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A Great First; Precurser to Miyazaki's Greatest The film Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind is the timeless tale of a pure, goodhearted person trying to do what's right during a time of uncertainty. With a post-apocalypse as the backdrop, quite popular during 1980s anime (see Akira) due to the Cold War, we are introduced to a world where human technology and power has destroyed our land. Sparse kingdoms are seperated by an ever-growing forest of deadly spore-emitting plants while the beasts which protect them swarm. Nausicaä lives in a peaceful valley by the sea until an airship crashes with two things of importance: a captured princess and the hibernating form of a destructive monster which ravaged the land 1000 years ago during a time called The Seven Days of Fire. Soon, an empire sends their troops to recover the monster, and Nausicaä is pressed into hesitant action to prevent the destruction of both her people and the actually gentle creatures of the forest. While watching Nausicaä, I noticed many hints at characters Miyazaki creates later in his career. Our title heroine reminded my own mother of Kiki in Kiki's Delivery Service. I saw San (see Princess Mononoke) in her spirited defense of her people and the forest. Azabel, the young prince of a kingdom trying to prevent the monster from falling into the wrong hands, reminded me of Pazu from Castle in the Sky. Although the movie itself is quite good, I found the music odd. Too electronica, influenced by the 80s. I would love for Joe Hisashi to orchestrate a new score to this terrific movie. Overall, the movie is almost a giant sketch for forecoming works Miyazaki would create. While a fantastic film (especially with the strong pro-nature and anti-war theme), I feel many of Miyazaki's works later on are greater in their execution. That should not prevent one from watching this film, on the contrary, do so now. Just don't expect the movie to be the director's best. Definately one to watch, even though Miyazaki has gotten better.