toei Company. Joe Hisaishi, in his first collaboration with Miyazaki, composed the score. The film stars the voices of Sumi Shimamoto, Gorō Naya, Yōji Matsuda, Yoshiko Sakakibara and Iemasa Kayumi.[1] Taking place in a post-nuclear futuristic world, the film tells the story of Nausicaä (Shimamoto), the young teenage princess of the Valley of the Wind. She becomes embroiled in a struggle with Tolmekia, a kingdom that tries to use an ancient weapon to eradicate a jungle full of giant mutant insects. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was released in Japan on 11 March 1984 The prints are bonded to foam core on a hot vacuum press. This bonding gives the print a perfect flat and smooth texture. This process also insures the print will never fold or fade with age or moisture. This wonderful display makes a thoughtful and original gift containing a classic vintage touch yet modern design, allowing it to fit alongside both modern and classic decor. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE. ALL OF MY DELICATE ITEMS ARE SHIPPED WITH A SPECIAL 3 LAYER PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR A GUARANTEED SAFE ARRIVAL..

[ein-datadog]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: War and Environmentalism

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a film I have seen before, but like Spirited Away, I had not analyzed it effectively until now. The story follows a princess named Nausicaä, who acts as a peacemaker between two warring countries and between humanity and nature in a post-apocalyptic world. Using two conflicts, one between countries and the other between species, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind provides its audience with two messages.

Nausicaä was made during the Cold War, so it may be more than a coincidence that the story resembles this event. The film presents a conflict between two kingdoms, Pejite and Tolmekia, who both have very powerful militaries and seek an ultimate weapon of mass destruction: the ancient God Warrior. This has obvious parallels to the dynamic between the United States and the Soviet Union, who were both armed with nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Nausicaä uses this conflict to promote an anti-war message by showing how devastating war can be to both humans and the environment.

Before the Tolmekia invade the valley, there is an obvious conflict between the insects/environment and the humans. A global war, the Seven Days of Fire, destroyed the environment. Now, humans must wear masks, because toxins in the soil have made all the plants poisonous to humans. The insects, as we learn later in the film, have become the earth’s only guardians, which is why they are defensive against the destructive humans. Due to these circumstances, I also believe Nausicaä has an environmentalist message.

Nausicaä also promotes the idea that the environment is much more powerful than any war. In the film, the Sea of Decay is depicted as the earth’s greatest power. It threatens the entire human species, while cleansing the earth simultaneously. This shows that the earth does not rely on humanity in any way, but all ecosystems must rely on it. Additionally, the toxins produced by the earth kill the God Warrior in seconds, proving how much stronger it is than even humanity’s greatest weapons. Showing how massive the power of the earth is while the countries battle demonstrates how insignificant human conflicts are in comparison to the greatness of the earth.

Serving as the mediator between each of these conflicts is Nausicaä, who acts as a messiah-like divine deliverer for humanity. There is an obvious religious essence to Nausicaä, because she fulfills the prophecy that a savior will deliver humanity from destruction. Although humans believed their prophetic savior would deliver them from the Sea of Decay, Nausicaä actually ends up delivering them from themselves. Therefore, she can be viewed as a Christ-like figure in many ways, especially since she often sacrifices herself for her people in pursuit of their salvation and she is often told she is the only one who can save them. In fact, she even takes bullets as she poses like a crucifix on her glider.

Giving Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind a second watch has certainly been eye-opening for me. When I first watched this film, I was incredibly confused, but now I feel like I have some sort of understanding of its themes. Although the animation isn’t of the same caliber as its proceeding Miyazaki films, Nausicaä is definitely an underrated film that deserves more attention.