The power of nature and the importance of environmentalism are common themes covered in anime series and films. These anime explore the dangers of abusing the Earth's natural resources as well as the joys of experiencing the wild beauty of the environment.
While many anime about the environment pit humans and nature against each other, there is always a subtext that encourages humanity and nature to live in harmony. Here are the best anime shows and movies that explore this duality and pay homage to the glory of the natural world.
Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind
Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed the 1984 anime classic, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and over 35 years later, the film still holds up. The story follows Nausicaa, a scientist, princess, and warrior who makes it her mission to try to stop a kingdom of humans from eradicating a race of giant mutant insects known as the Ohmu.
While Nausicaa is a feminist icon, the film is first and foremost a story about the value of life and fear of the unknown. Humans fear the Ohmu because they don't understand them and so Nausicaa works to educate humans about them, much like environmental activists educate people about protecting the environment today.
Parasyte: The Maxim
While Madhouse Studio's Parasyte: The Maxim is ed by fans more for its chilling body horror, it also has strong environmental themes. The anime tells the story of Shinichi, a boy whose arm is taken over by a parasitic alien lifeform known as Migi, and how the two of them learn to coexist with each other.
In particular, the series stresses the importance of learning to coexist with other species and how parasitic relationships are simply part of the natural order. As Shinichi and Migi fight against other parasites, they learn to rely on one another to survive and end up developing a close bond, despite their natural differences.
Princess Mononoke
Arguably one of Princess Mononoke is also one of its most nuanced environmental narratives. It follows Prince Ashitaka as he journeys to the lands of the Great Forest Spirit to find a cure for a curse that is ravaging his body. On the way, he gets embroiled in a war between the guardians of the forest and the humans who look to exploit its resources.
While Ashitaka attempts to save the forest and the creatures that live there, he also empathizes with the needs of the humans who rely on its resources. Princess Mononoke ends up taking a morally ambiguous stance and instead advocates for humanity and nature to compromise so both can benefit.
Origin: Spirits Of The Past
The story of Origin: Spirits of the Past begins with scientists genetically engineering trees on the Moon to live in arid climates. However, their plan goes awry when the trees gain sentience and take over the Earth, driving humanity to the brink of extinction. When a boy named Agito accidentally revives a girl from a cryogenic pod, he starts a battle between the trees and the survivors of the human race for supremacy of the Earth.
Origin: Spirits of the Past contains several overtly environmental themes, most prominently around learning to live in harmony with nature and the dangers of genetic engineering. While the plot is a little forced for some, its animation, artistry, and design still make it worth watching.
The Law Of Ueki
In The Law of Ueki, a tournament is held to decide who will be the next King of the Celestial World or God. One hundred middle school students are chosen to compete in the tournament, including Kosuke Ueki, who fights to make the world a better place while also trying to prevent those with evil motivations from inheriting the power of God.
The Law of Ueki positions itself as very eco-friendly, as Ueki is granted the power of turning garbage into trees. His power may not seem useful, but he still manages to use it in creative ways to compete in the tournament. With his power, he fights to keep the world green and prevent the goals of the selfish and greedy.
Dr. Stone
The plot of Dr. Stone begins 3,700 years after humanity is petrified by a strange green light when the young genius Sengku Ishigami emerges from his stone prison. He sets about releasing other humans, but when he frees the powerful idealogue Tsukasa Shishio, he starts a war over the role of science in this new, natural world.
While its themes are not explicitly environmental, Dr. Stone's main conflict centers on the dispute between Tsukasa and Sengku on whether science or survival of the fittest should be the foundation for humanity going forward. This argument is ultimately a rehashing of the ancient dialogue of order versus chaos, with science representing order and nature representing chaos.
Pom Poko
Isao Takahata's 1994 comedy-drama Pom Poko is about a tribe of shape-shifting tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dogs, who lead a resistance against a proposed development on their land. The tanuki resort to tactics including eco-terrorism and political campaigning, but ultimately they are unable to save their homes from being overtaken.
Pom Poko invites audiences to be sympathetic to animals like the tanuki who are not able to protect themselves. The film leverages the tanuki's struggle to prevent the destruction of their homes as a tool to encourage people to protect animal habitats and the creatures who live there.
Mushishi
Based on Yuki Urushibara's critically-acclaimed manga, Mushishi follows a man named Ginko who wanders around helping people who fall prey to the mysterious supernatural creatures known as Mushi. While most people can't see Mushi, Ginko possesses the ability to see the creatures, but his ability also means he must constantly move around to avoid attracting them.
Mushishi is a thoughtful and beautifully animated supernatural slice of life story that explores the danger of the unknown. While the Mushi are not evil, neither are they harmless, as many people fall ill after coming into with the creatures. Much like nature itself, the Mushi are neutral, which means humanity must tread carefully when treading into the wild and mysterious places of the world.
Miyori's Forest
Directed by Studio Ghibli art director, Nizo Yamamoto, Miyori's Forest is about Miyori, a moody 10-year-old who discovers a host of spirits near her grandparents' house. She learns from the spirits that an dam project will soon flood the forest and dedicates herself to serving as the guardian of her forest and stopping the dam from being built.
Miyori's Forest is a charming environmental moral that hearkens to the films of Studio Ghibli. While not quite as refined as any of Miyazaki's works, the art direction and animation are beautiful and the story is complex enough to be enjoyed by both child and adult viewers.
Wolf Children
Mamoru Hosoda is a legendary animator and Wolf Children is one of his best films. The story follows Hana, a young woman who must raise her two young half-wolf, half-human children on her own after her husband dies. While the siblings Ame and Yuki grow up as both wolves and children, they both must choose which side of their nature to accept.
The film is a coming-of-age story about the bonds of family and marriage, but fans of Wolf Children likely also picked up on its environmental themes. Ame's choice to embrace his wolf heritage speaks to this, as his decision to live as a wolf in the wild symbolizes humanity reconnecting with nature and accepting its basic instincts.