“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (風の谷のナウシカ), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1984, B3 Size (36 × 51 cm) ZA1222

This is an original Japanese B3 promotional poster printed in 1984 for Hayao Miyazaki’s landmark animated feature Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Unlike the standard theatrical B2, this is a scarcer B3 campaign poster, issued in connection with the film’s original Japanese release and tied directly to Animage magazine, the publication in which Miyazaki’s original manga was serialised.

Film background

Released in 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, with music by Joe Hisaishi, and features the voices of Sumi Shimamoto, Gorō Naya, Yōji Matsuda, Yoshiko Sakakibara, and Iemasa Kayumi. The film is one of the most important works in the history of Japanese animation: a visionary ecological fantasy whose success paved the way for the founding of Studio Ghibli the following year.

Set in a poisoned post-apocalyptic world, the film follows the compassionate Princess Nausicaä as she attempts to mediate between humanity, nature, and the terrifying forces unleashed by war and environmental devastation. Today it is regarded not only as one of Miyazaki’s finest achievements, but as one of the foundational masterpieces of modern anime.

Poster design

This is a superb and highly unusual early campaign design. The composition is dominated by a large, battle-worn portrait of Nausicaä, shown with dirt and marks across her face, conveying the film’s seriousness and emotional intensity. The huge red “NAUSICAÄ” title stretching across the bottom gives the poster exceptional graphic impact and makes it instantly recognisable.

At left, the Animage branding and the 3.11 release countdown root the poster firmly in the original 1984 promotional campaign. At right, the inclusion of Sherlock Hound (名探偵ホームズ) is especially important: Nausicaä was originally screened in Japan as a double feature with episodes of Miyazaki’s Sherlock Hound. That detail makes this poster particularly appealing to collectors, as it captures a very specific and authentic moment in the film’s original release history.

This is therefore not just a poster for Nausicaä, but a piece of original 1984 Miyazaki / Animage promotional ephemera—far less commonly encountered than the standard release posters and highly desirable for serious Ghibli collectors.

Authenticity

This point is important. Many later official Ghibli reproductions and reprint poster designs circulate in the market, but this example is an original 1984 promotional printing, produced for the film’s first-release campaign in Japan. It is not one of the later reproduction posters commonly encountered.

That distinction matters greatly. Original first-release Nausicaä material is far scarcer than later reprints, and unusual campaign formats such as this B3 Animage tie-in design are especially sought after.

Condition

Excellent. 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.