Futatsu no Kurumi

Alright, Hotaru no Haka? Get that out of there (partially joking - it’s still a good film, just not to this level of impact in my opinion). THIS is the WWII anime film I am recommending to people alongside Hadashi no Gen - more specifically, if I’m ever trying to convey the incendiary bombings through this form of media, you can bet that Futatsu no Kurumi is my new go-to.

Now, I’ve been on a bit of a hunt for these extremely niche second world war anime films (I have watched 21 so far), and I can say for certain that this beats out everything except ... Gen (and even then, it is VERY close) in my book. Honestly, I am, blown away by how impactful this was, and I will certainly be checking out the remaining Sensou Douwa films post haste this!

While it’s true that the animation here is low-budget, it’s not awful by any stretch of the word. Quite frankly, I believe having this sketch-like appearance helps contrast the “happier” views from the modern world with the absolute horrors depicted later in the film.

I will warn you now: Futatsu no Kurumi, despite supposedly being targeted towards children, DOES NOT PULL ITS PUNCHES. Be prepared to think deeply about what exactly it means to “sacrifice everything for one’s country”, connect with the wonderful people and dogs alike, and most likely end up sobbing thanks to the phenomenally bittersweet ending portrayed.

If that isn’t proof enough that this is worth your time, I don’t know what is. Please, if you have even the slightest tinge of curiosity towards historical anime films, I beg you not to let this gem pass you by! :)