A thorough review of Kitaro's Suicide Attack ~Shigeru Mizuki's War~: moving realism and profound message

Kitaro witnessed the suicide attack - Shigeru Mizuki's War - Review and details

Overview

"Kitaro's View of the Suicide Attack - Mizuki Shigeru's War" is an anime series that was broadcast on NHK General TV on August 12, 2007. The original work is "All Hands, Suicide Attack!", an autobiographical wartime story by manga artist Mizuki Shigeru, and the story unfolds based on Mizuki's own wartime experiences. By depicting Mizuki Shigeru's wartime experiences and his life afterwards, this work conveys an important message about the horror of war and the preciousness of peace.

story

In the winter of 1971, Shigeru Mizuki traveled to New Guinea while busy writing "GeGeGe no Kitaro." He visited New Guinea for the first time in 26 years, where Mizuki had been drafted at the age of 21 and experienced the brutal battlefield. Unable to forget his wartime experiences, Mizuki began to draw manga about his experiences, even as he encountered mysterious incidents.

The story alternates between battle scenes in New Guinea in 1943 and Mizuki's everyday life in 1972. On the battlefield, Private Mizuki (Private Maruyama) spends harsh days on the front lines and witnesses the deaths of his comrades. Meanwhile, in 1972, Mizuki comes to terms with the trauma of his past by drawing manga about his wartime experiences.

character

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Kitaro - Voiced by: Masako Nozawa
• Medama Oyaji - Voice actor: Isamu Tanonaka
• Ratman - Voice actor: Norio Otsuka
• Narration - Voice actor: Norio Ishizawa

staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of this work:

• Original story : Shigeru Mizuki (original idea)
• Screenplay by Takuya Nishioka
• Music : Yoshihide Otomo
• Military research - Terada Chikao
• A study of the customs of Japan - Takako Amano
• Song research - Yasuyasu Ono
• Izumo Dialect Instruction - Kyoko Fujii
• Animation production : Takuya Inaba, Ikuo Nishii, Emi Matsumoto
• Production Director - Masao Ieyoshi
• Art : Toshiaki Suzuki
• Photography : Yasuhiro Mouri
• Directed by: Tsuyoshi Yanagawa
• Produced by NHK Nagoya Broadcasting Station

Background

Shigeru Mizuki wanted to convey the horror of war and the preciousness of peace by depicting his own wartime experiences in manga. "All hands, die in honour!", published in 1973, was the culmination of that desire, and this anime continues that spirit. In order to faithfully recreate Mizuki's wartime experiences, the production team conducted detailed research, including military and custom research. They also paid particular attention to the music and direction, making it possible for viewers to feel the real atmosphere of war.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Kitaro's View of the Suicide Attack - Shigeru Mizuki's War" has been highly praised for its depiction of the horror of war and the preciousness of peace. In particular, the realistic reenactment of Shigeru Mizuki's wartime experiences left a strong impression on viewers. Also, by alternating between depicting Mizuki's daily life and his wartime experiences, the film conveys how profound the impact of war is.

This work is considered an important medium for conveying the horrors of war to generations who have never experienced it. It is particularly effective as an educational tool to help the younger generation understand the reality of war. Viewers have commented that they "felt the horrors of war once again" and "it was good to learn about Shigeru Mizuki's wartime experiences."

Recommended points

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Realistic depiction of war - Shigeru Mizuki's realistic depiction based on his own wartime experiences leaves a strong impression on viewers.
• The Value of Peace - By depicting the horrors of war, we are reminded of the value of peace.
• Educational value - It can be used as an educational tool to help generations who have never experienced war understand the reality of war.
• The Life of Shigeru Mizuki - Learn about Shigeru Mizuki's wartime experiences and his life afterwards.

Related Titles

We will also introduce other works by Mizuki Shigeru and anime works with war themes.

• Gegege no Kitaro - A masterpiece by Shigeru Mizuki, it depicts the adventures of Kitaro.
• All hands, die in honour! - This is a manga by Shigeru Mizuki that depicts his autobiographical wartime experiences.
• Barefoot Gen - A war manga depicting the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
• Grave of the Fireflies - An animated film set in Japan at the end of World War II.

How to watch

This work can be viewed on the NHK official website or through video streaming services. It is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, so you can purchase it and watch it.

summary

"Kitaro's View of the Suicide Attack - Mizuki Shigeru's War" is a moving work based on Shigeru Mizuki's wartime experiences. It conveys a strong message to viewers by depicting the horror of war and the preciousness of peace. Through this work, you will be able to understand the reality of war and reaffirm the importance of peace. It is a work that I hope many people will watch.