“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (風の谷のナウシカ / Kaze no Tani no Naushika), Original Japanese Promotional Movie Poster 1984, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q86

This is an original Japanese B2 promotional poster issued in 1984 for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Topcraft, with key voice performances by Sumi Shimamoto, Goro Naya, Yoshiko Sakakibara, Iemasa Kayumi, and Joji Yanami. It features a beautiful soft watercolour-style illustration by Miyazaki himself, showing Nausicaä in close-up with her loyal fox-squirrel Teto perched on her shoulder. This is not the standard theatrical display one-sheet, but a highly desirable original commercial promotional issue from the film’s first-release period.

Film background

Released in 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind stands as one of the most important works in the history of Japanese animation. Adapted from Miyazaki’s own manga, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by ecological collapse, where humanity struggles to survive amidst toxic forests, giant insects, and the legacy of the catastrophic “Seven Days of Fire.” More than simply a fantasy adventure, the film established many of the themes that would come to define Miyazaki’s career: environmental balance, pacifism, empathy, and the moral complexity of conflict.

Although made before the formal founding of Studio Ghibli, Nausicaä is widely regarded as the essential precursor to it. Its artistic and commercial success directly paved the way for the creation of the studio the following year. For collectors, original paper from the film’s first release occupies a crucial place in anime history: it belongs to the moment when Miyazaki’s world first emerged in its fully realised form.

Poster design

This is a quietly beautiful and highly collectible early Nausicaä image. Rather than emphasising action, aircraft, or the Ohmu, the composition presents an intimate portrait of the heroine herself. Nausicaä is shown in her familiar blue suit and ceramic armour, her expression calm, thoughtful, and resolute. On her shoulder sits Teto, whose warm orange and brown tones provide a vivid contrast against the muted yellow-ochre background.

The painting is unmistakably associated with Miyazaki’s early watercolour sensibility: soft transitions, earthy colours, and a gentle human warmth that differs markedly from the more dramatic visual treatment often found in theatrical advertising. The lower section includes the title in its iconic green stylised lettering, together with English text summarising the ancient catastrophe of the Seven Days of Fire and the struggle to restore harmony between humanity and nature.

This design is especially appealing because it presents Nausicaä not simply as an action heroine, but as a figure of grace, intelligence, and spiritual strength. It is one of those posters that feels as much like an original art print as a piece of film promotion.

A further point of collector interest is that this type of issue is often distinguished from standard cinema-display posters by the absence of an Eirin mark, supporting its identification as an original commercial promotional version distributed during the film’s original release period.

Historical significance

This poster also carries a broader historical resonance. It represents Miyazaki’s unfiltered original vision of the work, standing in direct contrast to the heavily altered overseas presentation of the film as Warriors of the Wind. That later mishandling became part of the wider background to the famous “no cuts” attitude associated with Studio Ghibli in later years. As such, this sheet is not just a lovely original poster — it is a document of the film in its authentic original Japanese form.

Miyazaki himself is known to have commented critically on this particular drawing in later years, feeling that Nausicaä’s somewhat posed stance did not entirely reflect her nature. That self-critique only makes the image more interesting: it is a rare example of an early official Miyazaki illustration that the artist later reflected on personally, adding another layer of historical interest for serious collectors.

Condition
Very Good. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 42 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.