Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

"Based on his own 1982 manga of the same name, 'Kaze no tani no Naushika' is only Hayao Miyazaki's second feature-length film as director. And though it wasn't produced by Studio Ghibli, the feature is forever associated with the company for introducing several of the marks that would define its later work. It's a fable of pacifism, with a striking steampunk aesthetic and a moral about coexistence of humanity with the natural world around it, beautifully animated, family-friendly, and essential for Miyazaki fans. After all, it was here that the groundwork was laid for the widely appreciated work to come, with classics like 'My Neighbor Totoro'."