Barefoot Gen: A review and review of a classic anime that depicts the horrors of war

Barefoot Gen: A Story of Tragedy and Hope in War

Introduction

"Barefoot Gen," released on July 21, 1983, is a moving work that depicts the misery of war and the strength of humanity. The film is based on the manga of the same name by Keiji Nakazawa, and is based on the author's own experience of being exposed to radiation in Hiroshima. In its short 85 minutes, it depicts the horror of war and the resilience of humans who overcome it. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the story, production background, cast, and staff of "Barefoot Gen," as well as its reviews and recommendations.

story

Hiroshima, 1945. Having lost his father, mother, older sister and younger brother in the atomic bombing, Gen lives a resilient life in the ruins with his mother and younger sister. This is a moving story that depicts the cruelty of war and the human strength to overcome it. Gen miraculously survives unscathed when the atomic bomb is dropped, but his life thereafter becomes extremely difficult. Gen's mother, Kimie, dies from the effects of the atomic bomb immediately after giving birth to Gen's younger sister, Tomoko, but Gen decides to carry on his mother's wishes and survive. Gen grows up through meetings and partings with various people, including war orphan Kondo Ryuta and art student Masaji, who was also a victim of the atomic bombing.

Background

"Barefoot Gen" is based on an autobiographical manga by Keiji Nakazawa, and is based on the author's own experience of being exposed to radiation in Hiroshima. The original manga was serialized from 1973 to 1985, and was highly praised for its depiction of the misery of war and the human strength to overcome it. The film version aims to convey the horror of war from a broader perspective while retaining the essence of the original. The screenplay was written by the original author Keiji Nakazawa, and Mamoru Masaki was appointed as director. Kazuo Tomizawa also participated in character design and animation direction, and Kazuo Oga served as art director. Kentaro Haneda was in charge of the music, and the theme song "Where do you come from, where do you go" was written by Mamoru Masaki, composed by Kentaro Haneda, and sung by Harley Kimura.

cast

The cast of "Barefoot Gen" is a diverse group of voice actors, including Miyazaki Kazunari as the main character Gen, Inoue Takao as Gen's father Daikichi, Shimamura Yoshie as Gen's mother Kimie, and Koda Masaki as Kondo Ryuta, a war orphan who looks just like Gen's younger brother Shinji. Miyazaki Kazunari portrayed Gen's purity and strength realistically, deeply moving viewers. Inoue Takao exquisitely portrayed Daikichi's kindness and strictness, conveying his love for his family. Shimamura Yoshie portrayed Kimie's strength and kindness as a mother, leaving an impression on viewers as she supported Gen and the others. Koda Masaki realistically portrayed Kondo Ryuta's complex emotions, portraying the suffering of children who became orphans due to the effects of the war.

staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Barefoot Gen." The original work was "Barefoot Gen" (published by Shiobunsha) by Keiji Nakazawa, and Nakazawa Keiji was also in charge of production. Yoshimoto Takanori and Iwase Yasuteru were appointed as producers, and Maruyama Masao was in charge of setting. The screenplay was written by Nakazawa Keiji, and Masaki Mamoru was the director. Tomizawa Kazuo was in charge of character design and animation direction, and Oga Kazuo was the art director. Ishikawa Kinichi was the director of photography, Haneda Kentaro was in charge of music, and Aketagawa Susumu was the sound director. Gen Productions was in charge of production, with the cooperation of Madhouse. The theme song "Where do you come from, where do you go?" was written by Masaki Mamoru, composed by Haneda Kentaro, and sung by Harley Kimura. These staff members worked together to create the moving story of "Barefoot Gen."

Main Characters

The main character of "Barefoot Gen" is the protagonist, Nakaoka Gen (Gen). Gen is the fourth child and third son of the Nakaoka family, and is a second-grader at elementary school. He miraculously survives the atomic bombing unscathed, and lives a resilient life thereafter. Gen's father, Nakaoka Daikichi, was crushed by his house and burned to death when the bomb was dropped. Gen's mother, Nakaoka Kimie, gave birth to Gen's younger sister, Tomoko, immediately after the bombing, and raised Gen and her children as a widow. Kondo Ryuta is a war orphan who looks just like Gen's younger brother, Shinji, but is left all alone after the atomic bombing and becomes the leader of an orphan thief group. These characters support the story of "Barefoot Gen," depicting the misery of war and the strength of human beings.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Barefoot Gen" is highly acclaimed as a moving work that depicts the misery of war and the human strength to overcome it. While keeping the essence of the original manga intact, the film version conveys the horror of war from a broader perspective. In particular, Miyazaki Kazunari's performance, which realistically portrays Gen's purity and strength, Inoue Takao's performance, which conveys his love for his family, Shimamura Yoshie's performance, which expresses her maternal strength and kindness, and Koda Masaki's performance, which portrays the suffering of children who have been orphaned by the effects of war, are impressive. In addition, the work's quality is also enhanced by the efforts of the staff, including director Masaki Mamoru, character designer and animation director Tomizawa Kazuo, art director Oga Kazuo, music by Haneda Kentaro, and sound director Aketagawa Susumu.

"Barefoot Gen" is a film that everyone should see at least once to understand the horrors of war and to feel the human strength that overcomes them. It is a must-see film, especially for the younger generation who are studying the history of war. "Barefoot Gen" depicts the horrors of war, but also gives hope and courage, and is sure to move many people.

Supplementary Information

"Barefoot Gen" is an animated film released in 1983, and has since been adapted into various media. It has also been made into a TV anime and an OVA, and has received high praise overseas. The original manga has also been translated into Japanese and is considered an important work that conveys the horrors of war. "Barefoot Gen" is also used as a teaching material for learning about the history of war, and its influence is immeasurable.

Furthermore, "Barefoot Gen" is also used as part of peace education. At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, "Barefoot Gen" is exhibited to convey the horror of war and the importance of peace. "Barefoot Gen" is also featured in school education, and is an important educational material for teaching children the history of war.

"Barefoot Gen" is loved by many people as a work that gives hope and courage while depicting the horrors of war. "Barefoot Gen" is a must-see work to learn the history of war and feel the importance of peace. Please give it a watch.