9 months ago

Interesting to see your Nausicaä reference, since I had noticed that the credits gave thanks to Hiyao Miyazaki and I have long known of the existence of the well-recommended anime title Nausicaä of the Valley, but I don't believe I have ever actually watched it. I assume you are indeed referring to the anime, rather than what I just learned was apparently part of Homer's famed Odyssey (or something..)? Care to elaborate on how this connects to Nausicaä in your mind— for those like myself that (despite being an anime fan) have never watched it?<br /> <br /> (P.S.: semi-random question: have you happened to have also watched what I recall to be titled as something like “Earth Girl Arjuna”? That's something I have indeed watched a good bit of… — mentioned just incase that might serve as a common reference point)

9 months ago

@calex Of course! And yes, I was thinking about the anime rather than the manga. For me, it's mostly the aesthetics, the bioluminescence quite present in the plants and the way they interact with the ecossystem it's a beautiful inspiration, but of course one may go further and drawn parallels to Vesper and Nausicaä interest in nature and science, as well as their resilience and fighting spirit. And not only that, but the story itself, the struggless and the messages that it tries to pass on the public, but Nausicaä, with it's more "direct" ending is a little bit more successful in letting its optmistic message more easily visualised. And just to make it clear, even if I can see parallels it doesn't mean I don't think that Vesper doesn't stand on it's own, there are unique elements on Vesper, and it's just a shame it couldn't go more in deepth about social structures for example... <br /> <br /> (P.S: You know what? It's kinda funny that you did watch "Earth Girl Arjuna" and not Nausicaä, because I'm the reverse lol. Truthfully, thank you for your comment, because Earth Girl Arjuna has been in my watch list for an embarrassing long time... And now I'm really wanting to see it!)