Outline - The Laws of Physics in an Animation Universe: Nausicaa

Outline of: "Falling from the Valley of the Wind" by Allena Hail

I. Intro

A. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

B. Thesis - The Square Cube Law and the Laws of Gravity are bent in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, in order to create a fantastic world with amazing creatures and machines. 

II. Body

A. Size and the Square Cube Law

1. Omu, and other large insects in Nausicaa, would not be able to move at that size. Their tiny legs and wings relative to their huge weight  would prevent them from moving. (10:08) and (27:04) But we must have insects which move quickly in order for the the plot to move along. (1:39:40)

2. The large insects of the film would not even be able to exist. Scaling up their exoskeleton would put too much pressure on their joints of their exoskeleton and they would never be able to reach that size without being crushed. (See 10:08 and 27:04 again.) But without this huge size the insects would not be as threatening. 

3. The Giant Warrior, without more structural integrity, succumbs to the fate that the insects normally would. (1:46:46)

B. Falling and Gravity

1. Both Nausicaa and Lord Yupa can fall for quite a longer time than most people after jumping. They also seem to get more height in a jump than most. (33:21) (1:30:30) This is of course to create amazing fight scenes. 

2. Even when in a falling aircraft, people seem to move as if in normal gravity, as if they are not also falling. (49:43) Probably this is employed to prevent confusion in these sequences, and so the characters can escape.

3. In Nausicaa's world, barges full of comic relief elderly characters always fall slower than airships with a more proportional wingspan, but full of bad, unnamed characters. (51:20) 

C. Flying and Gravity

1. Nausicaa's small glider has must have unique properties, as it seems to defy gravity when taking off. The thrust needed to get it into the air from a straight take off would surely at least rock a boat. (58:02) Out of necessity, the glider's power and aerodynamics are very unreal. 

2. The glider, in addition to amazing propellent getting it off the ground, falls much slower to the ground than other objects. (9:31) Where it hovers even after the boost seems to have stopped. This, of course, is for looks. Who wouldn't want to ride that glider?

III. Conclusion

A. The possibility of such large insects is played with in order to to create a fantastic setting.

B. Falling and flying in the film are manipulated to create better drama and more amazing flying machines.