Nausicaa - The Essential Japanese Animation

There is always a masterpiece, that is, in any area of arts there are works of immortality.

Japan, of course, has its own share of traditions and arts, for its long history has fostered things of great value over the scores of centuries.

I was born and raised in Japan, living surrounded by Japanese recent tradition - manga and animation.

If you have not seen this animation film - Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - you are definitely missing something of great importance.

This is an animation film that goes beyond 'animation' or sci-fi.  This is an epic that has the taste of 'Classics,' for the story deals with the very essence of what it is to be human and what it is to struggle between good and evil - and go beyond.  It is not a comedy, nor is it a tragedy in a Shakespearean sense.  It is a story that leaves answers left for us audience.  The story throws at us so many issues ranging from love, desire, state, people, spirituality and ecology.

The world in the film is carefully designed to elaborate otherwise heavy issues.  What is amazing is that we see, feel and experience the world and what it confronts us from the very point of a young girl, a pleasant and loving person facing her destiny.

I am not willing to describe the story in details - that is for you to discover.

The film itself is definitely a classic, but if you find this film amusing, you must get your hands on the original cartoon books which is even far better than the film.

Masterpiece is something that has gained its place in immortality.

and this is 'the masterpiece.'

Japan can be really cool!  (sometimes)

 

Comments

[satomi]

Yes! I can definitely recommend NAUSICCA too.
You know most Japanese can't express their idea or what they really think once they are out of their island.
But through the animation and manga, Japanese can present themselves very well.
Steven Spielberg likes Japanese animation, and the idia of Matrix was also inspired by Japanese animation, KOUKAKU KIDOUTAI.
I believe Japanese has a sense of using pictures.
You can see that even in the Japanese blog site!
Japanese bloggers use lots of cute picture words
in their blog. Even I use them in my blog!