While many anime fans are aware of this film, few know that this movie was actually based on a manga, written and drawn by Hayao Miyazaki himself. While the film’s story was quite encompassing and epic in scope, it only covered the first two volumes of the manga, which goes much deeper into the themes and values that Miyazaki wanted to explore. The original manga is a great work of art that expands strongly on Miyazaki’s philosophies, and fans of the movie should absolutely check out this manga.
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The Premise Covered In The Film
Nausicaa is the young princess of the Valley of the Wind, a small region far from the troubles of the outside world. Nausicaa is a benevolent and empathetic girl who loves all living beings, even the insects of the Toxic Jungle that terrify others. Her peaceful life is disturbed when a Pejite airship carrying the embryo of a Giant Warrior crashes on their land. This event prompts the Torumekian forces to come to the Valley to retrieve the embryo, sparking off a chain of events that threaten to destroy the world’s fragile ecosystem.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a story of many complex themes, including environmentalism, the folly of humanity, and the renewing power of nature. Many of the problems in the movie are caused by humans, whether it be greed for power or vengeance. In contrast, while the Ohmu and other insects of the Toxic Jungle are hated for spreading the miasma, they have a role to play in purifying and restoring the earth, ridding it of the toxins that threaten humanity. The movie’s core moral of environmentalism is very evident, and its themes are potent in establishing that.
The Manga’s Differences And Additions
Since the movie was made in the middle of Nausicaa’s serialization and could only be so long, it’s natural to assume that many elements of the story were left out of the film adaptation. The main conflict in the manga is a war between the Torumekian Empire and the Dorok Principalities, a faction that does not appear in the movie. In addition, while Torumekia acts as an antagonistic force in the film, they are more neutral in the manga, with the Dorok leaders taking on the antagonistic role here. As a result, Kushana is much less of an antagonistic character, being a major supporting character that could be possibly considered a deuteragonist.
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Also significant is the prophecy of Nausicaa being the “blue-clad one”, indicating that she is the savior that will restore the world. In the manga, the prophecy is one known by the Doroks, who have long decried it as heresy. Nausicaa’s appearance and demeanor call to mind the prophecy to the Emperor’s brother, Miralupa, who immediately demands that she be hunted down. Nausicaa’s prophecy is a large plot point in the manga, and has both endangered her and benefited her
How The Manga Expands On The Film’s Themes
The manga puts particular focus on the mistakes and errors of humans caused by greed and ill intent. Many of the conflicts and issues that occur throughout the series are caused by human hands. The war destroys many lives as Torumekia and the Doroks battle, and the Doroks’ horrific experiments lead to not only monstrous beings like the Heedra, but also an ever-growing mold that threatens to swallow up the entire land if left unchecked. This mold is not stopped by the humans, but by the noble Ohmu, who give their lives to keep the mold from destroying more land. This is one example of how the power of nature and its power of endless renewal is explored in the manga.
The themes of environmentalism are expanded upon by the existence of the Forest People, another group that does not appear in the film. Unlike the other humans, the Forest People live in the Toxic Jungle, using unique technology only available to them and living in harmony with the insects of the forest. The Forest People, unlike the people of Torumekia or the Doroks, are peaceful, empathetic, and symbiotic with nature, and that allows them to live peaceful lives despite being surrounded by poison. The world of Nausicaa in the manga is very bleak in comparison to the film, but it still retains its hope for the future and its belief that humans can learn from their many mistakes.
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