Barefoot Gen (1983)

A powerful statement against war, Barefoot Gen is a disturbing story about the effect of the atomic bomb on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people.

Director:

Mori Masaki

Writers:

Keiji Nakazawa (manga), Keiji Nakazawa (screenplay)

Stars:

Issei Miyazaki, Catherine Battistone, Yoshie Shimamura

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Issei Miyazaki	...	Gen (voice)
Catherine Battistone	...	Gen (1995) (voice)
Yoshie Shimamura	...	Kimie (voice)
Iona Morris	...	Kimie (1995) (voice)
Masaki Kôda	...	Shinji / Ryuta (voice)
Brianne Brozey	...	Shinji (1995) (voice) (as Brianne Siddal)
Barbara Goodson	...	Ryuta (1995) (voice)
Takao Inoue	...	Daikichi (voice)
Kirk Thornton	...	Daikichi (1995) (voice) (as Kurk Thornton)
Seiko Nakano	...	Eiko (voice)
Wendee Lee	...	Eiko (1995) (voice)
Takeshi Aono	...	Eizo (voice)
Michael McConnohie	...	Eizo / Bully / Doctor / Easerly / Milk / Soup / Yama (1995) (voice) (as Amike McConnohie)
Katsuji Mori	...	Seiji (voice)
Dan Woren	...	Seijo / Banzai / Bullied / Enola (1995) (voice)

Storyline

Gen and his family are living in Hiroshima as Japan nears the end of World War II. Gen's father has come to believe that the war is unwinnable, thus earning the wrath of the town officials and, in turn, discrimination from the rest of their neighbors. Shunned by the local merchants and tradesmen, food becomes scarce for Gen and his family. All these concerns soon pale, however, as the American military begins its final assault on Japan with the unleashing of its terrible new weapon.

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Plot Keywords:

based on manga | gouging | glass shard | airplane | air force | 

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Taglines:

The Bombing Of Hiroshima As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Boy.

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Genres:

Animation | Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gen was named after the terms "genki" (vitality of spirit) and "genso" (element), as Keiji Nakazawa wanted him to represent the element of the human spirit.

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Goofs

When the boys are about to abandon Seiji, his hands are bare and his feet only partly bandaged. By the end of the scene, seconds later, his extremities are fully covered.

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Quotes

Gen Nakaoka: [after the bomb] It's raining. Stop it, stop it! What? That's not right. Mother, have you ever seen rain that's black like this?

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Connections

Featured in Anime Abandon: Barefoot Gen: Hiroshima, 75 Years Later (2020)

User Reviews

Moving, disturbing, endearing.

You'll be surprised, this is testimony to the power of 'old style' animation, you need more than Computer Generated images to make a great film. Even with it's basic arrangements barefoot gen managed to shock me by its ability to capture all the horror, confusion and devastation delivered by the atomic bomb.

I found this movie informative but disturbing. I have heard it being described as a tragicomedy. I think this is a fitting description but just be prepared because it really does make giant leaps from the genuinely tragic and sad to light heartedness. You won't know whether to laugh or cry. Actually, you will. A little cry would be totally justified so have a hanky at the ready and don't watch it with your mates from down the pub.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

13 June 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Barefoot Gen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Madhouse, Gen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1