Post-Nuclear Disaster Films
In Japan, the only country with firsthand knowledge of what it is like to be on the receiving end of the atomic bomb, the nuclear weapon looms large in several animated features. One of the most impressive and disturbing peace messages is to be found in Barefoot Gen, directed by Mamoru Shinzaki, 1983. It is based on the comic strip/graphic novel by Keji Nakazawa about his experience when he was six, living a mile from ground zero in Hiroshima. The autobiographical book was written as a memorial to his mother who died slowly from exposure to the fallout. Nakazawa doesn’t dwell on who is to blame, but says, “No one should ever have to experience this. There must be an alternative to war.” It was first published in 1973 and, since then, it has appeared in many languages and editions around the world. Last Gasp has just published a new U.S. edition.

David Bowie and Jimmy Murakami (right) collaborated on the award-winning When the Wind Blows. Photo from Jimmy T. Murakami’s private collection.

The movie shows how harsh life was during the war for the family, and then the bomb explodes. The bomb kills everyone in the family except for Gen and his pregnant mother. It shows the black rain, people with radiation burns/poisoning and many other disturbing images. It leaves you with hope for the remaining survivors. Hopefully you will also question whether the weapon should ever be used again. The film is available on VHS tape from Streamline, Orion Video and on DVD from Image Entertainment.

Another powerful feature that depicts life before and after the bomb explodes is When the Wind Blows (1986) directed by Jimmy Murakami and produced by John Coates in England. It tells what happens to a charming retired couple after a nuclear explosion. They are a deeply patriotic couple believing that their government and living in a lovely rural English setting will protect them. Besides, they have a simple do-it-yourself government publication on how to protect oneself and survive, and they have followed the instructions carefully. Memories of the film’s depictions of life after the explosion remain as a disturbing reminder that we should do everything possible to see that no one ever experiences the consequences a nuclear war.

It was a pleasure to have been on the jury at the Los Angeles Animation Celebration that awarded When the Wind Blows the first prize for animated features and it was an honor to have interviewed John Coates about his long career as a producer for Animation World Magazine in 1998. Unfortunately, the film was not seen widely in the U.S. despite it featuring the voices of David Bowie, Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills. It was simply too somber for an audience used to animation being wholesome stories for kids. This film isn’t full of cute happy animals. The film is available from IVE on VHS. One line on the tape’s box says, “… gives you the shivers.”

Good and evil clash in Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards.

Science-fiction writers have contemplated what life might be like if nuclear powers ever unleash their weapons of mass destruction. These films can serve as a disturbing reminder of what could happen; however most skirt anti-war/peace messages and concentrate on the actions of their characters.

Ralph Bakshi’s feature Wizards is a better example of the animated post-nuclear science fiction film. In it, animal life has been changed into good fairies who live in the woods that remain on our planet, and bad mutant fairies who live in the ruins of modern civilization. Life in the woods is idyllic while life in the ruins is harsh. The film’s climax is a battle between good and evil.

In the second part of this article, to be published next month, we will explore works that don’t approach peace by showing the horrors of war and violence. There will be a discussion of peace messages in films by John and Faith Hubley, a look at three non-verbal conflict resolution films, a discussion about new work on the Internet and other approaches. Perhaps the most unusual work that will be discussed is a pacifist message that won an Oscar. If you don’t know what the film is, you will be pleasantly surprised. You are probably quite familiar with other works by this studio.

Karl Cohen teaches animation history at San Francisco State, is the author of Forbidden Animation: Censored Cartoons and Blacklisted Animators (McFarland, 1997), is president of ASIFA-SF and is a frequent contributor to Animation World Magazine. In 1984, he directed, shot, edited and did the effects for an anti-nuke film Speak Up! Uncle Sam is Hard of Hearing. This short includes an animated/special effects sequence and is distributed by Canyon Cinema.