The Force Awakens was inspired by Nausicaa of the Valley of The Wind

I just found this video on YouTube

And I can't believed I missed these parallels when I watched Nausicaa twice last month.

Some other vids on the subject.

The thing I need to say, even though I don't like sounding like a TFA hater.  Is that when I compare these movies, Nausicaa is way better to me, when I compare Lucas SW films to Flash Gordon or the Hidden Fortress, as good as they are I like Star Wars better.

Turns out there was a Homage back in Episode I also.