Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was Hayao Miyazaki's first time directing a theatrical feature and was based on his 1982 manga of the same name. The film was released in 1984, slightly before the founding of Studio Ghibli the following year, and has been a cult classic ever since.

The film is considered to be the first of the Oscar-winning animator’s works to showcase the relationship between humans and the natural world. The people of the Wind Valley are inhabiting one of the last places on Earth capable of sustaining human civilization yet they are surrounded by spreading toxic jungles and desert wastelands of man’s making.

The heroine, Princess Nausicaä, is a complex character. She’s the leader of her people, a lover of nature, a friend of animals, a charmer of insects, a gifted aerial pilot, and a fearless warrior. Where others rush to attack, she seeks to understand. As movie reviews have noted, “she faces a lot of danger in the form of intense airship battles with explosions, her people taken as hostages, and her father shot and killed. Nausicaä is also injured by gunfire protecting animals from harm.”

Despite the violent conflicts, there’s a warmth and softness to the film’s art style and a message of hope. Just in time for the film’s 35th anniversary, we are proud to present two companion books to Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to add to your list of must-have movie books.

Art of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
This hardcover art book captures the art of the animated film, from initial concept to the silver screen, thanks to concept sketches, cels, film, and key frames used to envision the rich fantasy world of the animated film. We hope it serves to deepen the reader’s understanding of the world of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Picture Book
The picture book brings the movie into your library! This hardcover book features scene-by-scene illustrations taken direct from the film and easy-to-read character dialogue. Hayao Miyazaki is a master storyteller and this book will allow parents and children to relive Princess Nausicaä's adventures.