Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Japanese animation from the master, Hayao Miyazaki, still pleasing to watch and still, perhaps, even more relevant today. More than 20 years old now, this movie keeps you interested from the start with its fantastic world, exciting story and surprisingly poignant message about mankind's rapid destruction of the environment. A fantastic story, supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), about a princess from a small tribe and her attempts to respond to the encroaching dangers of her environment caused by the abuse of people who are simply unaware of the effects of their actions.

Princess Nausicaa is a girl endowed with natural instinct, genius and fierceness. She is also a protectorate of nature and has learned not only how to live within it but also how to communicate with its inhabitants in a peaceful manner. Set in a futuristic world in which The Sea of Decay, brought about by the wrath of a legion of guardian insects, is rapidly destroying the world, Princess Nausicaa must protect her tribe and the world as the ensuing power struggles between nations ultimately makes its tragic presence felt in her homeland. The message contrasts our world, one in which humans destroy the planet willy-nilly and species disappear from the planet every day, with the world of Princess Nausicaa, where men live in fear of the repercussions of harming even one insect and humans are the endangered species.

What makes Miyazaki animation so good, aside from the beautiful animation and imaginative stories, is his attention to the characters. His feature-length cartoons aren't only showcases for his artwork. He has learned how to make the animations of people seem real, even though we know they are simply cartoons. For example, Princess Nausicaa apologizing when she accidentally steps on an insect, a dream sequence in which she remembers her past or the way her pet reacts to her. These details and, in some cases, imperfections, give Princess Nausicaa dimension. So go out and look for a copy and expect to be delighted.