What do you think?
Rate this book
Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind #2
Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind, Vol. 2
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.P
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 1995
7 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Hayao Miyazaki
369 books3,511 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 2, 2023
What can I say? Sublime.... Love this series its such a comfort for me. I love rereading it. 5/5 stars
May 23, 2021
Manga + Ecology = GREAT!
November 18, 2010
... action sequences are frequently confusing, especially for a reader accustomed to the visual clarity/velocity of Xaime or Chris Ware. The eye gets lost in a blizzard of hatching; explosions, trees, machinery, and giant insect exoskeletons are all rendered with the same chaotic level of detail. Mikazaki infuses the Torumekian/Dorok war with a feeling of vastness; plot complexity, cutting back and forth between remote locales, and continuous introduction of new characters (with little explanation) ensured some amount of flipping back to earlier pages. It reminds me of Dune, but I'm missing some basic emotional connection with Nausicaa that I wasn't missing with Paul Atreides, which is a little weird considering I remember Paul Atreides as somewhat robotic.
March 2, 2020
Hmmm. This is a great story. I am not about to go over plot points, that's what Wikipedia is for. Rather I am going to talk about a particular trope in youth literature. The one part that is sticking in my eye but I feel by the end of the series that it will resolve a bit better.
There is a tendency to make an ordinary child find out what makes them extraordinary. Sometimes, it is that their parents aren't their real parents or that they are exceptional beyond ordinary standards. As a kid, of course, there are moments when you want to believe so badly that your world isn't going to just be all office jobs and boredom.
I was lucky, in that, my future was going to be working in the bush or at the local grocery store. I rose up to work in an office building in a big city. Haha. Maybe it is this that makes me bristle at giving the idea of a life less ordinary. Isn't this the stuff of literature? Moving someone beyond their daily circumstances or at least to find a deeper meaning?
Regardless, everything else that most say about this book are true. It would be deserving of all sorts of accolades. So much so, that I may search out the film.
There is a tendency to make an ordinary child find out what makes them extraordinary. Sometimes, it is that their parents aren't their real parents or that they are exceptional beyond ordinary standards. As a kid, of course, there are moments when you want to believe so badly that your world isn't going to just be all office jobs and boredom.
I was lucky, in that, my future was going to be working in the bush or at the local grocery store. I rose up to work in an office building in a big city. Haha. Maybe it is this that makes me bristle at giving the idea of a life less ordinary. Isn't this the stuff of literature? Moving someone beyond their daily circumstances or at least to find a deeper meaning?
Regardless, everything else that most say about this book are true. It would be deserving of all sorts of accolades. So much so, that I may search out the film.
November 27, 2019
С одной стороны, сюжетная линия захватывает, как в части взаимодействия между разнообразными фракциями, так в части личных историй персонажей. Щепотка мистических предсказаний и предзнаменований, щедрая горсть намеков на запрятанные технологии прошлого и реорганизацию материи с целью очищения отравленной экосистемы – тоже волшебно. Но рисунок остается непростым для восприятия: жмутся друг к другу фреймы, сплошная мешанина вместо экшна, персонажей различить сложно (до того момента, как к ним не обратятся по имени). А еще – никогда не думала, что буду жаловаться на обилие текста, но это именно тот случай :с Меня несколько раз укатывало в сон от многостраничных переговоров дороков и прочих персонажей. К сожалению, интерес к длинным разъяснениям так и не появился, особенно при наличии плотного заполнения каждой страницы. Кажется, 300 страниц книги можно было бы смело сократить вполовину, не потеряв при этом в сюжетном и эмоциональном наполнении. Читаем дальше)
hisashiburi
hisashiburi
February 25, 2023
While I do understand the appeal of Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind, I found myself struggling to get through this book. The story is quite action-heavy and involves a flurry of confusing panels that are squished together and have an excess of hatching and shading that started to get a bit too numbing. There is intricate detail to pore over which is nice, but perhaps a little too bountiful for my tastes. The story itself does bring a lot of imagination to the forefront, and perhaps as I digest this a bit further it'll be what I take away a bit more moving forward.
September 30, 2022
excellent storytelling and character development - left me wanting to read more
Read
July 11, 2024So far it's slowly turning into dune
September 14, 2025
The story of Nausicaä’s world keeps storming forward with violent speed and attention-grabbing detail, but with noticeably less of her in this volume.
October 6, 2025
Even better than the last
January 2, 2024
I made the poor choice of reading this book series on vacation (in Las Vegas!) and could hardly bring myself to leave the room. I just wanted to see what happened next. It's all at once completely heart-warming and totally heart-breaking. Nausicaa is the princess I want to be. 5/5
August 20, 2011
This volume of Nausicaä started horribly. Very confusing drawn out battle scenes. Then it followed that up with totally confusing and political dialogue.There seems to be so many faction in this story, I have no idea what's going on. Nausicaä herself seems to have turned into a little Messiah and we now only get glimpses of the sweet character we were introduced to originally. The volume does finish off with a bit more focus and less confusion, but I'm still not sure I'll bother with reading the last two volumes.
February 4, 2012
Again, I can't say enough good things about this. It's one of those books where I want to read it as fast as I can, and also want to savor every part.
One of the best things about this story is how great all the characters are. Really, all of them. You start out hating some of them and then come to really like them, or you keep hating them but really like to hate them.
It's hard to really comment on these individual volumes as stand-alone works, because they're juts a fairly random chunk of the larger story, but there's some great stuff in here. Great battles...
One of the best things about this story is how great all the characters are. Really, all of them. You start out hating some of them and then come to really like them, or you keep hating them but really like to hate them.
It's hard to really comment on these individual volumes as stand-alone works, because they're juts a fairly random chunk of the larger story, but there's some great stuff in here. Great battles...
September 18, 2008
This story is truly fantastic. Each volume gets sweeter and sweeter. The previous edition I have been reading was maybe the original English publication (I can't find a photo of the covers I have online). This "Perfect Collection" breaks up the story differently and has much more defined inking. I think I will finish the series with this collection if I can.
November 16, 2012
...because the only thing cooler than sandworms are skyworms.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews