The Spotlight: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

The Spotlight series takes a fresh look at works of climate cinema
By Rahul Nihalani

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984, dir. Hayao Miyazaki) is a visually stunning, intellectually stimulating animated film that feels incredibly relevant in our current global landscape. As we grapple with climate change and environmental crises, Nausicaä’s journey and her message of harmony with nature echo growing sentiments among many of us today. 

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 1984, the film laid the foundation for Studio Ghibli’s celebrated legacy and its recurring focus on environmental themes, which appear again in later works such as Princess Mononoke (1997) and Ponyo (2008). 

The film takes us to a post-apocalyptic future when the Earth is recovering from ecological disaster and war. Human survivors live in isolated communities surrounded by the toxic Sea of Decay, a sprawling jungle inhabited by giant, mutant insects. At its heart, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind explores the ever-present question of how humanity should engage with the natural world and challenges the view that nature exists solely for human exploitation. By focusing on a future society in which people live in fear of a “rageful” environment created by past human exploitation and violence, the film forces the audience to grapple with the dystopian effect of our anthropocentric mentality. 

At the same time, the film showcases a different possible future through the main character Princess Nausicaä, a future of hope. Nausicaä’s connection with the environment and its creatures is antithetical to our current model of self-centered exploitation. She symbolizes living together and in mutual respect with nature, and her journey asks the audience to consider the idea that real unity comes from understanding and empathy, not domination. As our current climate landscape worsens, Nausicaä’s fight to heal her society 1,000 years in the future inspires us to persevere here in the present. The movie’s focus on harmonic living reminds us that human imagination is a powerful tool as we strive towards a more environmentally-conscious future. 

Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic direction, combined with breathtaking animation and a powerful message, makes this film an enduring classic. Whether you are a longtime fan of Studio Ghibli or new to Miyazaki’s work, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a climate classic worth a watch this summer. 

Rahul Nihalani is a CFF Founding Volunteer and Marketing Lead.