Key Takeaways:
– Miyazaki shares insights about his creative process in a watercolor illustration book for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
– An error made by Miyazaki in an illustration became a significant plot point in the movie.
– Regarded as a ‘failure’ at first, the illustration ended up being a foreshadowing of future events.
Creating Masterpieces Out Of Mistakes
Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki is not unfamiliar with making grand cinematic spectacles. Yet, in the process, he is also not immune to mistakes. Interestingly, even his ‘errors’ seem to bear the Midas touch, transforming into golden opportunities, as was the case with an illustration for his Oscar-winning movie Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
The book titled Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: Watercolor Impressions is a collection of all the illustrations he dedicated to the movie, each adorned with the celebrated director’s comments and feelings whilst sketching them.
An ‘Error’ That Adds to The Narrative
One such illustration depicts the protagonist, Nausicaa, comfortably seated on a giant creature amidst the toxic Sea of Corruption, with her mask off. This initial version of the cover stirred up a good deal of self-critique from Miyazaki who felt he had erred because the Sea of Corruption is a lethal forest area teeming with fungal life where survival without a mask is unthinkable.
Only after doodling the mask-free Nausicaa did he realize this inconsistency. Nonetheless, this left him with no alternative but to continue with the original illustration for the sake of character recognition.
The ‘Mistake’ That Turned Out To Be A Prophecy
Though Miyazaki’s remorse about this discrepancy in his art was palpable initially, it disappeared soon. Much later in the story, Nausicaa is compelled to remove her mask in the Sea of Corruption, a plot point that he had inadvertently drawn earlier and labeled an error. This ‘failure’ was oddly aligned with the subsequent narrative progression in the movie.
During a crucial sequence in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaa, in a desperate bid to save her people aboard an airplane, convinces them to jettison their cargo. The refusal of the crew forces her to unmask to demonstrate her earnestness. Being a cherished princess, her unflinching resolve and apathy towards her personal safety move the crew into following her advice.
The ‘Failure’ That Became An Easter Egg
Consequently, Nausicaa’s act of removing her mask in the Sea of Corruption became a canon in the movie. This self-dubbed ‘failure’ in Miyazaki’s art turned prophetic. Hence, what originated as a self-perceived error turned into an Easter egg, further enriching the narrative and deepening the character’s impact.
Fans and anime enthusiasts can relish this masterpiece and many more of Miyazaki’s works on Crunchyroll. Though even legends can err, as evidenced by this incident, it’s fascinating how their mistakes can morph into integral facets of their narratives, constituting memorable moments for their audience.
In conclusion, Hayao Miyazaki showed us all that even mistakes have the potential of becoming masterpieces, given the right context and narrative. The book Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: Watercolor Impressions brings these hidden gems from the director’s creative process to the eager fans, making it a must-read for any Studio Ghibli enthusiast, confirming that sometimes a mistake can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
