by Hayao Miyazaki
4 stars
A beautiful collection of artwork from the manga, film, and conception of Nausicaa. It showcases various elements that inspired the story and its evolution along with comments from Miyazaki. These often describe the context or struggles in creating the piece. Some of them were quite relatable and slightly humorous as Miyazaki is never fully satisfied with his work despite creating such breathtaking pieces.
There is also an interview with Miyazaki in which he discusses the progression and how different elements were incorporated while others fell away. I found this section especially interesting, seeing how he pulled in elements of historical periods and sci-fi. There was one section of the interview that appears to be missing (at least in the edition that I read) between pages 151 and 152. Still an interested read. I especially enjoyed seeing the evolution of Nausicaa’s character design.
A gorgeous collection that provides an interesting glimpse into the behind the scenes work. Great for fans of Miyazaki’s films.