Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Working my way through the Ghibli and adjacent Miyazaki films, there are a few that are truly outstanding in conceptual maturity, texture, and execution. I was initiated into Ghibli with Spirited Away, and it remains high on my list. I basically could not do anything productive for a couple hours after finishing Grave of the Fireflies because it was so powerful. Nausicaä, however, is the first Ghibli film I actively sought to get on something with higher fidelity than the bargain-bundle DVD set. It's fanciful yet relevant, not pointedly about any single culture or event or mythos and yet resonant with elements of western and eastern perspective, "about" children and yet not childish (indeed I'd be proud if any child of mine took Princess Nausicaä as a role model; something I can't as readily say about even the more modern, progressive Disney princesses). And when you watch the backstory interviews and learn that this was basically Miyazaki's personal making-ends-meet nights-and-weekends manga project from the early '80s, not intended for video, but adapted as such by request well BEFORE Studio Ghibli was founded, it is truly phenomenal to think that he went this far out on a limb, and got it so right, so early, that some of the studio's subsequent works pale in comparison. Nausicaä is not perhaps the _pinnacle_ of Miyazaki's work, but I would definitely include it at the front of any Ghibli essential-viewing list.

AUDIO: English (American English), Japanese (日本人), French (français)SUBTITLES: English for English Language, English for Japanese Language, French, (no Japanese subtitles)—PRODUCT REVIEW: I am writing this review as someone who had been looking to own a great version of Miyazaki films for a while. GKIDS has produced the best version of Studio Ghibli films in my opinion. The movie is set up automatically in English but if you go to the Set Up screen in the menu and select the Language as Japanese, you will get the original Japanese version. The movie title sequence will also be different language wise according to which language you select. I speak Japanese & English and grew up watching Nausicaä in Japanese in my childhood and this movie holds up to those memories. The English subtitles for the Japanese version translate very well (I hear it’s not as great with the Disney version). There is also a packet inside about the movie that also has some movie stills. Hope the pictures I took help. I am super happy about this product. I can’t think of any negatives.—MOVIE REVIEW: This was my favorite Miyazaki film as a little girl! As an adult now Itruly appreciate having Nausicaä as a role model. Her courageous and adventurous qualities are to be envied, but I always aspired to be her level of caring and kind as well. It’s a beautiful story and one I cherish 20 years later.[updated Dec 2020 with audio languages]

This is my favorite Miyazaki Movie. Prominent themes are the preservation of nature, the value of non-human species, conscientious objection to war, the evil capabilities of humanity, the beauty of peace, fighting when necessary, sacrifice, science as a prize and treasure, the capabilities of women, and gentleness as opposed to roughness.It is a beautiful film that speaks just as strongly, if not more, to our generation than to those who watched it in the 80s.

My cousin and I enjoy Miyzaki anime films. She saw My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. But she has NEVER seen Naussicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Miyazaki's first full length feature film that he himself created as a writer and director AND based on his manga series. It is great and fantastic movie from start to finish where the Earth's future lies is toxic jungle filled with giant mutated insects and the people who survive struggle between kingdoms and a princess's pacifist optimism is tested as a prophecy for absolute peace to the world will come to pass. My cousin is in for the thrill of her live. I hope she will like it.

Taking place more than a thousand years in the future, the environment in many parts of the Earth has been destroyed by the past actions of mankind. A massive toxic jungle covers much of the land, but it is too poisonous for humans and is infested with giant insects. Nausicaä (Alison Lohman) is the princess of the Valley of the Wind, an area where the air is clean and human life is possible. Nausicaä laments what humans have previously done to the environment and lives in peace with the toxic jungle. However, she gets involved in a conflict between two warring factions, the Pejites and the Tolmekians, and must take action to do what she sees is right.This is the movie that would lead to the creation of the famed Studio Ghibli and it has much in common with their films. I found the animation to be well done in this movie with some interestingly designed creatures and great action sequences. The music is also top notch. The main theme of the movie, the importance of environmentalism, is also handled well and is told through an engaging story.This Blu-ray/DVD set contains as bonus features the original Japanese soundtrack, storyboards, and a short documentary on the early history of Studio Ghibli.This is good movie to check out for fans of animation and the works of Ghibli.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is the type of animated feature we just don't get anymore. Keep reminding yourself while watching this masterpiece that it was released in 1984!Well, Castle of Cagliostro was 1979, but I digress.These early Miyazaki creations are some of the true marvels of cinema. If you are building a video library, you should have a few of them at least.The Blu-ray is beautiful. The music is great. The visuals are like a video for all of your favorite prog rock albums. Heavy Metal and all those other classic animated movies WISH they were this amazing.I will watch it many many times.

昔見たレーザーディスクの、当時の眼に本当に美しかった映像が、また目の前に現れたように感じられました。古いアニメのDVDやblu-rayは高解像度の液晶モニタで見ると粗ばかり目立ったりすることがままありますが、この北米版blu-rayではそのようなことはありません。セルに手彩色の味わいが感じられ、趣が深いとさえ思えます。最新のデジタルアニメのようなキレキレの映像ではありませんが、セル原画が何を表現しようとしていたか、そういった作画意図がきちんと表現された、素直で優良なblu-ray化であるとみて、最高の評価をします。国内版のDVDと目視比較してみた限り、国内版（青い紙ジャケットの製品）blu-rayで言われているように肌色に赤みがかったりはしておらず、国内版DVDと同じ色調に見えました。また前述の通りキレキレの画ではないですが、blu-ray化でオリジナル作画の輪郭線がDVDよりも繊細に表現されるようになっています。DVDを持っていても、これは購入してよかったと思えました。輪郭線が細くまた高解像度に描画されることによって、クシャナ殿下の美貌は光を増し、感情の起伏を表す表情の微妙な変化までも見えるようになりました。クロトワも、もともとはこんなに表情豊かに描かれていたのかと感心しました。何度も見れば、もっと新しく気づくことが出て来るかもしれません。ナウシカはこの物語の最も印象的なヒロインですが、「風の谷のナウシカ」は彼女一人の物語ではなく、また彼女のただ一度の戦闘の映画でもないことを、美しい映像が力強く語りかけて来ます。このアニメ映画が製作された1980年代前半の日本は、まだ1960年代から70年代の日本社会に深く暗い影を落とした「公害問題」を完全に克服できてはいませんでした。まさに私たち日本人はそのとき風の谷の住人であり、ナウシカの目に映る腐海は私たちの心の中にある明日だったのです。「風の谷のナウシカ」が当時大きな感動をもって迎えられたのは、当時の日本人の現実へのおそれと未来への祈りを切実に率直に、てらいなく描いたものだったからに他なりません。またこの作品は、そのおそれと祈りの切実さ率直さから、今後も世界中で多くの人に鑑賞されて行くものであり続けるでしょう。そのためにぜひ、より良い状態での商品化を続けて行って欲しいと願います。このレビューは、現時点（2020年1月7日）の商品一覧で「２枚組」となっている北米版blu-rayとDVDセット商品のblu-rayディスクについてのものです。ジャケットには右よりに立つナウシカの向こうに眼が攻撃色の王蟲が描かれていて、ジャケット背の上方に黒丸の中にGKIDSというマークが入っているのが目印です。北米版ですのでblu-rayディスクのリージョンが日本も含まれるAですから、日本で売られている普通のプレーヤーで再生できます。日本語音声で字幕なし、という普通の視聴方法で見られます。一緒に入っているDVDのリージョンは日本の２でなく北米の１ですので、リージョンフリープレーヤーでないと再生できません。普通には再生できませんがピクチャーディスクですので、これはきれいな飾りと思うことにしましょう。※2021年3月14日追記　Amazonにより商品写真が更新されました。GKIDSマークがパッケージ裏面左上にあり確認しやすくなりました。blu-rayディスク自体にリージョン「A」が表示されているのも写真ではっきり確認できます。他にも「１枚組」と書かれた安価なblu-rayが一覧に並んでおりジャケットの絵は北米版と同じなのですが、商品説明にあるようにリージョンBですので、リージョンフリープレーヤーでないと再生できません。一覧にある製品のうち、日本で販売されている普通のblu-rayプレーヤーで再生できるのはこの北米版（２枚組）と国内版（２枚組）だけです。購入ご検討の際は特に気を付けましょう。

数多の名作が揃う宮崎駿＆ジブリ作品の中で、最も子供達に遺したい作品がこの｢風の谷のナウシカ｣だと思う。今から37年前、宮崎駿、高畑勲、鈴木敏夫、久石譲の後のジブリ主要メンバーと徳間書店が、テレビシリーズをベースにしない劇場長編アニメ化した野心的作品で、その強烈な社会メッセージ性はジブリで最も深くて重い。特に公害や環境汚染の社会問題化を知り、核開発競争やベトナム戦争の東西冷戦を体感した世代にとって、本作が描く腐海と王蟲、巨神兵を巡るトルネキア帝国とペジテ市等のアンチテーゼは決して他人事ではなかった筈。今も繰返し地上波放映される事で、日本人の｢自然保護意識｣や｢戦争･核･生物化学兵器の忌避主義｣に与えた影響は計り知れない。しかも親子で一緒に観て語りながら伝承出来るのだからその存在価値は凄い。また多様な観客層向けに登場人物にも幅を持たせているのが実にニクい。腐海を探求する少女ナウシカと変節して彼女を支えるアスベル、歴史と戒めを語る大ババとミト達、未来のカタチに悩むユパとクシャナ、王蟲を悪用して失地回復を狙うペジテ市長一派、組織人に徹するクロトワや兵士達。その誰もが真の悪人等ではなく、信じるモノや優先順の違いから相争う姿は恐ろしく現代的だ。その世界観やシナリオ、背景画･動画、音楽や声優の全てが完璧な革新的作品でもある。科学と自然と人間社会の逃れられない関係性を、たった二時間で愉しませながら語ると言う離れ業を成し遂げた作品に、｢伝説的偉業｣以外の言葉が見当たらない。今も世界で愛される普遍的メッセージは、世紀を超えて一層輝き続けるのだろう、世界映画遺産として。日テレで隔年放映されるのでDVDやBlu-ray需要は限定的だが、ノーカットかつCM無しの集中時間はやはり替えがたいもの。是非、祖父母からお孫さん迄、ご一緒に話ながらお楽しみ下さい。

I liked this, but it’s not a favourite of mine. Maybe I’m getting too picky because of the good quality Ghibli films I’ve been binge watching. I’m not saying this is bad, it’s just my own personal tastes. Couple of quick positives I liked was Nausicaa and her passion towards wildlife and how quick she was to help every time, also her relationship with Asbel wasn’t pushed, because it’s an older film I was expecting love to be more a part of it, however they didn’t have many scenes together so it was quite nice the viewer could see them how they wanted, as a couple or friends.

My favourite ghiblili film.Bloody, violent, gritty, brutal in reality aswell as storytelling. Underated.Yes Princess Mononoke is similar here however this is more to do with spiritualism then realism. Its about eco systems and our Impacted on the there planet. Logic over power greed.Anyway looks fantastic on blue Ray.

"Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind" is a breathtaking feature film, and the one that helped launch Studio Ghibli. I love it ever so much since it touches on some brilliant themes, such as living in the knowledge that humans have great power over nature, but also that nature itself can be a character and is able to cling onto survival. The main character, Nausicaa, the Princess of the Valley of the Wind, is very easy to connect with, since she hopes for a brighter future, looks for the solutions to the terrible pollution her fellow humans have made and has her weaknesses as we all do, for instance when she takes several lives in order to avenge a personal tragedy. Her little foxsquirrel companion, Teito, is so cute when he calms down under her influence after he is revealed to her by Lord Yupa, who she saved from a guardian of a toxic jungle that arose out of all the pollution that mankind has created. What's good about this film is how men and women are not set apart from each other, and that a woman can easily be a ruler as well as any man, which makes Nausicaa's character especially influential and accepted by her people. The same applies to Kushana, Commander of the Tolmekian Army, although she is more of a military minded, demanding personality which makes it difficult for the people of the Valley to accept that she too is a Princess. Nausicaa's ability to communicate with the herd of Ohmu, the creatures that guard the jungle, is rather strange, yet deeply moving, and how they return affection is simply beautiful, as I think people often forget that animals are able to give back some of the love that we give to them. As weird as some of the insects are, it is an amazing sight when they come onto the screen in the hundreds and thousands, and it seems very likely that our world will be inhabited by more animals than people in the unforeseeable future. The Tolmekians, who are greedy and intent on expanding their kingdom, and the Pejites who are equally nasty are both at it hammer and tongs between each other, and are particularly good at wanting to be enemies, whilst the people of the Valley want only to lead peaceful lives, and are guided by Nausicaa, the admirable and true ruler, who really wants to help the two armies to accept each other's beliefs and differences, and to become friends. I love the scenes at the end of the movie as they show how everyone is able to survive by respecting nature and spending as much time as possible just by living. Although there is some violence, it's not all blood and gore which makes it a breeze when compared to other films that are constantly ruled by such things. It's a wonderfully moving and thematic masterpiece, it makes me think about how we look on our world and that humans can be gentle towards wildlife, and are able to amend what wrongs they have done to it in the past.