Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

PG

1985

1h 57m

Fantasy

Anime

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Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

91%

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10,000+ Ratings

Far in the future, after an apocalyptic conflict has devastated much of the world's ecosystem, the few surviving humans live in scattered semi-hospitable environments within what has become a "toxic jungle." Young Nausicaä lives in the arid Valley of the Wind and can communicate with the massive insects that populate the dangerous jungle. Under the guidance of the pensive veteran warrior, Lord Yupa, Nausicaä works to bring peace back to the ravaged planet.

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Michael Sragow

The New Yorker

04/01/2013

When mammoth dandelions puff out spores, the sight is as seductive as it is lethal.

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Tasha Robinson

AV Club

08/10/2009

Nausica is in some ways a grim and serious film, but it mixes a sweet optimism into its horror-filled lessons.

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

04/06/2025

It is insane to go back to this and see how strong Miyazaki already is with scope, size, and purpose. This is such a big story but it is masterfully controlled and focused.

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Diana Tuova

Loud and Clear Reviews

11/12/2024

4.5/5

Beautifully revealing one complex world, Nausicaä is a wondrous, adventure-filled animation with a benevolent core.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/22/2023

4/4

[Miyazaki's] Nature-first, humanity-second approach to environmentalism began here…these ideas were never more pure than in their first assembly, gathered by an idealistic young Japanese animator on the verge of changing the medium with his vision.

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Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

08/01/2023

An adventure that lives in a place outside of time, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind offers a haggard reflection of humanity’s dark side before proclaiming hopefulness and love the ultimate victor.

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R. F. F

@RT36265540 2d

One of my childhood favorites, and I'm not even really into anime. So hauntingly beautiful of a film.

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Joe L

@Hoagie1013 Apr 8

Such a fun world that was built.

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Jacob W.

@Jacob617 Apr 1

A legendary start to a legendary studio.

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Bret M.

@BretM-3 Mar 17

This is a very average but entertaining Studio Ghibli movie. It has beautiful animation (especially for 1984!), and a simple enough story to be entertaining, but not too complex or hard to follow. This feels like a simple enough movie that it could easily get newcomers hooked on Studio Ghibli. It’s something simple and entertaining that appeals to both diehard Studio Ghibli fans, and casual audiences who just want an awesome animated movie. If you’re a Studio Ghibli fan or are interested in giving the studio a try, this is a great movie for you.

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Ashley H

@RT20275707 Mar 13

I grew up watching this movie when I was younger in Middle School. I loved it right away and watched it nonstop, to the point where it started to skip and I could no longer watch it. I highly recommend this movie.

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Walden C

@lazerlemur Jan 18

"Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind" is amateurish when compared to the beautiful, polished epics that Ghibli has become known for, and yet it still shines in its incredible worldbuilding and bizarre charm, a true testament to the passion and creativity of the Studio Ghibli team. The execution here is rather clumsy. The transitions are awkward, one sound effect will cut off another, and the animation, especially in flying scenes, is uncomfortably clunky, with movements that feel almost robotic and utterly out of place in the massive, grand scene composition. The exposition is also notably heavy-handed. Many conversations exist for the sole reason of telling, rather than showing, the events of the story, and sound completely unnatural. However, this film succeeds against all odds at immersing viewers in its beautifully twisted world, and despite its dark tone, it is a piece of cinematic comfort food that I will undoubtedly be returning to again and again.

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Hayao Miyazaki

Director

Shia LaBeouf

Asbel

Alison Lohman

Nausicaä

Patrick Stewart

Lord Yupa

Uma Thurman

Kushana

Chris Sarandon

Kurotowa

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Synopsis

Far in the future, after an apocalyptic conflict has devastated much of the world's ecosystem, the few surviving humans live in scattered semi-hospitable environments within what has become a "toxic jungle." Young Nausicaä lives in the arid Valley of the Wind and can communicate with the massive insects that populate the dangerous jungle. Under the guidance of the pensive veteran warrior, Lord Yupa, Nausicaä works to bring peace back to the ravaged planet.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki, Cindy Davis Hewitt, Donald H. Hewitt
Distributor: New World Pictures
Production Co: Studio Ghibli
Rating: PG (Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 13, 1985, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 19, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2019
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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