Master Of Animation, Games & Interactivity
Master Of Animation, Games & Interactivity

This week I watched an 2D animated movie called Nausicaa valley of the wind it’s a Ghibli film, one of their first directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki this was his second directorial debut after Lupin the 3rds Castle of Cagliostro, which is another film I absolutely adore.

Nausicaa valley of the wind is a film is set 1000 years from our time period, where mankind nearly destroyed the world, through their disregard of nature and polluted it which created what is now called the sea of corruption, where the biology of plants and insects have changed to set harm to human, the story revolves around a princess named Nausicaa who belongs to a kingdom called the valley of the wind, Nausicaa is very explorative and savvy when exploring the sea of corruption and acknowledges the danger it has for the human race, but can’t help but find beauty in it and its surroundings.

I personally love this film mainly because of Nausicaa herself, I think she is a wonderfully written character with strengths and flaws that are always present in the narrative, one of my favourite moments of her is when her valley is invaded by the Tolmekia cavalry led by the Queen regent Kushana, her men are sent to take the king of the valley hostage so they can make their demands, Nausicaa is sees the men heading towards her home, and immediately we see how worried she is for the well being of her father, the men make into her fathers room, seconds later we also see Nausicaa reach his room and horrified to see her father dead, in a fit of rage she kills eight of the men in the room, until a squadron of armoured soldiers charge into the room, Nausicaa blinded with rage charges at the soldiers, until she is stopped by her mentor figure Master Yupa who blocks her attack and pulls a dagger at the armoured soldiers throat, Master Yupa pleads them to stop the needless violence, as this is happening we see Nausicaa reaction to what Yupa is doing and realises her sword wedged into Yupa’s wrist, she see’s a single drop of blood that slowly drips down her sword and onto her hilt, she is absolutely devastated by her actions and through out the film tries to never exert that type of rage ever again.

This scene is so special to me I think it really made from like her as character to me just respecting a 2D character on a screen, perhaps because I’m a very empathic person it easy for me relate to her struggles, but I honestly think this scene cements how a characters weakness is their greatest strength.

About This Work

By Steven Smith
Email Steven Smith
Published On: 08/10/2020