Valley
This movie, placed over 1000 years in the future, is about a young girl named Nausicaa and her quest to restore harmony to the world that is now overrun by the “toxic jungle”. She learns that the jungle is vital to the survival of the earth after so many
Nausicaa (of the valley of the wind) is a completely hand drawn full length movie created in Japan directed by Miyazaki. This movie, placed over 1000 years in the future, is about a young girl named Nausicaa and her quest to restore harmony to the world that is now overrun by the “toxic jungle”. She learns that the jungle is vital to the survival of the earth after so many years of pollution and braves Tolmekian soldiers, poisonous plants, stampeding Ohm, and giant insects in order to protect it. The strategic use of music throughout the movie brings the watcher on a rollercoaster of thought while invoking emotion to match. The antique backgrounds and cartoony characters give a unique contrast and energy that is rarely seen in animated films.
Soundtrack is often a key point in movies, including, not only music, but the dialogue. Often the music runs while no one is speaking and, sometimes, quietly in the background as a character talks. This music is meant to evoke specific feelings during different parts of the movie, such as when they want to build suspense the writers use a quiet pounding sound and then, at the moment they want you frightened, they play a harsh loud noise to make you jump in your seat. In Nausicaa suspenseful music is not as key as music that makes the watcher feel empathetic. By using calm almost childlike songs they relate moments where you should feel for Nausicaa and her cause to childhood memories. The songs sound almost like nursery rhymes without as many words, often the songs play without much singing. On the other hand the suspenseful music (the slow pounding sound) is used when people encroach on the valley Nausicaa and her people live in. This background sound tends to lead you toward wondering what is coming and then, as the music changes to warlike or back to childish, you see what the music had you waiting for all along. The dialogue in the movie is well played considering the movie was created for the Japanese culture, and thus, language to be spoken.
The backgrounds of movies that are videoed with live actors tend to be blurred or phased out. In animated films, like Disney’s, they are often drawn with the same cartoony look as the characters. Before Disney died, however, the backgrounds were wonderful pieces of art, looking much more realistic than the characters that danced in them. In Miyazaki films the characters don’t only walk among the antique background, they interact with it. Nausicaa rides her glider over the toxic jungle, she and her glider have a very animated look that contrasts with the, almost museum worthy, jungle and clouds. This contrast helps draw more attention to the characters without making the background a blurred mess of colors. The only downside to this is when something is going to move the watcher is aware before it does because it is animated differently from the rest of the background, cartoony amongst detailed pieces.
Overall Nausicaa of the valley of the wind is a wonderful movie. Well placed dialogue and a constant stream of emotions that will keep the watcher intrigued and wishing for her success. The message of the movie is well hidden but still strong so that when its watched you are not aware of it but if asked later will probably come to mind. Amazing animation, as expected, from Studio Ghibli (Miyazaki) and an enchanting array of characters. To give it a rating, I’d have to say, of 10 out of 10.
