The Valley of the Wind, a peaceful, sequestered human settlement is violently coerced into joining a multinational war against the insects that control the greater face of the Earth. The wise people of this valley, however, are far less susceptible to the hubris that has clouded their neighbors’ judgments and they know that doom surely awaits this misguided war. They turn to their young princess to save them, and, later, to redeem the whole human race. And Nausicaä must turn to guns, swords, air gliders, scientific inquiry, and, most importantly, compassion, to get the deed done.