In the manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the giant armored insects are called Ohmu.
The Ohmu are among the most important creatures in Hayao Miyazaki’s post-apocalyptic story. Their name comes from Japanese words meaning “king insect,” reflecting their enormous size and dominant place in the natural world. They have multiple eyes, hard shells, and many legs, making them visually distinctive figures in the manga.
Although they can appear frightening, the Ohmu are not simply monsters. They are intelligent, highly sensitive creatures that respond strongly to suffering and environmental damage. Nausicaä, the story’s protagonist, works to understand them and protect the balance between humanity and nature.
The manga was written and illustrated by Miyazaki and ran from 1982 to 1994. It differs substantially from the 1984 animated film, which adapts only an early portion of the much longer story. The Ohmu also appear prominently in that film, helping make them internationally recognizable.