For my original entry for Birth, click here.
Sometimes you have to recover your tracks in order to move forward. In terms of classic anime and in particular, Birth, I have a little more to say…
Now this is what I call a proper cartoon! Action, adventure, screwy comedy and fluid animation, like water, that reminds me of a sci-fi fantasy version of Looney Tunes (hmm? Did you forget about Duck Dodgers?). Unique character designs for the time, a product of Kaname Production… I bow down to this studio with so much love and admiration… life, death, spiritual cosmology on multiple levels, a sword (the Shade to be precise) and, and… well, this is Birth. One of my all time favorite OVA releases from the 1980s, if not one of my top ten, no five, maybe three anime of all time. A true animation playhouse, 1984’s Birth hits me on so many levels: there’s my inner immortal child, my current Zen and Taoist adult self, my high brow artist snob and even my self proclaimed 80s otaku who all enjoy the crazy sci-fi fantasy, the spastic humor, that aesthetic that only Japanese animation can produce and the deeper spirituality of this gem.
Long ago I wrote about Birth right at the beginning of this website’s inception (it was entry #4) and it’s high time I give another shout out to this jewel of an OVA. Some of you may not be a fan of this show and some of you I know are totally passionate about this one-off oddity like me. I am not going to go over the synopsis of this production again, that was the job for my first entry… or was it? Does the plot really matter when the proverbial ride of watching this production becomes the major enjoyment. We do have a story… an alien world, Aqualoid, inhabited by organic life, some are humanoid, and Inorganic invaders who are at a tug of war struggle in terms of survival. This isn’t a war per se, more like opposing forces in nature balancing themselves out via an animated free for all… or perhaps an overdone chase scene set to a battle of life versus death which renews itself without realizing it.
Birth exudes style no question, but it is the more profound looks at life, death and the natural cycles of balance that appeal more to my eye with each viewing. Has my listening to Alan Watts lectures, reading the Tao Te Ching and studying astrological and mythological practices found a way into my viewing of anime? Guilty as charged! The ghostlike Arlia drops the initial clues when speaking to our quartet of protagonists. She states that the invading Inorganics and the native organic life forms are both products of the universe. The inclusion of evil, or destructive… malefic influences are important to continue the cycle of life. We often like to say let’s get rid of war and disease, etc. and live in total harmony and peace, but those more challenging elements are a part of what harmony is all about. How would you know the sweet if you didn’t experience the bitter and the sour. Sometimes we have to let go of something even if it is painful.
And now for an even bigger topic… death. Much like Space Runaway Ideon (awesome show), everyone and everything gets annihilated at the end of Birth. Yet out of this heavy destruction returns the possibility of life. A new ‘birth’… now the title makes perfect sense. Our heroes truly did not die, they just changed, evolved, or transformed and from the look on their faces they seem to be in a state of joy being free of their 3D bodies… but wait this is a cartoon… would 2D be more appropriate? This anime among other influences has really left an influence on me in regards to viewing death. It is not a terrible end, only a possibility to start over yet again. Freedom!
Finally let’s look at cosmology. The universe from my understanding exists on many levels, perhaps dimensions, and each is interconnected with the others. Harmony on one level can create chaos on another and vice versa… thank you Alan Watts. Could these life forms on the planet Aqualoid actually exist as a lower level to say the ethereal character Arlia? We zoom out at the end to find this was all in Arlia’s eye, or perhaps her mind. Could the Aqualoid population be part of her internal organs and bloodstream? Or perhaps it was only just a dream? Either way life and conciousness are much more complex than than tangible surface we witness with our five senses. We may have an Aqualoid inside of all of us, or perhaps we are an Aqualoid for a higher level of being?
Time to get off the high horse now. I also love that pop/electronic music soundtrack composed by future Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi. It is a nice showing off of his talents beyond his epic orchestral scores that he most known for. All in all Birth is a perfect package to satisfy my eclectic interests. The more you watch Birth the more you get out of it, but then again my interests in astrology, cosmology and spirituality have continued to grow alongside my passion for Japanese animation. So perhaps it is a fresh viewing each time I watch Birth because it seems like everyday I see the world through another filter of consciousness.
Based off a manga and debuting on television in 1985, Honoo no Alpenrose first came into my life through a condensed two episode OVA compilation released in 1986. If only I could see the original 20 episode TV series? I like a non-abridged version whenever possible. Thankfully this version fell into my lap and became a recent priority. So what exactly is Alpen Rose? To begin the title refers to two specific references. The first is a flower that grows in the Alps region. During winter snows and freezing temperatures this flower never loses it’s will to live and stays in full bloom. Impressive! Alpen Rose is also the title of an important piece of music toward the plot of the series. An anthem to be precise! A subtle and tender song speaking out against Nazi oppression. A song to rise up and believe in life and freedom… very fitting to be named after a flower that represents choosing life and beauty in the face of strife and hardship.
We begin after a plane crash in the heart of Switzerland. A young girl with her pet parrot returns to consciousness unsure of who she is. She is soon met by a boy her age, Lundi, who gives her the name Jeudi and helps her start a new life. By the way the parrot is named Printemps by the way (All this French! I like it!) A few years pass, Jeudi is now a teenager and is working as a nurse’s aide when she is reunited with her beloved Lundi. Then the chase begins when both characters encounter a bishonen count who has loose ties to the German Nazi’s and has an obsession with Jeudi. She is totally underage… creepy! Along the way Jeudi and Lundi meet many new friends, but the most important would become a third party, an young anti-Nazi composer prodigy, Leonhardt/Leon, perhaps my favorite character (has to be those locks of hair!). This is turning into a love quartet. OK Jeudi for whom does your heart desire for?
Alpen Rose is one of those titles where I can’t help but love, yet I do have mixed feelings. Often times an anime series starts off with a great plot line and resolves at around the half way mark. The show continues on, but it just doesn’t feel the same. Jeudi’s journey to rediscover her past identity, find her parents and solve the riddle of why the song Alpen Rose has special significance made the first half a nail biter. From there it became a prelude towards the war between the Allies and the Axis. Our cast of characters became part of the bigger zeitgeist of the moment. Yet the second half did reveal some new twists and discoveries which provided interest. The show is solid and even paced throughout, but the ending was a little rushed… now begins WWII… the end. Hey now!
Many big names are tied with the production of Alpen Rose. Tatsunoko was the studio responsible for bringing the show to life… and they have a great track record! The music was composed by Joe Hisaishi, who would go onto super stardom scoring films for Hayao Miyazaki. In fact he already did Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind the previous year! Often times when encountering shojo material I often run into magical girl shows and high school romantic comedies. Both genres have merit, but I have a soft spot for the historic romantic drama. Something a little more serious with an element of old classic style. Alpen Rose fills these qualifications fantastically and I am so thankful I finally got to see the entire TV series. I will watch this one again!
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind cemented Hayao Miyazaki into super stardom and led to the formation of Studio Ghibli. He had been in the anime business for almost a couple decades by this point, but this one film changed everything overnight. So am I saying that Nausicaa is that powerful? That this is a film that can change destiny? Uh huh! And why is this? Two reasons. One, Nausicaa grounded fantasy and sci-fi so to speak (as did Fist of the North Star, also 1984). This is not about spaceships, or laser blasters. It’s about our Earth’s environment, the aftermath of great devastation and the corruption of those who don’t work in accord with their natural environment and within themselves. Which to be honest, is one and the same; as above so below. But more importantly, it’s about the heart. Miyazaki can pull your heart strings like few others and Nausicaa represents a spirit more often needed in anime or entertainment in general. This movie was ready at the right time.
Now… what about our hero, Miss Nausicaa? How can you not love her? She is a role model for everyone who has a way with animals, an understanding of nature and a love of flight and freedom (so Miyazaki). Her powers can tame the wildest of beasts, build a garden from what many consider poisonous plants and fly a glider like a bird. Yet she is vulnerable as well because she is surrounded by factions that want to shake her standing on what she believes in and what is right to her. Despite these controversies she holds her ground and stays honest to herself and she knows how to get her hands dirty when needed. A princess and yet a tomboy who follows her heart… so noble. She would be the first in a line of strong female characters that Miyazaki would bless us with. Kiki (Kiki’s Delivery Service), San (Princess Mononoke) and Chihiro (Spirited Away) are all representative of the Miyazaki heroine archetype.
Miyazaki has always been the showman compared to his partner in crime, Isao Takahata. Yet when Miyazaki goes into a more serious direction, he does not slouch. Even at this early stage of his career, he still showed the ultra professionalism that oozes from his work. This was a time where fame and fortune was just around the corner and he was hungry to prove himself as an auteur and while he did direct the awesome Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaa would be his first total vision. But he needed help and various names are linked with this film. Takahata produced, a young Joe Hisaishi provided the epic score (which reminds me of his then current work on Mospeada and Birth) and Hideaki Anno, years before his time at Gainax, would be a key animator during one of the climactic scenes (I am not saying which one 😉 ).
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is more than just another anime title, or even one of Miyazaki’s best films, it is required viewing. You call yourself a fan of anime? Let me see that you have seen this movie? Yeah I figured you have 🙂 as my readers have good taste. A timeless classic worthy to be in any collection, unless it is the Warriors of the Wind release (I have never seen that one). To Hayao Miyazaki, I thank you for making this movie that has made generations of fans cheer, cry and believe in a greater good. While many productions in the 1980s mark the times that they were made in, few can be considered eternal classics. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is and always will be a permanent classic.
The Classic Anime Museum 
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