Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: the post-apocalyptic world presented by MIYAZAKI Hayao in this animated classic is looking more and more likely; hopefully, someone as level-headed and smart as the eponymous character will be present then. She is the princess of a small human enclave, somewhat protected from the toxic landscape and violent insects, with a better understanding of what is truly happening than most. Manking being what it is (and always has been), her land gets invaded by a militaristic country and is involved with two differing views of how to deal with their crisis. SHIMAMOTO Sumi plays the great heroine, a smart, active, and sensitive character, delivering a great vocal performance. NAYA Goroo plays her wise mentor, and KAYUMI Iemasa, as the enemy general, is the closest thing to comic relief the film offers. The animation is, for current standards, relatively simple, but it’s well-done, with attractive character design and rich colours. The music, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is varied and effective, ranging from electronic beats for the battle scenes to mellower pieces for the quieter moments.