Creatures in Crisis: Apocalyptic Environmental Visions in Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the

Creatures in Crisis: Apocalyptic Environmental Visions in Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke

Morgan, G. (2015). Creatures in Crisis: Apocalyptic Environmental Visions in Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke. Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities, 2(3), 172-183.

The paper discusses about the environmental issues which have been depicted through the animation movies of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Princess Mononoke. Both the world carriers the theme of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic. The movies carriers a theme of where the environment is connected with the nature and how changes towards the nature can be a detrimental effect on humans (Cavallaro, 2015).  The movie 'Princess Mononoke' depicts the transitioning of the agrarian society, who are much closer to earth and the environment, here Miyazaki created the image that after the farming civilization had begun, society had begun to exploit earth leading to the cause of famine and harming the cycles of nature. The movie Nausicaä, it is based on the apocalyptic environment, after the ceramic wars, pushing the society towards federal and agrarian society, where they similarly exploit the environment for their own pleasures, which as shown could lead to annihilation.  

The movie as portrayed by Miyazaki in Mononoke, though it does not carry the direct meaning of Shinto religion or in general any religion, visualizes a kami, as in Shinto religion. The movie shows the connection of humans to nature, and how humans destroyed the connection, by portraying killing the Shishigami (deer god), a large forest spirit which turns into Diabacchi, a ghostlike creature walking the land. He states through the movie, by destroying the forest god destroyed the connection between humans and nature, which he states as happened in the Muromachi era. Through the movie Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, it floats on the religion of Christianity and Catholic spirituality, where the protagonist sacrifices herself to save a baby Ohmu and appeals to God to save her people.

Both of the movies by Miyazaki focuses on the destruction of nature and the consequences of the destruction on humans. Miyazaki portrays the central theme of when humans lose their ability to understand nature and thinks they are beyond them, causing destruction such as bombing in Japan in World War creating a toxic environment similar to  Nausicaä. Also destruction to nature similarly in Mononoke, after removing the head of God, portrays the fear of wars, destruction, and consequences which in the end is still negative for humans (Mayumi, Solomon & Chang, 2005). Further Miyazaki, also states through the movies, human choices put them in a curse that proportionally affects the environment, for instance, the active industrialization though brought employment and finances still caused heavy pollution. More so humans and nature have been connected for years which has shown in both movies, also stated by Miyazaki, simple destruction to nature would not only affects nature but affects humans. Both of the movies by Miyazaki urge humans to dwell deep into understanding and respecting nature and creating a not mutual relationship but respecting one as well.

Both the movie Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä portrayed a deep reflection about the environmental issues, whose idea has been taken from reality, the article which had analysed had put it in true or approachable manner. The article analysed the minute point from the religion and the mind frame of human, which the movie has shown, which was in the similar frame as my mindset. As human it is essential to pay attention to rising pollution towards nature, and to understand that humans are connected with nature, with destruction of nature simultaneously destroys human. Watching those movies, has put in the perspective of  the line of destruction human is walking. The important part which stood out the most was the realistic manner the movie has been made, the characters, had much realistic approach. The landscape for Princess Mononoke was a combination of modern and older world, showing the transition period of the time, and in Nausicaä, it had similar point, but inverted as it showed modern world in the making, The story line and even the sound used for both the movie created dramatic effect, urging the need to take action.

Conclusion

The paper focused on the article having a central theme of understanding the need to be with nature, to survive. Miyazaki as an animator urges everyone the need to connect to nature as people did in the past.  

References:

Cavallaro, D. (2015). The anime art of Hayao Miyazaki. McFarland.

Mayumi, K., Solomon, B. D., & Chang, J. (2005). The ecological and consumption themes of the films of Hayao Miyazaki. Ecological Economics, 54(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.03.012 

Morgan, G. (2015). Creatures in Crisis: Apocalyptic Environmental Visions in Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke. Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities, 2(3), 172-183. https://doi.org/10.5250/resilience.2.3.0172