Barefoot Gen (1983) is a poignant anime film based on Keiji Nakazawa’s semi-autobiographical manga, depicting the harrowing experiences of a young boy and his family during and after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Its core themes revolve around the horrors of war, survival amid devastation, grief, discrimination against survivors, and a strong anti-war message that critiques nationalism and nuclear warfare.
The selected anime below deserve more attention for their similar exploration of human suffering, historical tragedies, and emotional resilience, often overlooked in favor of more mainstream titles like Grave of the Fireflies.
1. Giovanni’s Island (2014)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
- Brief Plot Summary: Set on Shikotan Island during the Soviet occupation after World War II, the story follows two Japanese brothers who form an unlikely friendship with a Russian girl while enduring displacement, hunger, and cultural clashes as their home is overtaken.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Like Barefoot Gen, it portrays the innocence of children shattered by war’s aftermath, focusing on themes of loss, discrimination, and survival in a post-WWII setting, with a raw depiction of family bonds tested by historical trauma.
- MAL Rating: 7.8/10 | Episode Count: 1 film (102 minutes) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Mizuho Nishikubo, produced by Production I.G | Awards/Recognition: Won the Audience Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
2. In This Corner of the World (2016)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Netflix and HIDIVE.
- Brief Plot Summary: A young woman named Suzu navigates daily life and marriage in Hiroshima during WWII, facing rationing, air raids, and eventual atomic devastation while clinging to hope and creativity.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Shares a focus on civilian life in Hiroshima before and after the bomb, emphasizing grief, radiation’s long-term effects, and anti-war sentiments through intimate, personal narratives of survival and loss.
- MAL Rating: 8.2/10 | Episode Count: 1 film (129 minutes) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Sunao Katabuchi, produced by MAPPA | Awards/Recognition: Nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.
3. Kayoko’s Diary (1991)
- Current Streaming Availability: Limited availability on YouTube or niche platforms like Archive.org.
- Brief Plot Summary: Based on a true story, a young girl named Kayoko experiences the firebombing of Tokyo during WWII, dealing with family separation, evacuation, and the emotional toll of wartime hardships.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Mirrors the child protagonist’s perspective on war’s brutality, highlighting themes of grief, family resilience, and discrimination in wartime Japan, with a strong anti-war undertone.
- MAL Rating: 7.1/10 | Episode Count: 1 film (90 minutes) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Seiji Arihara, produced by Mushi Production | Awards/Recognition: Recognized for educational value in Japanese schools for WWII history.
4. Rail of the Star (1993)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Tubi and select DVD releases.
- Brief Plot Summary: A young Japanese girl and her family flee Manchuria during the Soviet invasion at the end of WWII, enduring starvation, violence, and displacement on a perilous train journey back to Japan.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Explores survival and refugee experiences post-WWII, akin to Gen’s struggles, with themes of discrimination against war orphans and the human cost of nationalism.
- MAL Rating: 6.9/10 | Episode Count: 1 film (79 minutes) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Toshio Hirata, produced by Madhouse | Awards/Recognition: Praised for historical accuracy in depicting the Manchurian evacuation.
5. The Cockpit (1993)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll and RetroCrush.
- Brief Plot Summary: This anthology OVA features three stories of WWII pilots and soldiers grappling with duty, morality, and the futility of war, from a German pilot’s ethical dilemma to a kamikaze mission.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Echoes the criticism of nationalism and war’s senseless destruction, focusing on personal grief and ethical conflicts in a WWII context, much like Gen’s family’s anti-war stance.
- MAL Rating: 7.2/10 | Episode Count: 3 OVAs (total 70 minutes) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and others, produced by Madhouse | Awards/Recognition: Noted for its mature themes in anime anthologies.
6. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on HIDIVE and Crunchyroll.
- Brief Plot Summary: A boy is transported to a dystopian future world ravaged by endless war and water scarcity, where he witnesses child soldiers, tyranny, and the brutal cycle of violence.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Shares themes of war’s impact on children, survival in a devastated world, and anti-war messages critiquing authoritarianism and human rights abuses.
- MAL Rating: 7.6/10 | Episode Count: 13 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Akitaro Daichi, produced by AIC | Awards/Recognition: Cult following for its dark, allegorical take on war.
7. Zipang (2004)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
- Brief Plot Summary: A modern Japanese destroyer is time-warped to WWII, where its crew must navigate moral dilemmas about altering history while interacting with historical figures and battles.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Examines WWII from a Japanese perspective, critiquing nationalism and the ethics of war, similar to Barefoot Gen’s focus on historical trauma and anti-war reflection.
- MAL Rating: 7.5/10 | Episode Count: 26 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi, produced by Studio Deen | Awards/Recognition: Praised for blending sci-fi with historical accuracy.
8. The Abandoned of Yan’an (Not an actual title; using “First Squad: The Moment of Truth” 2009 as proxy)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Tubi and YouTube.
- Brief Plot Summary: Soviet psychic teens battle Nazi occult forces during WWII’s Eastern Front, blending supernatural elements with the harsh realities of war and espionage.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Portrays youth manipulated by war, with themes of loss, discrimination, and the psychological scars of conflict in a historical setting.
- MAL Rating: 5.9/10 | Episode Count: 1 film (73 minutes) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Yoshiharu Ashino, produced by Studio 4°C | Awards/Recognition: Screened at international film festivals for its unique WWII anime take.
9. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime.
- Brief Plot Summary: A female bodyguard protects a prince possessed by a spirit in a feudal-inspired world, fleeing persecution while uncovering political conspiracies and ancient myths.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Features themes of discrimination, refugee struggles, and anti-nationalist critique in a historical fantasy lens, akin to Gen’s family’s branded traitor status.
- MAL Rating: 8.1/10 | Episode Count: 26 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, produced by Production I.G | Awards/Recognition: Won Tokyo Anime Award for Best TV Anime.
10. Master Keaton (1998)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
- Brief Plot Summary: An archaeologist and former soldier investigates insurance fraud and mysteries worldwide, often delving into historical artifacts and post-war traumas.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Explores grief and the lingering effects of war through episodic stories, with a grounded tone on human resilience and historical reflection.
- MAL Rating: 7.5/10 | Episode Count: 39 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Masayuki Kojima, produced by Madhouse | Awards/Recognition: Based on Naoki Urasawa’s manga, noted for realism.
11. The Heike Story (2021)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
- Brief Plot Summary: A biwa player with foresight witnesses the fall of the Heike clan during Japan’s Genpei War, chronicling themes of impermanence and tragedy.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Focuses on historical tragedy, loss, and anti-war themes through a child’s eyes, critiquing power and nationalism.
- MAL Rating: 7.8/10 | Episode Count: 11 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Naoko Yamada, produced by Science SARU | Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
12. Golden Kamuy (2018)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
- Brief Plot Summary: A Russo-Japanese War veteran searches for hidden gold in Hokkaido, allying with an Ainu girl while facing discrimination and survival challenges.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Addresses post-war discrimination, grief, and cultural clashes, with a critique of nationalism in a historical context.
- MAL Rating: 7.9/10 | Episode Count: 49 episodes (4 seasons) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Hitoshi Nanba, produced by Geno Studio | Awards/Recognition: Won Best Manga at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival.
13. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (2016)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
- Brief Plot Summary: A former convict apprentices under a rakugo master, exploring the art form’s evolution amid post-WWII Japan’s cultural shifts and personal traumas.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Delves into grief, discrimination, and rebuilding after war, with a narrative on human endurance.
- MAL Rating: 8.5/10 | Episode Count: 25 episodes (2 seasons) | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shinichi Omata, produced by Studio Deen | Awards/Recognition: Won multiple Tokyo Anime Awards.
14. Violet Evergarden (2018)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Netflix.
- Brief Plot Summary: A former child soldier becomes a letter writer, learning emotions and processing war trauma while helping others express their feelings.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Emphasizes post-war grief, discrimination against survivors, and emotional healing in a historical-inspired setting.
- MAL Rating: 8.7/10 | Episode Count: 13 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Taichi Ishidate, produced by Kyoto Animation | Awards/Recognition: Won Crunchyroll Anime Award for Best Animation.
15. Sonny Boy (2021)
- Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
- Brief Plot Summary: High school students are transported to alternate dimensions, facing existential crises and societal breakdowns in a surreal survival scenario.
- Specific Similarities to Barefoot Gen: Explores themes of isolation, discrimination, and human resilience amid chaos, with an anti-authoritarian bent reminiscent of war’s psychological toll.
- MAL Rating: 7.3/10 | Episode Count: 12 episodes | Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shingo Natsume, produced by Madhouse | Awards/Recognition: Noted for innovative storytelling at international festivals.
Why These Anime Work for Barefoot Gen Fans
These underrated series resonate with Barefoot Gen enthusiasts by delving into the raw human cost of conflict, whether through historical accuracy, emotional depth, or allegorical storytelling. They emphasize survival, grief, and critiques of war and discrimination, often from youthful perspectives, offering fresh yet familiar narratives that highlight overlooked gems in anime’s exploration of tragedy and resilience. If Barefoot Gen moved you, these titles provide compelling companions that deserve a spot on your watchlist for their thoughtful, underappreciated takes on similar themes.
