Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that a shortened version of this Japanese film came out stateside in the 1980s, but this is a review of the full 117-minute film readily available on DVD. The themes of protecting the environment, living peacefully, and respecting all creatures are very strong here and the heroine, Nausicaa, is extremely admirable. She faces a lot of danger, however, in the form of intense air ship battles with explosions, her people taken as hostages, and her father shot and killed. Nausicaa is also injured by gunfire protecting animals from harm.

Sexual Content

Not applicable

Violence

Nausicaa's father is shot to death just before she enters the room. Nausicaa gets shot twice protecting the animals and gets sucked in by quicksand. Most of the violence consists of giant explosions during air ship battles and villagers held hostage and threatened. Giant insects called ohmu get enraged and charge when one injured baby ohmu is dangled as bait. A giant red creature comes back to life and looks menacing but then falls apart. A toxic jungle requires masks to enter and sickens those living close. Talk of the end of industrialized civilization 1,000 years before in "seven days of fire" and the whole human race still lives in danger of extinction.

Language

"Old hag" is as bad as it gets.

Social Behavior

There's a very strong message about the importance of protecting and understanding the environment, and that all creatures play a vital role in the ecosystem. There's also a call for peace, showing that violence just creates more violence.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Not applicable