While some militaristic factions seek to resurrect an ancient superweapon in order to reinforce mankind's dominance over the planet, Nausicaä is desperate to convince her enemies, her friends, and the audience watching the film of a different idea: It still might not be too late for humans to learn how to live with nature rather than against it. — C.H.
For a movie released in 1984, Nausicaä has a lot to say about the modern world. Most notably, the characters are often wearing COVID-ready face masks to protect themselves from the poison atmosphere of the so-called "toxic jungle" that has been spreading across the world ever since a long-ago armageddon known as the Seven Days of Fire (glimpsed briefly and horrifically in the opening credits). While some militaristic factions seek to resurrect an ancient superweapon in order to reinforce mankind's dominance over the planet, Nausicaä is desperate to convince her enemies, her friends, and the audience watching the film of a different idea: It still might not be too late for humans to learn how to live with nature rather than against it. — C.H.