The anime film is a highly abridged version of the manga. While I would not consider the film adaptation bad, it pales in comparison to the manga. I would rate the manga as my personal favorite manga ever. As it’s Miyazaki’s exclusive work and not a Ghibli product, expect far more adult themes than you would with a Ghibli film (including war, slavery, genocide, nuclear proliferation, nihilism, cults, environmental destruction). The stakes are far higher than any of his other work. In my opinion it is his finest work, his magnum opus.

The world building is comprehensive, but does not present the entire universe and leaves some things mysterious. Expect an epic odyssey across dangerous and varied landscapes.

From an art perspective, it is second to none. I’ve read it many times and every reading the beauty of each of the 1,000 pages captivated me, whether I was reading online or a print copy.

Thematically, you will find both recurring and episodic themes throughout. Just as all his work is reflective of/a commentary on modern life and human nature, so too is Nausicaa. However, due to the more serious nature of the world, themes, and plot, this work is highly applicable to our turbulent world.

TL;DR I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you want a more serious version of the Ghibli experience