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Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind #1-4
Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind: Perfect Collection Boxed Set
Hayao Miyazaki was a budding filmmaker in 1982 when he agreed to collaborate on a project with the popular Japanese anime magazine Animage. This was Nausicaa, which would make Miyazaki's reputation as much as his 11 films and TV shows. Set in the far future, Nausicaa visualizes an Earth radically changed by ecological disaster. Strange human kingdoms survive at the edge of the Sea of Corruption, a poisonous fungal forest. Nausicaa, a gentle young princess, has a telepathic bond with the giant mutated insects of this dystopia. Her task is to negotiate peace between kingdoms battling over the last of the world's precious natural resources. Nausicaa took Miyazaki 12 years to create, in part because he worked with few or no assistants, doing both the writing and drawing using a meticulously detailed style that critics have compared to the work of the French artist Moebius.
1063 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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212 people want to read
About the author
Hayao Miyazaki
367 books3,513 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 36 reviews
December 4, 2013
Some works defy description and this is one of them. Nausicaa is Miyazaki's magnum opus, written over twelve years, the forerunner of all his themes and motifs, and maybe because it one of his earlier works, it reads with remarkable freshness.
So many things left me speechless here--the vastness of the world, the three-dimensionality of the characters, the ecological wonders, the fear, violence, introspection, and philosophical questionings. True, also, to Miyazaki's style, there are no easy black and white answers. Everyone in the cast is a little grey, even the heroine, Nausicaa herself, and to that end we find ourselves empathizing with the most unlikely people--conniving advisers, decaying emperors, wormhandlers, and god warriors. Miyazaki gives us numerous angles and later down the line, he even subverts his own ideas, all so we may better see the larger picture. And it is tremendous.
Perhaps a proper review will come later, but I don't think I will be able to do Nausicaa justice. This was simply, unquestionably, an incredible work.
So many things left me speechless here--the vastness of the world, the three-dimensionality of the characters, the ecological wonders, the fear, violence, introspection, and philosophical questionings. True, also, to Miyazaki's style, there are no easy black and white answers. Everyone in the cast is a little grey, even the heroine, Nausicaa herself, and to that end we find ourselves empathizing with the most unlikely people--conniving advisers, decaying emperors, wormhandlers, and god warriors. Miyazaki gives us numerous angles and later down the line, he even subverts his own ideas, all so we may better see the larger picture. And it is tremendous.
Perhaps a proper review will come later, but I don't think I will be able to do Nausicaa justice. This was simply, unquestionably, an incredible work.
August 2, 2011
As one of my all time favorite animes, I figured it was about time I read the manga version. Instead of reviewing all seven volumes individually, I decided to treat this series as a whole.
Story overview:
A gifted young woman named Nausicaä (Na u shi ka) lives in the distant future. The world has long since survived an apocalyptic massacre called the “Seven Days of Fire.” What’s left of modern civilization and technology consists mostly of a few aircrafts, dug up from deep within the earth.
The creatures that are left have been genetically altered, and a poisonous forest spreads across the land, killing mankind in its wake. As the princess of the Valley of the Wind, and the daughter of a man close to death, Nausicaä takes on the responsibility of representing her people.
Called into war under the Torumekian Empire, Nausicaä deviates from her path by seeking to rescue all life, regardless of ancestry, race, creed, or species. She is driven by her love and compassion, yet brings with her a terror and horror like none other.
My thoughts:
I was thrilled to find so much more to this story than what was in the anime. As stated on Wikipedia, “The tale depicted in the film roughly corresponds to only the first quarter of the manga.” It’s like taking your favorite chocolate bar and adding caramel to it, making it even better than before. As a manga, you do lose the illustrious colors and epic music that was in the anime, but if you use your imagination, you can easily put them back into the manga. If you like one (manga or anime), I strongly recommend you look into the other. My only complaint is that, after the finale, the story came to a quick end (I wanted it to close at a more leisurely pace). Overall: Strong, powerful story. Beautiful, brilliant. A+.
Things to consider:
There are no sexual situations or foul language, however there is very graphic and detailed action violence. It’s done in a way that does not glorify the violence. Rather, the story uses it as a strong anti-violence message: showing the bitter results of war and hatred as it really is. Because of this, I would caution some children and age rate this for teens and older. The protagonist is a girl, but I would equally recommend this for both boys and girls.
Opportunities for discussion:
The true heart of this tale is about anger and hatred, and the blindness and death that follows in its wake. Anger begets anger, destruction begets destruction, and violence begets violence. Yet there is one girl who stands against this. She takes no sides with quarrels and wars. She only takes the side of love, kindness, compassion, and sacrifice; turning enemies into friends and allies. It reminds me of the second greatest commandment. Mark 12:31 (NIV) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Why is this relevant? Because loving your neighbor fulfills all other commandments. If you love them, you won’t manipulate them, steal from them, or cause them harm. Ask your children when the last time it was they showed love in place of hate. If they say never, tell them it’s a feeling unlike any other, and suggest they try it the next time they find themselves in such a situation.
Story overview:
A gifted young woman named Nausicaä (Na u shi ka) lives in the distant future. The world has long since survived an apocalyptic massacre called the “Seven Days of Fire.” What’s left of modern civilization and technology consists mostly of a few aircrafts, dug up from deep within the earth.
The creatures that are left have been genetically altered, and a poisonous forest spreads across the land, killing mankind in its wake. As the princess of the Valley of the Wind, and the daughter of a man close to death, Nausicaä takes on the responsibility of representing her people.
Called into war under the Torumekian Empire, Nausicaä deviates from her path by seeking to rescue all life, regardless of ancestry, race, creed, or species. She is driven by her love and compassion, yet brings with her a terror and horror like none other.
My thoughts:
I was thrilled to find so much more to this story than what was in the anime. As stated on Wikipedia, “The tale depicted in the film roughly corresponds to only the first quarter of the manga.” It’s like taking your favorite chocolate bar and adding caramel to it, making it even better than before. As a manga, you do lose the illustrious colors and epic music that was in the anime, but if you use your imagination, you can easily put them back into the manga. If you like one (manga or anime), I strongly recommend you look into the other. My only complaint is that, after the finale, the story came to a quick end (I wanted it to close at a more leisurely pace). Overall: Strong, powerful story. Beautiful, brilliant. A+.
Things to consider:
There are no sexual situations or foul language, however there is very graphic and detailed action violence. It’s done in a way that does not glorify the violence. Rather, the story uses it as a strong anti-violence message: showing the bitter results of war and hatred as it really is. Because of this, I would caution some children and age rate this for teens and older. The protagonist is a girl, but I would equally recommend this for both boys and girls.
Opportunities for discussion:
The true heart of this tale is about anger and hatred, and the blindness and death that follows in its wake. Anger begets anger, destruction begets destruction, and violence begets violence. Yet there is one girl who stands against this. She takes no sides with quarrels and wars. She only takes the side of love, kindness, compassion, and sacrifice; turning enemies into friends and allies. It reminds me of the second greatest commandment. Mark 12:31 (NIV) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Why is this relevant? Because loving your neighbor fulfills all other commandments. If you love them, you won’t manipulate them, steal from them, or cause them harm. Ask your children when the last time it was they showed love in place of hate. If they say never, tell them it’s a feeling unlike any other, and suggest they try it the next time they find themselves in such a situation.
January 5, 2009
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is Miyazaki's masterpiece manga, a collection of comics, but it can accurately be called a graphic novel, more so than perhaps any other epic comic work.
First of all it is important to note that this story has been told in animé form in the film "Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind," released in the early eighties and available in the US. It's certainly a wonderful film, and what led me to the manga originally. The film follows similar lines to the written work, but obviously is much abridged for length and time constraints.
Fans of the film will not be disappointed, but I would encourage those unfamiliar with it to enjoy the novel too. As with all Miyazaki works, it concentrates on a strong young female character, in this case Nausicaa, and the plight of a world in pain from the stress that humanity has put upon it. It's epic and grand in the best sense of the word, and I won't dwell on the story too much as to not give away the journey. You do feel transported to the world of Nausicaa as you read, as in the best fantasy novels, and the story is conveyed through well-drawn frames and a good balance of action and dialogue. It reminds me in parts of Harry Potter, and I think children would enjoy the tale. I read all four volumes in perhaps three days, which surprised me.
The themes of warfare, human greed, and ecological disaster speak well, and Miyazaki shows us the future we are building for ourselves by following these paths. The only negative points I could find is that, towards the end, the number of characters can become overwhelming, and the dialogue is at times stilted and preachy. I think that may be more of a function of the mid-series change in translators, however, as the earliest frames seemed to flow better, while the later parts of the story were choppy and preachy.
First of all it is important to note that this story has been told in animé form in the film "Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind," released in the early eighties and available in the US. It's certainly a wonderful film, and what led me to the manga originally. The film follows similar lines to the written work, but obviously is much abridged for length and time constraints.
Fans of the film will not be disappointed, but I would encourage those unfamiliar with it to enjoy the novel too. As with all Miyazaki works, it concentrates on a strong young female character, in this case Nausicaa, and the plight of a world in pain from the stress that humanity has put upon it. It's epic and grand in the best sense of the word, and I won't dwell on the story too much as to not give away the journey. You do feel transported to the world of Nausicaa as you read, as in the best fantasy novels, and the story is conveyed through well-drawn frames and a good balance of action and dialogue. It reminds me in parts of Harry Potter, and I think children would enjoy the tale. I read all four volumes in perhaps three days, which surprised me.
The themes of warfare, human greed, and ecological disaster speak well, and Miyazaki shows us the future we are building for ourselves by following these paths. The only negative points I could find is that, towards the end, the number of characters can become overwhelming, and the dialogue is at times stilted and preachy. I think that may be more of a function of the mid-series change in translators, however, as the earliest frames seemed to flow better, while the later parts of the story were choppy and preachy.
August 30, 2007
There are those who say that 'The Watchmen' is the best graphic novel written. I'm not trying to pick a fight. Just trying to expand the definition...
I didn't cry at the end of Watchmen.
I didn't cry at the end of Watchmen.
September 30, 2019
I was fascinated by the profound story and artwork.
In contemporary terms, the grave is artificial intelligence, and Nausicaa and the new generation are genetically-modified humans. I was impressed by Miyazaki's insight into the future and where technology leads us.
Nausicaa is described as the chaos of destruction and mercy in the story, and she refutes the attempt of people from the past to create a world made up of something sweet and beautiful only, on the ground that such an act is a violation of dignity. Such a statement remains to be or has come to be highly relevant to the latest technology of genetic modification.
I like the hopeless ending very much.
In contemporary terms, the grave is artificial intelligence, and Nausicaa and the new generation are genetically-modified humans. I was impressed by Miyazaki's insight into the future and where technology leads us.
Nausicaa is described as the chaos of destruction and mercy in the story, and she refutes the attempt of people from the past to create a world made up of something sweet and beautiful only, on the ground that such an act is a violation of dignity. Such a statement remains to be or has come to be highly relevant to the latest technology of genetic modification.
I like the hopeless ending very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2024
absolutely incredible and honestly just perfect in every way. 10.
August 1, 2011
Miyazaki's epic series of graphic novels is terrific science fiction and fantasy storytelling. Set a thousand years after an apocalyptic event destroys civilization, Nausicaa is the story of a young princess of a small kingdom who gets caught up in a war between two great nations. Meanwhile, all of humanity is threatened by the encroaching Sea of Corruption, a toxic jungle filled with giant mutant insects. Over the course of the story, Princess Nausicaa is faced with choices that may save or doom all of humanity.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is my favorite graphic novel series. I have loved the character and her world ever since I was a little kid and watched the anime video "Warriors of the Wind," a tragically cut version of the story. It was my favorite animated movie. As I grew up, I learned that the actual movie was much longer, and important plot points had been cut. So I watched the full version and loved that even more. Then I learned that the anime only told part of the story, and the graphic novels went much further. So I read the novels, worried that the full story would somehow fail to measure up to the story I already knew. Instead, I was amazed. Though the story in the graphic novels is a little different in places than the animation, every deviance is for the better. The expansion of the mythic character of Princess Nausicaa, the truth behind the Sea of Corruption, the realization of the Dorok prophecy, and the final revelation of the God-Warrior are all told in such a wondrous way. I still appreciate the animated version of the story. (It remains my favorite animated movie of all time.) The graphic novelization is the full epic story, and a great one.
Princess Nausicaa is one of my favorite heroines in literature. She is actually more of a mythic than a realistic character, but her nobility and strength are evident in every page of her saga. I am fond of literary heroes who are on a messianic journey (such as Paul from Frank Herbert's Dune). The way the character changes the lives of everyone she encounters, even her enemies, is inspiring. And her actions at the end of the series are as emotionally powerful as they are mythic.
The world-building in the series is terrific. From the warring nations to the Sea of Corruption (the true nature of which is hidden until the last volume of the series), the world Miyazaki turns his passionate heroine loose in is beautifully realized. The art is absolutely gorgeous, and serves the story and the characters well. This is especially true of the fantastic mutant creatures, the denizens of the Sea of Corruption, and the terrifying God-Warrior.
I really love the direction the series ended up taking, particularly at the end. There were a couple of controversial plot points, but I loved them. The true nature of the Sea of Corruption was fascinating, and was just really good science fiction. And the humanistic turn the story takes is both appropriate and moving.
I think that Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind deserves to be experienced by anyone who is a fan of graphic storytelling. Epic themes of humanity's place in nature and great characterization combine into a story that is both a meaningful parable and a thrilling adventure.
Final Grade: A+
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is my favorite graphic novel series. I have loved the character and her world ever since I was a little kid and watched the anime video "Warriors of the Wind," a tragically cut version of the story. It was my favorite animated movie. As I grew up, I learned that the actual movie was much longer, and important plot points had been cut. So I watched the full version and loved that even more. Then I learned that the anime only told part of the story, and the graphic novels went much further. So I read the novels, worried that the full story would somehow fail to measure up to the story I already knew. Instead, I was amazed. Though the story in the graphic novels is a little different in places than the animation, every deviance is for the better. The expansion of the mythic character of Princess Nausicaa, the truth behind the Sea of Corruption, the realization of the Dorok prophecy, and the final revelation of the God-Warrior are all told in such a wondrous way. I still appreciate the animated version of the story. (It remains my favorite animated movie of all time.) The graphic novelization is the full epic story, and a great one.
Princess Nausicaa is one of my favorite heroines in literature. She is actually more of a mythic than a realistic character, but her nobility and strength are evident in every page of her saga. I am fond of literary heroes who are on a messianic journey (such as Paul from Frank Herbert's Dune). The way the character changes the lives of everyone she encounters, even her enemies, is inspiring. And her actions at the end of the series are as emotionally powerful as they are mythic.
The world-building in the series is terrific. From the warring nations to the Sea of Corruption (the true nature of which is hidden until the last volume of the series), the world Miyazaki turns his passionate heroine loose in is beautifully realized. The art is absolutely gorgeous, and serves the story and the characters well. This is especially true of the fantastic mutant creatures, the denizens of the Sea of Corruption, and the terrifying God-Warrior.
I really love the direction the series ended up taking, particularly at the end. There were a couple of controversial plot points, but I loved them. The true nature of the Sea of Corruption was fascinating, and was just really good science fiction. And the humanistic turn the story takes is both appropriate and moving.
I think that Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind deserves to be experienced by anyone who is a fan of graphic storytelling. Epic themes of humanity's place in nature and great characterization combine into a story that is both a meaningful parable and a thrilling adventure.
Final Grade: A+
November 18, 2008
in the time where the visual's interpretation limit the boundary of imagination absorbing from the experience of reading...Miyazaki made it the other way around...he simply showed that visual arts are vehicles to move the boundary of imagination to an even greater dimension...unlimited!
i love all of the creations and adaptations of Hayao Miyazaki, he is a genius...i collected all of the anime by studio Ghibli(now owned by Disney) because of Miyazaki sensei.
in the case of Hayao Miyazaki's creations i'm kinda obsessive i have to admit i compulsively hunt for every anime created by him and look for the manga/novel after watching the anime...and Nausicaa has been named as one of the best by him. (geee you must see Laputa 'the castle in the sky' or Zen to Chihiro 'spirited away', and howls moving castle won an award in the children movie in Venice and dont forget My Neighbor Totoro where the Ghibli adopted it's logo...i can go on and on about it and you'll get bored)
Miyazaki sensei, ganbatte kudasai...arigato!
(for complete summary of Miyazaki and his creations, pls visit nausicaa: www.nausicaa.net)
i love all of the creations and adaptations of Hayao Miyazaki, he is a genius...i collected all of the anime by studio Ghibli(now owned by Disney) because of Miyazaki sensei.
in the case of Hayao Miyazaki's creations i'm kinda obsessive i have to admit i compulsively hunt for every anime created by him and look for the manga/novel after watching the anime...and Nausicaa has been named as one of the best by him. (geee you must see Laputa 'the castle in the sky' or Zen to Chihiro 'spirited away', and howls moving castle won an award in the children movie in Venice and dont forget My Neighbor Totoro where the Ghibli adopted it's logo...i can go on and on about it and you'll get bored)
Miyazaki sensei, ganbatte kudasai...arigato!
(for complete summary of Miyazaki and his creations, pls visit nausicaa: www.nausicaa.net)
June 13, 2008
I really enjoy Miyazaki's film work like Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro, so when I heard he wrote a graphic novel (i.e. comic book for those worried how that sounds...) I wanted to read it. I wasn't disappointed at all. He wrote an epic story that inspired. The only hard part was that it was originally in Japanese, and they couldn't re-do where all the speech bubbles and frames are. It's in English, but you have to read it back to front, right to left. But once I got the hang of it, I didn't even notice it anymore.
I got the movie from the library, but didn't like it as much. I thought it was one of the poorer Miyazaki films, but maybe that's because I was hoping for it to be like the books, a dangerous hope to have.
I got the movie from the library, but didn't like it as much. I thought it was one of the poorer Miyazaki films, but maybe that's because I was hoping for it to be like the books, a dangerous hope to have.
July 3, 2010
A creative masterpiece. I think the subtext should be "the meaning of life". The story and characters are beautiful, and their common crescendo is laced with the deep, potent messages of the book. Some people have diluted the messages of this book down to cheesy pantheistic cliches, but I think that is an utter distortion; I advise them to recall the end of the book, and many of the revelations there. I would prefer not to give spoilers, but one example is the segment about, roughly "a seed ark is the ultimate demonstration of a contempt for life"; note presence of seed arks in our current world (we have a seed vault..), our legends (noah's ark), etc...
(this was the first graphic novel i read. the art is of course amazing, and, as in the movies, there are frequently many things in each frame beyond the main element (look for teto when nausicaa is speaking..))
(this was the first graphic novel i read. the art is of course amazing, and, as in the movies, there are frequently many things in each frame beyond the main element (look for teto when nausicaa is speaking..))
February 12, 2008
If you've only watched the movie you're missing out on a whole lot of wonderful Miyazaki story action. The movie covers the first quarter of the manga, roughly, with some bits from later on thrown in.
If you haven't seen the movie... far far in the future, giant insects, forests of mold engulfing a polluted planet, a savior arises to lead humanity away from extinction... fairly typical Miyazaki stuff: the strength of humanity, particularly the young; the beauty and fragility, but also strength of the earth; the necessity to respect the environment; the futility and brutality of war... I've considered writing an essay on Miyazaki's recurring themes, but I would imagine it's already been done.
If you haven't seen the movie... far far in the future, giant insects, forests of mold engulfing a polluted planet, a savior arises to lead humanity away from extinction... fairly typical Miyazaki stuff: the strength of humanity, particularly the young; the beauty and fragility, but also strength of the earth; the necessity to respect the environment; the futility and brutality of war... I've considered writing an essay on Miyazaki's recurring themes, but I would imagine it's already been done.
June 30, 2010
A must-read for fans of Miyazaki's movies. He started this dazzling epic at the beginning of his movie career and finished it 12 years later, when he was a master of modern animation.
It's easy to quibble with some aspects of this story - too much complexity without enough structure, characters mixed and matched beyond comprehensibility, drawings that are impossible to decipher (for this middle-aged Westerner, anyway), a story that echoes the same themes until they become cliches, to name a few problems. However, the overall effect is magnificent and brilliantly cinematic. The first two books did become fodder for the Nausicaa movie, but there is so much more here than in that version. How I would love to see a trimmed-down, animated take on the entire tale.
It's easy to quibble with some aspects of this story - too much complexity without enough structure, characters mixed and matched beyond comprehensibility, drawings that are impossible to decipher (for this middle-aged Westerner, anyway), a story that echoes the same themes until they become cliches, to name a few problems. However, the overall effect is magnificent and brilliantly cinematic. The first two books did become fodder for the Nausicaa movie, but there is so much more here than in that version. How I would love to see a trimmed-down, animated take on the entire tale.
February 5, 2013
Caution: a few spoilers ahead.
Such a great series! Miyazaki's heroine Nausicaa is amazing. It's set in a world that has been polluted by mankind. Humans live in fear of "the miasma", which as they inhale, kills them. Giant bugs roam forests of mold and miasma...Nausicaa lives in the Valley of the Wind, known for its Windriders. The novels follow her as she heads off to war. She is sidetracked by her connection to the Ohmu, giant beetle-like creatures that speak to her, and begin to tell her the secrets of her world. The books are filled with lots of other characters, tribes, religions. Like much of Miyazaki's work, it explores the impact that humans have on the natural world. I think this series explores his ideas in full- here he delves into his themes most deeply.
Such a great series! Miyazaki's heroine Nausicaa is amazing. It's set in a world that has been polluted by mankind. Humans live in fear of "the miasma", which as they inhale, kills them. Giant bugs roam forests of mold and miasma...Nausicaa lives in the Valley of the Wind, known for its Windriders. The novels follow her as she heads off to war. She is sidetracked by her connection to the Ohmu, giant beetle-like creatures that speak to her, and begin to tell her the secrets of her world. The books are filled with lots of other characters, tribes, religions. Like much of Miyazaki's work, it explores the impact that humans have on the natural world. I think this series explores his ideas in full- here he delves into his themes most deeply.
October 27, 2013
A masterpiece, and quite possibly the best sci-fi/fantasy work that I've read in my entire life (only Wolfe's first three books in the New Sun series, book two of the LotR trilogy, l'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, and Lewis' the Last Battle come anywhere near it). I've put off reading this work in its entirety for nearly a decade, but I'm so very glad that I waited so long to polish it off: the ending is unlike any that I've encountered before, and the final product is somehow superior to any one of Miyazaki's many wonderful films. It seems as though everything else he's done afterwards is simply a shadow of this, or a reflection on it.
May 26, 2008
Never thought too brightly about the world until after I read this. Although it's a graphic novel, don't be fooled by the childish themes. There's a darker side to this post-apocalyptic world. The heroine of the story is compassionate, maybe too compassionate, but she knows what she has to do. She is kind, but she will fight. Hypocritical? Yes, but so is everything else. This book taught me that the world can be changed by one person, and hope arrives even in a world where there sheds no light.
July 25, 2015
This was a really wonderful story, but as the page number accumulates so does the religious imagery. By the end I felt as if I had been slowly indoctrinated into a carefully orchestrated scheme to propagandize ecology through religious methodology. While I still enjoyed the story enormously, it ended up being a bit disappointing because so much of the narrative hinges on taking information completely on faith.
May 17, 2013
An awesome realisation of a future where the ecology is vastly different and humanity has adapted. But the more things change they more they stay the same. Nausicaa is one of the things that is not the same and challenged by the things that are.
It's got excellent characters and a detailed world and they both burst out from the pages of the book into your head.
Well recommended and very much more than the animated movie that was made a while ago.
It's got excellent characters and a detailed world and they both burst out from the pages of the book into your head.
Well recommended and very much more than the animated movie that was made a while ago.
November 23, 2011
A worthy masterpiece. The movie comes nowhere close, doesn't even finish the first volume. Fascinating world with complex politics (reminiscent of medieval Russia) and very complex characters, and makes a number of statements on several subjects *subtly and fitting cleanly into the story*. I actually got weepy a couple of times in the later volumes!
July 31, 2014
I read this series because the film of the same name is very difficult to find. I'm biased toward Miyazaki, and he's littered this manga with his narrative hallmarks -- the primacy of nature, the importance of minor characters, the redeemed villain(s), the real villain, and one major plot twist in the final hour. Each volume can be finished in an evening, and I highly recommend you take the time.
November 20, 2015
Life-changingly beautiful, morally complex action-adventure story about the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Its ultimate message of hope is all the more powerful in it's refusal to soften what's come before or lie about what's ahead.
It's been years since I last read this, and I'm still getting teary just thinking about it. Read it, okay?
It's been years since I last read this, and I'm still getting teary just thinking about it. Read it, okay?
August 19, 2008
This series is a beautiful work of visual art, a piece of brilliant story-telling, and a profound statement of the human condition, specifically, what a terrible impact we can have on the world and how we can come to terms with that and go on existing while coping with the reality.
August 16, 2008
Excellent storytelling, art, narrative, strong political views, nature, serious mystical happenings. This book has it all. It's Miyazaki at his finest, in my opinion. I've finally gotten a hold of all three volumes and I am very very pleased.
February 7, 2009
I've read this a few times and it is always great. Probably my favorite comic ever. I just recently watched the movie over again which reminded me of how great this is. I'm a big dork, did I forget to mention that?
September 15, 2011
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a sweeping, post-apocalyptic epic about political squabbles dwarfed by an environmental threat in a world of grey—even the sweet and self-sacrificing heroine has a dark side. An interesting read.
December 17, 2007
I watched the movie first, then read the manga. Although the movie is good, the manga is much better.
March 24, 2008
Oh Miyazaki, you are so awesome.
But wait, by destroying the crypt, aren't you condemning all people to die? Don't know what to think about that.
But wait, by destroying the crypt, aren't you condemning all people to die? Don't know what to think about that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2008
WAY more action in here than in the movie. I liked it.
May 7, 2009
Absolute classic. Timeless. Age or anything from techie department is irrevelent here.
April 1, 2010
theme of my life.
April 7, 2010
fantastic! the story was wonderful, the art amazing...nausicaa's depth of compassion was incredible!
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