Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.

Director:

Hayao Miyazaki

Writers:

Hayao Miyazaki (based on the manga by), Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay by)

Stars:

Sumi Shimamoto, Mahito Tsujimura, Hisako Kyôda

Top Rated Movies #229 | 3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sumi Shimamoto	...	Nausicaä (voice)
Mahito Tsujimura	...	Jihl / Muzu (voice)
Hisako Kyôda	...	Oh-Baba (voice)
Gorô Naya	...	Yupa (voice)
Ichirô Nagai	...	Mito (voice)
Kôhei Miyauchi	...	Goru (voice)
Jôji Yanami	...	Gikkuri (voice)
Minoru Yada	...	Niga (voice)
Rihoko Yoshida	...	Teto / Girl C (voice)
Masako Sugaya	...	Girl A (voice)
Takako Sasuga	...	Girl B (voice)
Chika Sakamoto	...	Boy A (voice)
Tarako	...	Boy B (voice) (as TARAKO)
Yôji Matsuda	...	Asbel (voice)
Mîna Tominaga	...	Rastel (voice)

Storyline

An animated fantasy-adventure. Set one thousand years from now, the Earth is ravaged by pollution and war. In the Valley of the Wind lives Nausicaä, Princess of her people. Their land borders on a toxic jungle, filled with dangerous over-sized insects. Meanwhile, two nearby nations are bitterly engaged in a war and the Valley of the Wind is stuck in the middle.

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Plot Keywords:

post apocalypse | princess | giant insect | pollution | dying planet | 

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Taglines:

A young girl's love called forth miracles...

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The disastrous "Warriors of the Wind" dub left its cast without any billing. Among the unnamed actors from that cast was Cam Clarke as Asbel (name changed to Milo) and Susan Davis as Nausicaä (name changed to Zandra).

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Goofs

When Nausicaä is underneath the toxic jungle and walks under a sand hole, Teto disappears from her shoulder before reappearing in the next shot.

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Quotes

Nausicaä: Every one of us relies on water from the wells, because mankind has polluted all the lakes and rivers. but do you know why the well water is pure? It's because the trees of the wastelands purify it! And you plan to burn the trees down? You must not burn down the toxic jungle! You should have left the giant warrior beneath the earth!... Asbel, tell them how the jungle evolved and how the insects are gaurding it so we won't pollute the earth again. Asbel please!

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Crazy Credits

As the credits roll we see life returning to normal in the valley: Kushana, Kurotowa and the Tolmekian fleet leave peacefully, after Nausicaä has unheard words for Kushana. The denizens of the Valley of the Wind replant trees in the burned-down forest. Lord Yupa and Asbel ride Yupa's beasts to the Toxic Jungle and explore it. When the text "The End" appears on screen we see Nausicaa's discarded helmet in the forest, alongside a green, non-Toxic Jungle sapling.

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Alternate Versions

The Norwegian version is the same as original Japanese version, containing the World Wildlife logo in the beginning. However, despite the 2009 DVD version running for 112 minutes due to PAL speed up, the cover misspells the duration as being only 94 minutes.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Patrick Stewart Performances (2018)

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Soundtracks

Saranbande
Written by George Frideric Handel (as G.F. Händel)

User Reviews

A masterpiece, if you can find the real version

First off, let me state emphatically that I'm referring to the REAL version of the film, not the pathetic crippled creature distributed as "Warriors of the Wind" on video. Although I must admit that I first fell in love with the movie in that form, I have now seen the full subtitled version, and I place a hideous curse on those who hacked over 20 minutes from its running time.

Although the incredible "Princess Mononoke" later upstaged this early work in terms of art and detail, in many ways I still prefer "Nausicaa". Its imaginitive and well-conceived world puts me in mind of Dune with its feuding factions, its giant creatures, and its strong ecological message. Even with a rather long running time, the story moves very briskly (boiled down as it was from a very lengthy manga series). The music deserves special mention, as well, as it is a large step up from the electronic pop stylings of most anime.

If you can get your hands on a copy of the original version, you'll find it more than worth the effort.

Details

Official Sites:

Disney [United States] Disney's official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

25 November 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Warriors of the Wind

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$495,770

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,736,506

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nibariki, Tokuma Shoten, Hakuhodo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 95 min (1985) (edited)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1