A Disappointed Nausicaa Fan Rant Thread

[Prince Asbel]

I was thinking about getting the Nausicaa series to start off a manga collection. Well, I was able to read volumes 1 & 2 from VIZ at our Borders. So I looked them up on the net, and decided I would try and get the others.

By a stroke of luck, I happened to go to a library just today that had a fair-sized manga section and it included volumes 2-7. I read them all in one day. Now, I had only read the first two books, and I'd seen the movie (The new English dub by Disney, not Warriors of the Wind). At first I thought the mangas were vastly superior to the movie. They had extra stuff in there that the movie left out, and the story was just told better. It gripped me more. But now that I read books 3-7, I was totally disappointed.

Hayao Miyazaki just... How do I say it. He introduced so many new things into the story, some things I didn't even CARE about, nothing I had hoped would happen ever DID happen, and the weird ideas of humans having no distinction from the natural world and that humans must live at one with the Sea of Decay to be pure as if there were no distinction of any kind between the two... It just disgusted me. Particularly the parts about all life being sentient on the human level, and most of the time acting superior. I just HATE that stuff, it sucks, okay? It just plain sucks.

The blatant nudity in the last novel didn't help either. P.S. I knew about it beforehand, and I paged through it to make sure that wasn't a regular occurrence all the way through before proceeding to read it. Thank God it only lasted for like two or three panels.

So that's a big giant minus on my Nausicaa interests. The two plusses are these. 1. I didn't end up spending my good money on a mega-crappy, weird environmentalist religion based manga series. 2. I'm going to appreciate the movie much more because it actually leaves the future open to the idea that the problem of the Sea of Decay would be solved, mankind would be saved, and that the Ohm would go extinct. (Okay, that would never happen, but it would nice if they did.)

Despite the two plusses and one minus, I still fill let down. I expected a whole lot from this series, and all I got was five volumes of unanticipated crap.

For those of you who bothered to listen to my whining rant, God bless you for it. I post it here because I'm the only anime fan in my eleven-person household. If there's ANYONE who thinks the same way PLEEEEASE say so. I don't want to think that I'm the ONLY one who sees this.

[Radical Dreamer]

Yeah, that's a subject that comes up in a lot of Miyazaki's work, though it's apparently far more subdued in the movies. I actually haven't seen Nausicaa, so I can't say much from that standpoint, but I can agree that the whole "treating ecology like a religion" thing bothers me a lot, too. Hopefully, you can continue to enjoy the movie separate from the manga and just pretend they don't exist. XD Kind of like how the last two Pirates of the Caribbean movies don't really exist. XD

[minakichan]

Mangaka should be allowed to write about their own philosophies and religions in their work too...

Unless they're fascists.

[Radical Dreamer]

Mangaka should be allowed to write about their own philosophies and religions in their work too...

Unless they're fascists.

Well, sure they can write about it, but that doesn't mean the reader has to enjoy it or agree with it, either. XD I think that's what Prince Asbel was trying to say. It's what I'm saying, anyways. XD

[Fish and Chips]

Mangaka should be allowed to write about their own philosophies and religions in their work too.

Unless they're fascists.

Wow.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Wow, I enjoyed both the Nausicaa manga and the Miyazaki movie (I saw the movie first). The movie was more hopeful but the manga was more deep, more epic, more developed. As a Christian I didn't agree with a lot of the beliefs/philosophies in it but I still enjoyed the story and characters a lot and the art and imagination of it all is simply amazing.

There is some nudity but it isn't there to titillate, (like you said it's only there for several panels) and it's not gratuitously detailed either - so this complaint of yours is pretty mild.

The ending of the manga is a bit of a downer and the manga does get progressively more depressing/sad but I still enjoyed it. I think the first 4 volumes are the best though.

Just because you don't agree/believe something, doesn't make it crap - that just strikes me as narrow-minded and naive.
Did you really expect a Japanese manga to parallel our Christian values and beliefs (hello! they're a Shinto/Buddhist but mainly atheistic nation!)

Fair enough if you were disappointed but some of your rant holds no weight. The nudity is a non-issue (like I said it's not sexual in the least and it's very minimal), but some of your disappoinment is warranted and understandable; it just sounds like you were setting yourself up for disappointment.

[RobinSena]

[quote="Warrior 4 Jesus (post: 1220572)"]Wow, I enjoyed both the Nausicaa manga and the Miyazaki movie (I saw the movie first). The movie was more hopeful but the manga was more deep, more epic, more developed. As a Christian I didn't agree with a lot of the beliefs/philosophies in it but I still enjoyed the story and characters a lot and the art and imagination of it all is simply amazing.

There is some nudity but it isn't there to titillate, (like you said it's only there for several panels) and it's not gratuitously detailed either - so this complaint of yours is pretty mild.

The ending of the manga is a bit of a downer and the manga does get progressively more depressing/sad but I still enjoyed it. I think the first 4 volumes are the best though.

Just because you don't agree/believe something, doesn't make it crap - that just strikes me as narrow-minded and naive.
Did you really expect a Japanese manga to parallel our Christian values and beliefs (hello! they're a Shinto/Buddhist but mainly atheistic nation!)

Fair enough if you were disappointed but some of your rant holds no weight. The nudity is a non-issue (like I said it's not sexual in the least and it's very minimal), but some of your disappoinment is warranted and understandable]
Huge +1. Except that I actually prefer realistic endings, not ones that are all "and they all lived happily ever after". =)

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Mangaka should be allowed to write about their own philosophies and religions in their work too...

Unless they're fascists.

Am I the only one that notices the intentional irony of this post?

Or am I over-reading into it?

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I think that post was meant to be ironic, I mean I found it pretty funny.

ChurchPunk, I like endings to novels, comics, manga etc. that are natural. It can be a happy ending if it suits it, a sad, depressing end if that suits, a bitter sweet ending if that suits (my favourite type), but whatever it is the ending should not feel forced. Natural is good.
I agree with you mate.

[RobinSena]

I think that post was meant to be ironic, I mean I found it pretty funny.

ChurchPunk, I like endings to novels, comics, manga etc. that are natural. It can be a happy ending if it suits it, a sad, depressing end if that suits, a bitter sweet ending if that suits (my favourite type), but whatever it is the ending should not feel forced. Natural is good.
I agree with you mate.

Oh, and I just wanted to clarify, I wasn't saying that you like the "happily ever after" endings.. I worded that strangely, now that I look at it.. =)

[theanimeguy]

I agree with this:
http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=651&display=viewinfo

[Prince Asbel]

There is some nudity but it isn't there to titillate, (like you said it's only there for several panels) and it's not gratuitously detailed either - so this complaint of yours is pretty mild.

Perhaps so, but it irritates me a bit more because I'm constantly frustrated in finding a suitable manga or anime.

Just because you don't agree/believe something, doesn't make it crap - that just strikes me as narrow-minded and naive.

I didn't say that. It's not like I meant "I can't believe someone has a worldview different from my own!". It's the particular kind of belief that makes me crazy.

Did you really expect a Japanese manga to parallel our Christian values and beliefs (hello! they're a Shinto/Buddhist but mainly atheistic nation!)

No, I didn't expect that it would parralel Christian values. That's one thing, but that's not what makes me crazy. Again, it's the particular idea that just totally messes with my mind. I suppose it stems from a belief of mine that man being infinitely superior to nature is a fundamental basic of life that even the most hardcore atheists will admit. It's just so obvious that it maddens me.

Fair enough if you were disappointed but some of your rant holds no weight. The nudity is a non-issue (like I said it's not sexual in the least and it's very minimal), but some of your disappoinment is warranted and understandable]

The nudity is not a non-issue. I just plain disagree with you right there. It would be nice if you pointed out which parts you think were warranted or understandable.

Huge +1. Except that I actually prefer realistic endings, not ones that are all "and they all lived happily ever after". =)

I'd agree with you here, and if it had been a realistic ending, perhaps I could say I just didn't like it. But objectively speaking the ending didn't even make sense. I saw no real logic behind Nausicaa's actions, and her ultimate decision totally contradicted her nature. So even at that point the manga fails to deliver.

[Radical Dreamer]

Fair enough if you were disappointed but some of your rant holds no weight. The nudity is a non-issue (like I said it's not sexual in the least and it's very minimal), but some of your disappoinment is warranted and understandable]

The nudity is not a non-issue. I just plain disagree with you right there. It would be nice if you pointed out which parts you think were warranted or understandable.

Before this goes any further, let's just remember that everyone has different standards for their entertainment and what they will/will not watch or read. Let's also remember that this is a manga we're talking about, and it is probably not worth a big, serious-business argument. That's all. XD

[Nate]

I suppose it stems from a belief of mine that man being infinitely superior to nature is a fundamental basic of life that even the most hardcore atheists will admit.

If atheists don't believe in a god, then they believe man is part of nature. If you are part of something, how can you be superior to it? Without a god, man had to come from nature, and therefore man is not superior to nature in their view.

It's just so obvious that it maddens me.

I fail to see how it's obvious. Lots of animals build homes, and many primates are capable of using crude tools. The ability to build and use things doesn't make us superior right off the bat. The superiority of man to nature has to come from something else, then. From our unique relationship to God. Atheists don't believe in God, so therefore, it isn't obvious to them. So I don't see how you're possibly justified in this complaint.

The nudity is not a non-issue. I just plain disagree with you right there.

"The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." - Genesis 2:25

This was before the Fall. Nudity is how God originally created us. It wasn't until AFTER we sinned that nudity became something shameful. If Adam and Eve hadn't eaten the fruit we'd all be naked right now. :p

It was already stated that the nudity was NOT sexual in nature. How then could you possibly object to it if it wasn't shown in a sinful way? Better not go view Michaelangelo's David or the Sistine Chapel, I hear that they're all naked too.

EDIT: Started writing this before Corrie's post, but I stand behind my statements. However if they are responded to I will not carry the conversation any further, as per her request.

[Prince Asbel]

Before this goes any further, let's just remember that everyone has different standards for their entertainment and what they will/will not watch or read. Let's also remember that this is a manga we're talking about, and it is probably not worth a big, serious-business argument. That's all. XD

I don't see how it being a manga makes it less of a serious issue, but... Yes, you're right. Everyone's standard varies. My standard (I think this should go for everyone) is not delving into material that makes it harder to avoid sinning. For instance, I can read a book or watch a movie that has a lot of swearing in it, and it doesn't bother me at all because I just don't swear. But when it comes to nudity, I have to be a million times more careful.

So yes, you're right, people have different standards. But I think I can safely say from experience that for most people that the nudity is a big issue. For some it may not be, but for most it is. At least don't say it's a non-issue. That's just plain wrong.

If atheists don't believe in a god, then they believe man is part of nature. If you are part of something, how can you be superior to it? Without a god, man had to come from nature, and therefore man is not superior to nature in their view.

That I totally agree with. That is the logical conclusion given their beliefs, but if you've listened to dozens of atheists like I have you know they never go that far. So even though they don't say it aloud, their avoiding admitting it shows clearly that they know otherwise.

I fail to see how it's obvious. Lots of animals build homes, and many primates are capable of using crude tools. The ability to build and use things doesn't make us superior right off the bat. The superiority of man to nature has to come from something else, then. From our unique relationship to God. Atheists don't believe in God, so therefore, it isn't obvious to them. So I don't see how you're possibly justified in this complaint.

The thing that sets man apart from the animals is that we're made in the image of God. And when I say that I mean the image of God's mind. Not the body, since he doesn't have a body. And again, it is obvious given what the atheists say that they know the contrary. So the complaint is justified.

"The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." - Genesis 2:25

This was before the Fall. Nudity is how God originally created us. It wasn't until AFTER we sinned that nudity became something shameful. If Adam and Eve hadn't eaten the fruit we'd all be naked right now. :p

Okay.

It was already stated that the nudity was NOT sexual in nature. How then could you possibly object to it if it wasn't shown in a sinful way? Better not go view Michaelangelo's David or the Sistine Chapel, I hear that they're all naked too.

Just because someone did not have sinful intent in their actions, that does not mean their actions can't be objected to. I object to it because I used to have a particularly serious problem with hentai and porn in general. I used to look at it all the time, and if I see bad pictures, it only makes it harder to keep my mind off of it. So for that reason I object.

Oh, and I would certainly avoid looking at Michelangelo's work. You're definitely right there.

EDIT: Started writing this before Corrie's post, but I stand behind my statements. However if they are responded to I will not carry the conversation any further, as per her request.

If that's what you want to do, fine. I think I made my point.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I apologise for my hard tone earlier.
I will say one thing about the nudity issue though. Yes, we all have different standards and just like all guys I have issues with lust but the images in Nausicaa are far removed from anything sexual that I don't see the issue here. I'd be far more worried about the nihilistic world views influencing older children/younger teen's minds.

[termyt]

I would say the Sea of Decay is not a problem that needs to be solved. It is the solution to a problem created by a massive global conflict. The Sea of Decay will eventually consume the planet, so mankind needs to learn to live within it, yes, but the ultimate result will be a clean, vibrant planet once again full of life.

I looked at it as a tribute to the strength of God's creation. Man cannot destroy the Earth - it will survive the worst we can do. In the face of such a creation, man truly is humbled. We may have dominion over the Earth, but we do not have the authority to destroy it nor can we overpower it.

The fact that humans had figured out how to live within it it a signal of the strength of humanity as well and demonstrates he still has his place of dominion over the Earth.

[Radical Dreamer]

I don't see how it being a manga makes it less of a serious issue, but... Yes, you're right.

What I meant was that it's a form of entertainment, and not something that's worth having a knock-down, drag-out battle over. There are more important things in this world that are actually worth arguing over than a manga, is what I mean to say. XD

[Fish and Chips]

There are more important things in this world that are actually worth arguing over than a manga, is what I mean to say. XD

Shame we are not allowed to talk about any of them.

[EricTheFred]

Just to take note of something. Reading Hayao Miyazaki's work as supporting a philosophy of either humanism or naturalism is probably a mistake. Miyazaki has always struck me as very much a product of the religion of his land. He seems to see spirits everywhere, and gods in everything and for everything, and that, ladies and gents, is a pretty good description of Shinto. I get the sense that he sees environmentalism as a kind of worship, a means of piety toward the gods of his beliefs.

So, for us as Christians to criticize his work for being 'humanist' or 'contrary to religion' is probably unfair. By all means, feel free to oppose the views he espouses as being the product of a religion you do not believe in, but make sure you understand where he is coming from.

For my own part, I have always seen stewardship of the Earth as one of our appointed duties, and as one of our greatest failings. So I don't diverge completely with Miyazaki philosophically. But, obviously, just like most other Christians, I do see our relationship with the world as ultimately different than his view. It doesn't prevent me from enjoying his work any more than my forefathers' conversions from paganism to Christianity would prevent me from enjoying Wagner.

[GhostontheNet]

Just to take note of something. Reading Hayao Miyazaki's work as supporting a philosophy of either humanism or naturalism is probably a mistake. Miyazaki has always struck me as very much a product of the religion of his land. He seems to see spirits everywhere, and gods in everything and for everything, and that, ladies and gents, is a pretty good description of Shinto. I get the sense that he sees environmentalism as a kind of worship, a means of piety toward the gods of his beliefs.

So, for us as Christians to criticize his work for being 'humanist' or 'contrary to religion' is probably unfair. By all means, feel free to oppose the views he espouses as being the product of a religion you do not believe in, but make sure you understand where he is coming from.

For my own part, I have always seen stewardship of the Earth as one of our appointed duties, and as one of our greatest failings. So I don't diverge completely with Miyazaki philosophically. But, obviously, just like most other Christians, I do see our relationship with the world as ultimately different than his view. It doesn't prevent me from enjoying his work any more than my forefathers' conversions from paganism to Christianity would prevent me from enjoying Wagner.

Miyazaki's actual views of religion are ambiguous, and where religious imagery drawn from Shintoism or Christianity show up, they are usually representative of man's relation to nature. By all accounts, however, Karl Marx is a very strong influence on Miyazaki's thought. In his early works, Miyazaki was a Communist. Castle in the Sky, for example, features a strong proletariat, while Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro features strong socialistic imagery. The period Miyazaki created Nausicaa represents the moment Miyazaki says he abandoned Marxism because he "stopped seeing things by class, as it's a lie that one is right just because he/she is a laborer". Even so, Marx's thought remains a strong influence on him and his cinema. In Spirited Away, for example, the witch Yubaba, as the owner of the bath-house, holds control of the means of production, and uses this leverage to control her laborers by pressuring them to surrender their names and identities.

Still, it is quite noticeable that where Miyazaki is quite willing to criticize industrial capitalism and imperialistic governments, criticism of religion as the opiate of the masses appears in no place I am aware of in his works. Religious imagery and characters (with, perhaps, the exception of that sneaky avaricious Shinto priest in Princess Mononoke) always appear in a positive light whenever they occur. Its just as possible, however, that Marx's influence has made Miyazaki a secular humanist in the broad sense (although without all the antagonism toward religion as a supposed enemy of humanity). Whatever the case, it is likely that Miyazaki shares in the Japanese conception of organic matter, rather than the western conception of mechanical matter. As to how I personally feel about Karl Marx, as a Christian socialist, my biggest beef with him is that he divorced communism from its Christian roots (particularly in groups like the League of the Just). Even so, Marx's writings contain many useful ideas. I've even been thinking of writing a theological blog titled Marx and the Restoration of the Holy that examines and plays with (in the sense spoken of by Jacques Derrida) Marx's text to deal with the question of why belief and devotion in God declines in capitalist nations and what can be done about it.

[EricTheFred]

Miyazaki's actual views of religion are ambiguous, and where religious imagery drawn from Shintoism or Christianity show up, they are usually representative of man's relation to nature.

Whether you realize it or not, that statement serves to support my point. Shinto itself is essential a religion centered on nature and man's relation to it. Whether or not he will publicly admit it, I have always seen Miyazaki's work are very strongly Shintoist (the traditional version, not the State Shinto of wartime Japan).

[GhostontheNet]

Whether you realize it or not, that statement serves to support my point. Shinto itself is essential a religion centered on nature and man's relation to it. Whether or not he will publicly admit it, I have always seen Miyazaki's work are very strongly Shintoist (the traditional version, not the State Shinto of wartime Japan).

That is one possible interpretation of the evidence. However, the strong Marxist influence provides a certain measure of counter-evidence to this interpretation. As is well-known, Karl Marx was a very vigorous defender of philosophical naturalism (i.e. matter, energy, and natural forces are all that exist), a belief system has simply no room for Shinto spirits to exist as well. Its also worth noting that from its inception, communism contains a certain early environmentalist streak. Frederick Engels, who co-authored The Communist Manifesto with Karl Marx, once remarked: "‘Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human victories over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us." This theme of "nature's revenge" is a familiar one in Miyazaki's work, appearing in works like Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa. It may well be that within the genre of fantasy, where relics of old mythologies pop up and bend to the whims of the author, that Miyazaki employs imagery from the traditional Shinto religion to make points rooted in Marx's ideas.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I've read that Miyazaki is now an atheist but many of his works do have Shinto beliefs amongst others.

[termyt]

It should be noted that the intent of the author is somewhat secondary to how his work is perceived.

This is one of Miyazaki's own criticisms of Nausicaä. He was unhappy with many viewers' interpretation of Nausicaä at the end of the movie being messianic. That was not his intent, but the imagery can clearly be interpreted that way and has been time and again. I read somewhere that that was part of the motivation for making Princess Mononoke - it's the same basic story only the importance of the lead character is diminished somewhat to refocus the story on the issues at hand instead of the actions of the hero.

My point is, as readers of the story, we are free to interpret the story. When we read a story, we bring into the story our own point of view and interpret the story accordingly. The story succeeds if it fits into our own set of morals and expectations and then either re-affirms or challenges those expectations.

I dislike it when someone beats me over the head with the author's intention. While his intention is relevant and worthy of discussion, it is not the only consideration for interpreting his work.

[minakichan]

That is one possible interpretation of the evidence. However, the strong Marxist influence provides a certain measure of counter-evidence to this interpretation.

It's possible for a person to subscribe to multiple systems of thought that have contradicting beliefs. (HINT: LOTS OF CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.) Such a person will probably just take certain elements from each. Religious Communists, for example, certainly exist.

I would imagine that if Miyazaki is/was both Communist and Shinto/Buddhist/animist, then his Marxism would be political beliefs (blah blah blah proletariat dictatorship capitalism is evil blah blah) and his Shinto/whatever would be purely religious beliefs (blah blah blah even rocks have spirits blah blah). If they're divided into 2 separate spheres, then the contradictions are irrelevant.

[Prince Asbel]

It should be noted that the intent of the author is somewhat secondary to how his work is perceived.

This is one of Miyazaki's own criticisms of Nausicaä. He was unhappy with many viewers' interpretation of Nausicaä at the end of the movie being messianic. That was not his intent, but the imagery can clearly be interpreted that way and has been time and again.

I'll bet that's the first thing that urked me with the manga series. I think you hit it right on the head there. Really, I've always hated stories that had depressing and unsuccessful endings, and I guess it was a double-whammy with not only getting that exact kind of ending, but having a distinct impression that the outcome was going to be polar opposite to what actually did happen.

WAAAA!!!

Now I'm inspired to scribble down a fanfic:pinned: that perpetuates the impression left by the movie. That should make me feel better, even if I can't write worth carp.

[GhostontheNet]

While I was digging up information on Nausicaa, I came across an interesting segment of a particularly candid interview with Hayao Miyazaki about Nausicaa that seems quite relevant to our present discussion. The interview is titled I Understand NAUSICAA a Bit More than I Did a Little While Ago and can be found at http://www.comicbox.co.jp/e-nau/e-nau.html . The interviewer's comments can be found under the # sign, which Miyazaki's comments are under his name in bold.

MIYAZAKI No, not a countermeasure. Forest people disappear into the forest, right? Of course. They throw away culture. They may maintain their own rituals, but their lifestyle is not connected to increasing population. Therefore, I don't see how such a people can have a future. I don't mean to say that it's all that important to have a future-I think we talk about the future too much. When I talk about the present, I'm accused of living just for the moment. But it has nothing to do with whether or not I have hopes for the the future. That's because the future is just that I will die. I mean my future as an old man. [laughs]
This may sound like a zen mondo [question-and-answer session], but when I hear talk of children's futures, I just get upset, because the future of a child is to become a boring adult. Children have only the moment. In that moment, an individual child is gradually passing through the stage of childhood, the world of childhood-passing through it from moment to moment. But there are children in existence all the time. That's the way it should be understood, in my opinion. This can't be said clearly with words.

#Nausicaa starts with the end of Western Civilization as we know it, but continues throughout the book to be influenced by Western values. Then somewhere around the seventh volume, Buddhist ideas seem to take over...

MIYAZAKI I don't really know. Because I'm not familiar with Buddhist thought [laughs], since I haven't studied it formally. I really don't know. Take reincarnation, for example. I can't simply believe in it. For example, in the Cambrian period, when there was an explosion of strange creatures, like the Anomaloches-how does that fit in with reincarnation? I can't understand it unless someone explains it to me.

#But Buddha himself denied the theory of reincarnation.

MIYAZAKI In a word, Buddha taught us that we must distance ourselves from such ways of thinking. It's an incredible doctrine.

#Indeed it is.

MIYAZAKI And that's the only thing I'm dimly aware of. In short, as soon as we adopt a common religion, we start worrying only about things like how to relieve our present suffering, or how to save our souls.

#What I found very interesting was the inspired contrast you set up between light and dark in the second half of the story. In Western-style methodology up to now, the story ends with the victory of the light. But Nausicaa says "No!" and denies the light. Is this a symbol of your strenuous resistance [to Western methodology]?

MIYAZAKI The view that light is better than darkness is one that can be related to thinking lightly of the future. No matter how wise or elaborate the plan, trying to apply it to an era in which you do not live is extremely arrogant. It will not yield satisfactory results. That's something I'm sure of. I didn't want to have Nausicaa just denounce the people who made the world what it was as foolish. The fact is that they were very intelligent people, and it's not so easy just to call them liars and fools. But no matter how pure and logical the plan was, no matter how right, 'dirt' was bound to stick to it in the actual implementation, which finally led to the establishment of religion, and the founding of the order of monks, and things started to go wrong. That's human nature. But even if that hadn't happened, I believe that something would have.
If there were no misunderstandings or illusions, then Buddha's teachings would disappear, right? That's why this thing we call 'culture' is so complicated. That's what Nausicaa said 'NO' to-said 'You're wrong!' to.
I think that Nausicaa probably thinks that she would like to live at the same happy level as insects and birds, but I'm not sure. [laughs] We are like midges, who can't survive if the water is either too clean or too dirty. We live between extremes.
That's what she was talking about. Humans cannot live totally pure lives. To shoulder the burden of work is to be human. I hate to put that into words-it makes me sound so pretentious. That's why I thought it was better to use a word like 'pollution' in the story. In short, the question of how anyone could possibly survive in the middle of the Sea of Corruption wearing such a simple mask was going around and around in my head. So I was sure that there had to be something more, and it came out in the form of Nausicaa's rejection. I hated those masks. I drew them, all along thinking that they were a lie. A mask that covers only this part...[covers the bottom half of his face with his hand and laughs]

I must say, as I read through the interview that I never realized things were quite so dark inside Miyazaki's head. It certainly defies his public image. Whatever one's view of both the Nausicaa manga and anime, it seems clear that the process of creating it was filled with much cathartic creative agony.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Yes, he seems to be a tormented but very creative guy. He obviously kept most of his angst and darkness out of his movies though.
Still, it doesn't change the fact that he's an amazing director/animator etc.

[termyt]

My understanding is, and the interview seems to support, that he eschews religion - that formal religion is part of the corrupting influence of society.

If that's true, then one must have a dark view of the future.