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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

1984
Drama, Sci-fi
1h 57m
Warrior/pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet. (imdb)
Your probable score
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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

1984
Drama, Sci-fi
1h 57m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 71.07% from 4060 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(4060)
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Rated 10 Sep 2008
89
88th
A strong spiritual precursor to the only somewhat superior Mononoke-hime. Even with less polished animation (at least compared to later Ghibli works) the exuberance in tone, masterful adventure plotting - bordering on the legendary, and the inventiveness of the visual design comes together to create some pretty glorious filmmaking. It's too bad the music has aged so poorly.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
92
98th
Awe inspiring animated feature that is right up there Miyazaki's best. Its amazing to think how old it is, and how it compares to what Disney were making at the same time, and just how far ahead of Disney Miyazaki was. A compelling plot and great action are beautifully envisioned by some frankly sensational design and animation. Gorgeous.
Rated 25 Apr 2011
90
95th
Every bit as good as Mononoke. By being less deliberate and calculating, it feels more magical and genuine than Mononoke.
Rated 05 Sep 2016
77
72nd
While the story was appealing to my 'why can't we all get along' hippie-sensibilities and Nausicaä is a respectable and badass protagonist, as a whole it feels a bit too incomplete and rushed to be really satisfying. Also, a surprisingly large amount of death in this, which makes the tone a bit uneven as some characters we're supposed to sympathise with have a lot of blood on their hands. Still, I enjoyed both the spectacle and the creature designs, and its two hour runtime went by fast.
Rated 11 Mar 2012
98
98th
This is in my top two from Hayao Miyazaki. I think Nausicaä is one of his best developed characters and one of his most likable. You understand her motives and exactly where she is coming from I'm every situation. I also think it's refreshing to see a Miyazaki movie with no love interest for once. This world is amazing, from the creatures to the factions to the lore to the animation and tears I usually end up shedding... There's just something about. Stop what you're doing go watch it.
Rated 26 Dec 2012
9
92nd
Outstanding in nearly every way. Melts my heart to see such a well-done 'anti-violence/ environmentalist' morality wrapped up in such a strong heroine. And some surprisingly good voice-acting from the English dub too!
Rated 15 Dec 2006
77
60th
This early Miyazaki is remarkably similar to his masterpiece, Princess Mononoke... so naturally, I loved it. It's not quite the same level of quality, but the spirit is there in full. Charming, moving, and exciting.
Rated 09 Feb 2007
2
21st
Primitive, and I'm not referring to the animation. The inventive visual schemes are the only highlight of this film's environmental kitsch, a noble theme inanely rendered with blunt exposition and descriptive dialogue. A prime example of the lesson "show, don't tell." Apparently can't be discussed without also mentioning Princess Mononoke, the later, near-perfect refinement of this film's essential concerns.
Rated 20 Feb 2007
85
89th
Touching, brilliant, one of Hayao Miyazaki's greatest masterpieces.
Rated 19 Nov 2007
43
31st
I used to think Princess Mononoke was bad, but I learned to appreciate it more after watching this. Apart from having more advanced animation, Mononoke's environmentalism was subtler, not nearly as blunt as that of Nausicaa. Miyazaki is at his least distinctive here, muffling what little imagination he displays with a crap load of kitsch. I recommend skipping this and starting out with My Neighbor Totoro. The music is good, though.
Rated 15 Nov 2009
9
76th
There are but minor inconsistencies and problems that prevent this from being flawless. Regardless, before you compare it to Princess Mononoke, remember it came more than 10 years before and for those who think this film loses merit for being 'environmental', go watch FernGully: The Last Rainforest and come back and change your score!
Rated 26 Jun 2010
81
86th
Even though Miyazaka was able to step up in his later films, in Nausicaä he is already able to create the charm and epic feeling that make his films so good. The strong female lead, the compelling story and simply the joy I feel watching Miyazaki's creations make it worth watching.
Rated 02 Mar 2013
99
99th
Easily one of the best audiovisual experiences ever created. I pity on those that fail to recognize the timeless brilliance of this cartoon. The penetrating power of its impressionistic images far surpasses anything that could be filmed with a camera, while the score is one of Hisaishi's best. First time I though it was a guilty pleasure. Second time, I concluded it was easily the best science fiction movie ever made.
Rated 08 Feb 2015
90
92nd
This is one of the most underrated of the Studio Ghibli oeuvre. The world-building here is both so remarkably thorough and clear, that by half an hour in, you feel like you've lived in this fantastical world long enough to be intimately familiar with it, despite its strangeness and uniqueness. Also - I LOVE Nausicaä as a character. Talk about a strong female lead with agency - Nausicaä is straight-up overpowered and I *love* it.
Rated 02 May 2023
75
79th
Treat your mollusks well.
Rated 04 Jun 2007
92
96th
Would've rated it 99 if I hadn't read the manga, but the film loses some of its appeal once you find out how much more there is to the story.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
79th
Starts slowly, gets better.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
78th
A beautiful movie about harmony with nature and its alternative - a war we could never win.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
79
71st
(A warning to the fans of the manga. This movie is about 30% of what the manga is. Still great, but VERY different) Miyazaki set a VERY high standard for himself early on in his career. Both this, and Lupin: The Castle of Cagliostro (which is conspicuous by it's absense on this site) were early landmarks for Hayao. A phenomenal Cautionary environmental tale (which shows up in a lot of his later work as well) with stunning animation.
Rated 18 Apr 2009
80
89th
R-E-C-Y-C-L-E, recycle! C-O-N-S-E-R-V-E, conserve! Don't P-O-L-L-U-T-E the ocean, river sky or sea or else you're gonna get... what you deserve!
Rated 27 Apr 2009
87
89th
Truly a classic and a must see for any anime fans. And if you're not an anime fan, stop being an asshat and give one a try every now and then.
Rated 04 Jun 2009
90
97th
Miyazaki is a genius. I'm incapable of describing the joy I feel just to see the manga brought to life and in color. Superb!
Rated 06 Jul 2009
4
70th
With the benefit of hindsight it feels like a dry run for Mononoke in the same way that Kagemusha was for Ran, but what a movie besides.
Rated 02 Nov 2009
10
98th
I first saw this film as the 80's re-dub Warriors of the Wind, aged 4, and loved it. I then saw the more recent dubbing, and it blew me away. It is to my mind simply the greatest film ever made. Beautiful set and character design, fantastic animation and a compelling plot told with all the inventiveness that Miyazaki can muster. Genius.
Rated 17 May 2010
90
97th
Technically it isn't the best Miyazaki work. Ponyo's animation is light years ahead, Mononoke has better pacing, and Spirited Away or Porco Rosso are more unique. What Nausicaa has is, for the lack of a better word, magic. It is hard for me to justify why I like Nausicaa more than those other movies, but it's just got its own charm.
Rated 27 Jun 2010
83
67th
Miyazaki clearly isn't yet the master of storytelling he later becomes, but his spirit and imagination are here. Very fun, and with a neat message. What's with the videogame-esque music for the action sequences, though? Was really distracting.
Rated 06 Jul 2010
63
61st
In retrospect, obvious warm-up for the masterpiece that is Princess Mononoke.
Rated 02 Aug 2010
80
78th
Some aspects of how this post-apocalyptic world came to be were not sufficiently tackled (perhaps it was in the manga) making the story slightly unconvincing but what Miyazaki has achieved far outweighs the flaws of this compelling and wildly imaginative film. Nausicaa imparts a profound environmental message in the master animator's usual visual flair without being preachy. Admittedly, it's not as good as some of Miyazaki's later works but for its time, it's animated filmmaking at its best.
Rated 02 Jun 2011
80
84th
Very good indeed. Full of the charm and creativity which is ever present in Miyazaki animations, although it perhaps doesn't quite hit the heights of some of his other work.
Rated 24 Jul 2011
94
94th
One of the best examples of why Miyazaki is so beloved, Nausicaa has a surprisingly deep, touching narrative filled with characters that instantly endear themselves to the audience mixed with absolutely stunning animation that still holds up almost thirty years later. It's a gripping, powerful film that has more in common with the best of Western adult fantasy than it does our traditional children's animation. An absolute treat;absolutely do not miss.
Rated 27 Jul 2011
60
51st
Unbalanced, dark, very strange and very slow. Like a rehearsal version of Princess Mononoke.
Rated 28 Nov 2011
75
42nd
Has a very good story and an interesting world, but you get the feeling that you're missing a lot of details from the source material. The animation isn't as good as other Miyazaki films, though it is adapted from a manga and comes before Studio Ghibli even existed. With all that in mind, it's the usual fun adventure you can expect from Miyazaki. Also includes some odd musical choices.
Rated 19 Jan 2012
60
43rd
Being an early Hayao Miyazaki anime film, it's understandably not as sophisticated or magical as his later films. At least, that's how I felt about it. It didn't have the lovable and interesting characters of his other films, I thought. It did have common themes of his though and they were done fairly well. Also, the obvious 80s music was a bit distracting and didn't seem to fit.
Rated 28 Feb 2012
30
13th
I'm writing my opinion of this movie. I'm writing the opinion using a keyboard. The reason I use a keyboard to write my opinion of this movie is because I appreciate the comunication of different beings. But it's still dangerous, if I didn't use a keyboard I would die in 5 minutes. I see a light. I'm going to the light. I'm walking. I'm describing any single shit I do because I consider my audience stupid enough to don't understand visual storytelling. I'm bored. Oh, and Peace and Love.
Rated 27 Jun 2013
90
79th
I want a squirrel-Lemur.
Rated 24 Aug 2013
86
87th
The film bears many scars of its low-budget production: limited animation that befits an anime TV series of the time, a score that alternates between beautiful classical compositions and jarring, cheap-sounding synth pieces, and a script that leans towards the overtly exclamatory/expository. Despite these issues the core idea and execution contain such raw imaginative force that the film has a great power and beauty to it; a real 'gem in the rough.'
Rated 27 Sep 2013
75
60th
World Wildlife Foundation-endorsed post-apocalyptic eco-sci fi story from the highly imaginative mind of Miyazaki with sound design reminiscent of 16-bit RPGs. Though the universe is richly textured and inhabitated by intersting creatures, it drags a bit in some places though others are action packed, and somehow the story didn't captivate me in the same way Mononoke did.
Rated 10 Jan 2014
9
98th
My first viewing I got a little lost in the sheer density of all the backstory, history, mythology and geography coming at me, though I did enjoy the broad strokes of the visual and emotional journey. My second viewing I more fully absorbed everything and concluded that this is a terrific, rich, thoughtful and hugely ambitious fantasy adventure film. Certainly wildly ahead of its time in '84, when Disney was contemporaneously putting out The Rescuers. (Also, I enjoy the 80s-tastic music.)
Rated 22 Aug 2014
90
90th
The first Miyazaki movie to give generations the feels. I may be disagreed with but i totally feel that this is the better Princess Mononoke. The story is very similar, yet the characters and voice actors are far more interesting. This is a great Miyazaki movie, and I cannot wait to indulge in more.
Rated 10 Jul 2015
80
37th
A remarkable animated epic that tells a far more ambitious story than most of the animated movies I've seen. It's gorgeous and I LOVE the music, though I can't say I was as absorbed in it as I should have been, and the message is a little too on-the-nose for me.
Rated 06 Sep 2015
90
90th
I can't believe this was released in 1984. The animation is gorgeous and the story is so heart-warming. I loved it!
Rated 31 May 2016
77
72nd
The epic story feels rushed & ill structured and the tone is quite awkward at balancing harsh conflict & sentimentality. It's a heroic effort though & the spellbinding visuals manage to engage and draw you into the eco-mythical spectacle. Miyazaki isn't great at handling complex plots & I do wish he'd tone it down a bit but as a craftsman & artist he is full of vision, creativity, heart, intelligence and grace. I adore the hand-drawn look to small pieces. Had potential to be a real masterpiece.
Rated 15 Jul 2016
90
96th
A talented English voice cast, incredible creativity, and a fascinating story overwhelmingly compensate for the 80s soundtrack which, being a victim of the times, is less a fault than a quirk. A brilliant film.
Rated 27 Aug 2017
50
43rd
While self-consciously trying to avoid setting up characters as good or evil, the narrative is ultimately still too mechanical and unsubtle. Ecological concerns and rudiments of animism in this case prove insufficient to avoid the theological conventionality that frequently attends sacrifice myths of this kind.
Rated 02 Oct 2017
82
91st
Awesome sci-fi fantasy epic animation. Some really beautiful scenes and an amazing imaginative world that is portrayed here. Really good.
Rated 29 Mar 2018
89
97th
Nausicäa is the prototypical Ghibli heroine: fierce, sweet, gentle, selfless and extremely competent. The setting is epic, with many awe-inspiring moments. I would bet that this was a heavy inspiration for the designers of the Final Fantasy series. Sure, animation and music maybe aren't at the studio's later level yet, but that is easily forgiven.
Rated 19 Aug 2018
90
91st
For the most part the music is great but there was a time or two that I found it a little strange. And that's my only criticism of this. The animation, message, plot, voice acting… all wonderful. It's magical, adult in nature, gives us a message that still matters today, never boring, has some emotional depth, cool art design. Just a fantastic early Miyazaki film.
Rated 24 Jul 2020
10
98th
Crossing bleak deserts, cozy windswept valleys, and brooding dark forests is this grand fantasy war epic and mystical 80s eco-sci-fi all in one, led by the best hero I've ever seen in cinema; gimme Nausicaä flying in the face of danger with her arms outstretched over ____man any damn day. Beautifully designed (in sound and picture) and written with poignancy (the pacifist/environmentalist messages are occasionally heavy-handed but always powerful) and nuance (see the lack of clear villains).
Rated 08 Jan 2007
97
97th
Forshadows the greatness to come from this master filmmaker. All around brilliant.
Rated 04 Feb 2007
70
82nd
Excellent animation.
Rated 09 Feb 2007
65
74th
Pretty good, but the animation has really suffered with time. One of the weaker Miyazaki films, but still worth a watch.
Rated 08 Jun 2007
80
82nd
A classic anime film by Hayao Miyazaki, and one of his earliest. Visually spectacular, but lacks some of the polish of his later works.
Rated 11 Jun 2007
100
98th
A childhood favorite with strong environmental concern undertones.
Rated 30 Jun 2007
95
89th
Quite simply one of the best animated films ever made, by the master of the form. It's a true work of cinematic art. Yes, it wears its ecological message like a sandwich board, but it does it so well that you won't mind very much.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
94
95th
Amazing, absolutely amazing. I would write more, but I can't find the right words. My favourite Miyazaki film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
73
28th
Good animation. Immaginitive world. Plot didn't live up to my expectations and dragged the rest down
Rated 04 Oct 2007
75
81st
A great fairy tale with pacifistic and ecological theme. Although not as visually stunning as later productions, with a smmilary ringing Mononoke Hime, it is still a kind of film you would like your children to watch. And you, too!
Rated 21 Oct 2007
91
91st
A truly magnificent film, even after all these years. Miyazaki has always been so thoughtful not just about the earth and peace, but about the importance of female heroines as well. I also love that I can show this to my daughter as a "princess movie," knowing that at least here, unlike many others, the princess exhibits strength of character and conviction. Take that, Ariel.
Rated 11 Nov 2007
60
42nd
- pretty good
Rated 11 Nov 2007
90
81st
I'm always torn between this & Howl's moving castle when asked about my favorite Miyazaki. It's almost an irrelevant question because I love them all! (Even the freaky cat one...)
Rated 20 Dec 2007
74
81st
When I think of strong female pacifist leaders, I'll think of Nausicaa first. What a tremendous depiction.
Rated 28 Jan 2008
90
94th
Very nice animation and an excellent story. It might not be as magical or surreal as his later work but it still has Miyazaki's trademarks all over it and I kind of prefer the slightly more straightforward story.
Rated 03 Mar 2008
96
88th
Gorgeous animation and an intricate, thought-provoking plot made this a real standout for me. The characters were fully developed and their world seemed very real. Nausicaa made a really good heroine, too.
Rated 18 Mar 2008
80
81st
Held me in the grip all the time.
Rated 17 Apr 2008
90
85th
Another wonderful Miyazaki film. If Nausicaä isn't quite as visually lush or as polished as some of Miyazaki's later work, it's every bit as engaging and exciting.
Rated 13 Jun 2008
78
89th
good anime
Rated 21 Jun 2008
92
87th
Yet anothe amazing, complex, gorgeously depicted, original Studio Ghibli film.
Rated 30 Aug 2008
89
93rd
One of my favourites of Hayao Miyazaki. Great story, great pictures, great score!
Rated 29 Sep 2008
70
77th
Epic early Miyazaki work that can roll with the best of 'em!
Rated 05 Oct 2008
84
89th
A beautiful and original story and animation as Miyazaki's always. There's again a leading heroin. Sceneries and monsters are colorful and ingenius. A master piece. There's a strong Moebius feeling in these pictures.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
94
84th
Saw this when I was very young, loved it ever since.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
95
86th
Fantastic.
Rated 13 Dec 2008
80
68th
{Note: this rating and review applies only to the real version of this film, not the butchered cut known as "Warriors of the Wind"} For all the juvenility, this is actually a serviceable yarn. Like so many of the better fantasy stories, it creates its own sort of unique poetry; it's creative, it's well-paced, the music score helps a lot, and Princess Nausicaa is a great heroine
Rated 19 Dec 2008
89
94th
Miyazaki creates a breathing world with a nice set of characters and memorable sequences. Environmentalist tinges are even more well handled in this than in Princess Mononoke, and enhances the film far above just about any other animated movie.
Rated 20 Jan 2009
77
60th
Some incredible scenes and beautiful concepts but it's badly directed and the ending is horrible.
Rated 25 Jan 2009
85
94th
Great fantasy tale. Must not miss this if you like anime.
Rated 20 Mar 2009
80
89th
I am still wondering if Nausicaä is naked under her skirt.
Rated 03 Apr 2009
73
53rd
Decent, but not great. While this film had its charms, good animation is not an excuse for sloppy storytelling. Environmental moral: thank you. Bugs: cute. Nausicaa: very cute. The way the story was shoved up head over tails on a conveyer belt: no!
Rated 26 Apr 2009
90
87th
The manga version develops the story much further, and Princess Mononoke also has mostly the same ideas, so this is sort of redundant I guess, but I still love it.
Rated 11 May 2009
69
37th
The designs were great, but I thought the story was a bit mediocre.
Rated 16 Jun 2009
83
97th
Simply beautiful sci-fi tale with strong environmentalist tones by the seemingly perfect combo from Japan - Miyazaki and Hisaishi, who composed the music for nearly all Studio Ghibli films. Show it for your kids, as it will be one of the best cinematic experiences for them.
Rated 20 Jul 2009
2
39th
It's okay. I guess I must be nuts, I didn't really find this film to be as much a masterpiece as I'd expected. It's good but it didn't do much for me.
Rated 20 Aug 2009
86
72nd
This is another masterpiece by Miyazaki. Such a powerful film, and the animation is beautiful. I wish more American studios would create adult/teen themed animated films. One of my favorite Miyazaki films of all time.
Rated 01 Nov 2009
95
73rd
one of the best anime-movies ever
Rated 02 Nov 2009
75
69th
Stunning. Moving. Watch it.
Rated 14 Dec 2009
82
59th
I loved the books. The movie is okay.
Rated 15 Jan 2010
95
97th
Miyazaki's best film.
Rated 04 May 2010
4
55th
Mononokekke: The Early Version. Nearly as good, too.
Rated 28 May 2010
65
44th
Good, but comes off a little preachy environmental-wise. Miyazaki achieved this so much better with Princess Mononoke years later.
Rated 31 May 2010
14
44th
Amazing setting, sub-par animation.
Rated 26 Dec 2010
92
96th
91.875
Rated 22 Jan 2011
99
99th
Nausicaa is my hero. She is wise, compassionate, peace-loving, heroic, a scientist... sigh. I'd say I was in love with her, but my wife might not like that.
Rated 07 Mar 2011
7
65th
Good if not straight forward. The animation and music choices haven't aged too well.
Rated 02 Apr 2011
75
52nd
this one is really a misfire for miyazaki, it's a full hour and a half of a little girl running around saying dont hurt the poor bugs, while everyone else just wants to crush them. i'm with the bug crushers.
Rated 05 Jun 2011
91
97th
Inspiring! One of the best animated movies ever made.
Rated 11 Jun 2011
60
68th
3/5
Rated 20 Jun 2011
75
83rd
It's a preachy environmentalist parable, yes, but hey, there's a very likable protagonist and wonderful animation. Good stuff.
Rated 26 Jul 2011
55
36th
Pretty sweet and great to watch, but compared to some of Miayzaki's later works, it hasn't got the great apall for both kids and grown-ups. And the 80's music sometimes works great, sometimes seems terrible.
Rated 04 Aug 2011
70
65th
It starts out slowly... but eventually I was, once more, sucked in by Miyazaki's imagination. He's a creator of wonderous creatures and worlds both beautiful and intimidating. While it can't match 'Princess Mononoke' for adventure nor many later efforts for animation detail, it'll definitely do.
Rated 14 Aug 2011
85
85th
This really isn't as satisfying as reading and collecting the manga that's it's based on -- mostly because the comic's narrative richness just can't be matched by a 2-hour animated film no matter how beautiful. Still, director Miyazaki is a master storyteller whichever medium he employs. Miyazaki in fact upstaged himself pretty much on into the 2000s with each successive Studio Ghibli release, proving he's one of the world's greatest living directors.

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