Film: Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind
Release date: 18th October 2010
Certificate: PG
Running time: 116 mins
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Mahito Tsujimura, Hisako Kyoda, Goro Naya, Kohei Miyauchi, Minoru Yada
Genre: Anime
Studio: Optimum
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Japan
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind marks the first of many collaborations between director Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki, resulting in the creation of the legendary Studio Ghibli. Grossing ¥740 million (approximately £5.7 million) and endorsed by the World Wildlife Fund for its strong environmental message, Nausicaä forms the basis of the undeniable majesty of the subsequent Studio Ghibli output, and appears on Blu-ray for the first time.
Set a thousand years after the Seven Days of Fire, the world lies in tatters, smothered by an ever-growing Toxic Jungle that threatens the small pockets of civilization that remains.
One of these safe havens is the Valley of the Wind, protected by its princess, Nausicaä. A skilled, but peace-loving warrior, Nausicaä possesses a unique gift; the ability to placate the fearsome insect creatures that occupy the ever growing Toxic Jungle. Her expeditions into the jungle to try and find non-toxic life are interrupted by the crash landing of a huge airship in the Valley of the Wind.
Onboard, a dying hostage reveals herself to be the princess of the town Pejite, informing Nausicaä to quickly destroy the ships cargo. Onboard is the embryonic Giant Warrior, a gargantuan creature manipulated as a weapon during the war. The weapon has been stolen from Pejite by the people of Tolmekian, a nearby settlement, who have invaded the valley to steal back the warrior, eventually taking Nausicaä hostage.
After the transportation ships are destroyed, Nausicaä encounters the dying princess’ twin brother Asbel. They fight together in an attempt regain control of the Giant Warrior and prevent the two warring nations from self-combusting, destroying each other and their planet…
The strongest aspect of Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind is its engrossing story. The film manages to balance a clear environmental message with a socio-political morality tale that’s heavy-handed in its approach as Miyazaki makes his point. While occasionally confusing, the epic nature of the narrative is nonetheless entirely engrossing. The environmental message of the film is dealt with expertly, with no clear cut boundaries between good vs. evil, or destruction vs. creation. The antagonists are not evil; they merely have their own idea of what is right, and what is best for their civilisation. Despite the potential weight of the themes, it is just as easy to sit back and enjoy the spectacle as a family sci-fi/adventure without pondering the film’s message too much.
The animation itself is simply stunning, combining strong human character design with unforgettable creatures, particularly in the scene featuring the Giant Warrior as he battles the insect hordes. Animated by the now legendary Hideaki Anno, the mud-like textures and liquid effect of the beast as it rolls forward amidst a sea of insect creatures is a standout moment. So too is the creature design in general, giving the insect inhabitants of the Toxic Jungle an otherworldly quality while remaining recognisable to the viewer. The action scenes are plentiful and well executed, particularly those involving Nausicaä’s jet glider. One particular moment exemplifies the painstaking attention to detail of the animation, as Nausicaä disembarks from the glider and catches her foot it the harness strap, stumbling slightly before continuing on. It is undoubtedly a minor observation, and could be easily ignored or considered a goof in a live action film. However, in this instance, it shows a level of commitment and knowing playfulness seldom seen in animation.
The Blu-ray transfer shows the film as it was undoubtedly intended, with crystal clear images and vibrant, bright colouring. The sound design is also excellent, although the music leaves a little to be desired. Unquestionably ‘80s, the attention is occasionally diverted away from the action and onto the music, as the low-tech synth tunes hammer away in the background. This dates an otherwise timeless film, and belies the natural, rural setting and key themes of the production. This feeling of distraction is exacerbated by the few occasions where an orchestral score is used, as it works so much better, and could have added to the emotional core of the film.
The film that started an international phenomenon is only improved by a crystal clear Blu-ray transfer. This undeniably classic example of Japanese animation fuses a strong message with sumptuous animation to create an influential piece that ranks with the best Studio Ghibli has to offer. RB
No comments:
Post a Comment