review for Barefoot Gen on AllMovie

Based on Keiji Nakazawa's graphic novel that details his real-life experiences of the Hiroshima bombing, Barefoot Gen tells a uniquely moving story, especially for an anime film, of the brutality of war. In the year 1945, Gen is a young boy living in Hiroshima. He and his family must cope with the day-to-day hardships of living in a Japanese slum during the war. In one shocking instant, his world is turned upside down by the total devastation wrought by the atomic bomb. In retrospect, Gen realizes the privations of the war did little to prepare him for the total holocaust and dissolution of society caused by atomic warfare. Acclaimed artist and producer Masao Maruyama creates a compelling and visually stunning rendition of Nakazawa's novel and a masterpiece of worldwide political and social relevance.