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Mononoke Vs Nausicaa - Which film do you like more?

posted 9 years ago by TwiZone
17 replies | jump to latest

These two films are often compared with each other because of their environmental themes and the plot of humans fighting off creatures for their own benefit. My question is, which film do you like more? Initially, I used to like Princess Mononoke more for quite some time and while I do still absolutely love Mononoke (it's one of my favourite films of all time), I am now siding with Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind as the film I like SLIGHTLY more. While Mononoke does some elements slightly better than Nausicaa, I think Nausicaa appeals to me a little bit more for two reasons.

Firstly, I like the main character Nausicaa more than Ashitaka. The latter is still pretty cool, but I do find Nausicaa to be more interesting (but that's the way I feel about it). Secondly, the post apocalyptic, steampunk world of Nausicaa is more fascinating to me than the forest setting of Mononoke. The latter definitely is creative and it has moments of visual beauty, but there is something about the world that Miyazaki created with Nausicaa that is a little bit more fascinating to me.

Mononoke is my 13th favourite film of all time. Nausicaa is 11th.

What are your thoughts?

[–] omgmrtea 9 years ago

I also really like both movies, and i think Mononoke might be my favourite movie of all time. That said, Nausicaa is just gorgeous, but so is Ashitaka. I think Nausicaa just has a female bonus with lots of male movie watchers. She would totally be my perfect girlfriend, haha. She has such a big heart. But honestly, i really don't even want to think about which one i like better, because both are such great and really fleshed out characters, with high ethical standings. I just stopped ranking my favourite movies a few years ago, it's very liberating i tell you. I just have my 15 movies that i rate a 10, in no particular order. Then about 30 9ers, then the rest.

[–] speccyboy 9 years ago

I like Nausicaa because of its sci-fi setting, but Mononoke is the better film - it feels like a more refined version of Nausicaa, and its protagonist (Ashitaka) is more human and not as perfect or infallible as Nausicaa (of course, the manga may be different).

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

I think Nausicaa is the better film, but Mononoke has better pacing.

That being said, I love both movies.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] GottaWatchThemAll 9 years ago

I just started watching this genre yesterday. Spirited away, Grave of the fireflies and Mononoke all down. Nausicaa is a must watch then, I presume. But if it's your 11th, what are the rest ? Guess It's all films tho.

[–] GottaWatchThemAll 9 years ago

Now I just watched this. I'll say Mononoke is my favorite. They are close and both good. But I like the interacting in Mononoke better. With the main character and the princess, the animals. But also with all the characters in general and the "bad" ones. Yeee I'll jsut leave it at that.

[–] spkeck 8 years ago

Watch Totoro

[–] clash77 9 years ago

They're both great and have somewhat similar story lines, but in the end, I have to go with Mononoke. I find the characters more interesting and let's be honest, the one thing that REALLY hurts Nausicaa is that horribly dated 80's "techno" soundtrack. Other than that, it's an amazing film. Mononoke just happens to be my favorite.

[–] Towelie_Towel (1723) 4 years ago

Horrible soundtrack?
What the hell are you talking about? Get out of here...

[–] Xator_Nova 9 years ago

Princess Mononoke articulates its message in a more world-aware way, while Nausicaä is very, very idealistic and at some points too convenient for the main character. I love both films, though.

"Citizen Kane" fan, "Frozen" fan, and "Boyhood" fan. ;)

[–] Bree_33 9 years ago

Princess Mononoke articulates its message in a more world-aware way, while Nausicaä is very, very idealistic and at some points too convenient for the main character. I love both films, though.

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[–] prabhatrayal 8 years ago

Princess Mononoke hands down

[–] Kent_Kainer 8 years ago

Most of the time Nausicaa bored me, thus I watched it only once and that's even long ago.
I don't get tired of Mononoke. Just rewatched it again for the nth time and I still think it's awesome.

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Lincoln Lee: I lost a partner.
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[–] aManInBackOfThisPlace 8 years ago

Mononoke Hime is a little more down to earth i feel. Now i grew up (or am still growing haha) in rural alpine Austria, where lots of things remind me of some of the settings in the film. Nausicaa has some cheesy moments and the synth music's alright, but can't stand against the masterful orchestra OST of Mononoke. And Nausicaa DOES get reealllly cheesy at times whereas Mononoke Hime holds back a little on it's sentimentality.

I find the artwork done in PM more intriguing because it leans slightly towards Christian mythology and Shintoism, and while i do like artforms independent of religion, Steampunk just seems so.... worn out. It's just overused.

I guess i'm biased because this is my second favourite movie of all time, being tailed by David Lynch's Mulholland Drive on nr3 and only topped by Alfonso Cuaron's Y tu Mama Tambien, but i genuinly can't compare the two as if they're in the same ballpark, or even the same sport.

Other films by Ghibli i find better, mainly Grave of the Fireflies (which is my fourth favourite film of all time), Spirited Away and Pom Poko (which is CRIMINALLY underrated!!)

sry, Nausicäa is like a 7/10 while PM is a solid tenouttaten.

Peace.