Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This was going to be a top 3 but then I remembered Nausicaa, the woman who started it all. I can't prove it but I think I somehow saw this on TV shortly after it came out and I was too young to appreciate it, but I definitely have a childhood memory of the scene with the plane in the storm.

The world is not kind to these characters but they persevere, and Nausicaa in particular is incredibly strong in a believable way. Even so, I can't shake the feeling that no matter what happens in this show, humanity won't make it much longer.

The Nausicaa of the Valley manga is one of the few I'd recommend. If I remember right, the movie covers most of the first volume (out of eight).

5/5
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Whisper of the Heart

There's love, there's drama, there's fun cats. Mostly though there's a girl who accidentally finds inspiration to better herself. She works hecking hard at it and shows some progress in the short time we follow her journey. She's doing this for him but really I think she's doing this for herself.

4/5
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Porco Rosso

The pig seems to really be living the dream in the beginning of this film. There's great scenery, fun (almost low-stakes) adventure, and a young woman who has one thing on her mind (it's building planes). The story goes off the rails at the end but even where there's conflict the characters seem to be having a good time.

3/5
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From Up on Poppy Hill

Just don't think about the storyline involving potential incest, it's not that kind of show. This movie has a great soundtrack and a main character who appears to be holding it together by keeping busy and she is makes no effort to appear happy (and nobody tries to pressure her to). The main reason I like this move is that despite the fact I have no context to judge it so, it feels very authentic to a real historical period -- I somehow feel like this took place in *my* childhood home town.

2/5
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