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A heartbreaking anime based on the semi-autobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka tells the tragic tale of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, who struggle to survive during World War II in Japan after a bombing raid destroys their home.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the anime is a fictionalized biography of Jiro Horikoshi, the engineer who designed Japan's famous Zero fighter planes used during World War.
Based on the manga by Keiji Nakazawa, "Barefoot Gen" depicts the experiences of a young boy, Gen, who survives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and mirrors Nakazawa's own life as a survivor of the bombing.
Directed by Masaki Tachibana, the series centers on two young siblings, Mirai and Yūki, and single mother Mari who the two meet in the aftermath of a major earthquake hitting the Japanese capital, placed in the near future.
Although the anime is fictional, it is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, who drew from his own experiences as a hikikomori (social recluse).
While based on the ancient Japanese folktale "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," Studio Ghibli’s film reimagines the story of a mysterious princess. Though it's not a direct true story, the folktale has deep roots in Japan’s historical and cultural legacy.
The story is inspired by true events and follows two brothers who lived on the small Japanese island of Shikotan during World War II. When the Soviet Union occupied the island, the brothers struggled to adapt to the changes, reflecting the real post-war tensions in the region.