What is World War II anime?

World War II, or the Second World War (often abbreviated WWII or WW2), was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's nations, including all great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war involved the mobilisation of over 100 million military personnel, making it the most widespread war in history. In a state of "total war," the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Over seventy million people, the majority civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.The start of the war is generally held to be September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by most of the countries in the British Empire and Commonwealth, and by France. Many countries were already at war before this date, such as Ethiopia and Italy in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and China and Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Many who were not initially involved joined the war later, as a result of events such as the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the attacks on Pearl Harbor and British colonies, and subsequent declarations of war on Japan by the United States, the Netherlands, and British Commonwealth.In 1945, the war ended in a victory for the Allies. The Soviet Union and the United States subsequently emerged as the world's superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War which continued for the next 46 years. The United Nations was formed in the hope of preventing another world conflict. The acceptance of the principle of self-determination accelerated decolonization movements in Asia and Africa, while Western Europe itself began moving toward integration.------About the pictureTop left: Battle of WuhanTop right: Second Battle of El AlameinMiddle left: Battle of StalingradMiddle right: German dive bombers over Eastern Front winter 1943-1944Bottom left: Wilhelm Keitel signing German Instrument of SurrenderBottom right: Invasion of Lingayen Gulf

Random World War II Anime You might like

Hiroshima ni Ichiban Densha ga Hashitta

0

Description:

The story follows a girl who works on a streetcar both before and after the bomb drops on Hiroshima.
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

31 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1993-08-06

Boku no Boukuugou

0

Description:

The fourth film in Shin-Ei's series of annual WWII themed anime television movies for children Sensou Douwa (war story). (Source: AniDB)
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

50 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

2005-08-13

Yakeato no, Okashi no Ki

0

Description:

The fifth film in Shin-Ei's series of annual WWII themed anime television movies for children "Sensou Douwa" (war story). (Source: AniDB)
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

45 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

2006-08-15

Kankara Sanshin

0

Description:

A film about the Battle of Okinawa during the last days of World War II. During the World War II island hopping campaign there was a fierce battle on Okinawa that devastated the population and ravaged the land and left a mark on the populace of the Okinawan people forever. After the war Okinawa was under the control of the United Stated Military. Without any goods and extreme scarcity of Natural resources the Okinawans were in a desperate day to day survival for the basic needs of life. The Okinawans however, despite their dire situation used song and dance to lighten their spirit and make the best of the situation. But with the loss of almost everything of value on island due to constant shelling bombing and fighting between the Japanese and American all the regular sanshin (an Okinawan musical instrument and precursor of the Japanese shamisen) had become very scarce and hard to find. The American were supplying the Okinawans with powdered milk among other items to help keep starvation low. And from those cans of food they would find a way to bring music back to the people again. (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

78 Min

Rating

Children

Status

finished

Aired

1989-08-04

Tsushima Maru: Sayounara Okinawa

0

Description:

Based on the same-named book by Ooshiro Tatsuhiro. A documentary anime retelling the shipwreck of the freight boat Tsushima Maru, which was carrying a class of schoolchildren home in July 1944 when it was attacked and sunk by an American submarine. Produced by the surviving family members of the Tsushima Maru. A highly realistic and carefully crafted film in which the realism is thrown into contrast by the deformed character designs by Kiyomizu Kazutoshi. (Source: pelleas.net)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

70 Min

Rating

None

Status

finished

Aired

1982-10-24

Aoi Kioku: Manmou Kaitaku to Shounen-tachi

0

Description:

A class of Japanese youths volunteer for the war effort during WWII, but then get stranded in Manchuria.
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

90 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1993-12-18

Konpeki no Kantai: Sourai Kaihatsu Monogatari

0

Description:

A special which tells the story of the development of the japanese Sourai interceptor plane.
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

39 Min

Rating

None

Status

finished

Aired

1997-01-01

Youtai Nuhai Zai Shanghai

(A Jewish Girl in Shanghai)

0

Description:

Set mainly in and around the Shanghai Ghetto in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during the Second World War, the film tells the story of three children. Rina and her younger brother Mishalli are Jewish refugees who escaped Europe but are without their parents. A-Gen is a Chinese boy who meets Rina and helps her and her brother to survive. The children form strong friendships and have adventures as they try and fend off the Japanese army occupying the city, and their allies, the Nazis. In the background, the Second Sino-Japanese War takes place, while the children must face the uncertainty that concerns the fate of Rina and Mishalli's parents in Europe. (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

80 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

2010-05-01

Makkuro na Obentou

0

Description:

On the 6th of August, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. A young boy, Shigeru, left home for his job as a building excavator that morning, carrying a bento made by his mother, only to never return home again. Before long, his mother managed to find Shigeru's remains, and she noticed the completely black and carbonized bento box next to them. This is an anime adaptation of the original book, "Makkuro na Obentou (The Charred Lunchbox)" written by Kodama Tatsuharu and illustrated by Kitajima Shinpei. The bento box that becomes the focus of the story is actually on display in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

50 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1990-06-12

Cocoon

0

Description:

San and Mayu are two schoolgirls living in Okinawa during the closing months of the Pacific War. Together with their classmates, the two friends are drafted into the war effort as nurses for wounded soldiers. When ordered to die for their country, the remaining members of the group escape only to face the harsh environment of a tropical paradise that has become a hellish battlefield. (Source: MAL News)
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

60 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2025-03-30

Spy Gekimetsu

0

Description:

A war propaganda film which begins with Roosevelt and Churchill in a secret meeting preparing their spy plans. Western spies in fancy suits and top hats parachute into Japan, disturbing innocent farmers. The Japanese civilians manage to thwart the spy activities. (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

12 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1942-07-16

Hotaru Kagayaku

0

Description:

Chisato's journey home from Manchuria after the war.
Type

OVA

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

25 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1991-04-23

Ano Hi, Bokura wa Senjou de: Shounenhei no Kokuhaku

0

Description:

Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

22 Min

Rating

Children

Status

finished

Aired

2015-08-11

Kiku-chan to Ookami

0

Description:

"Kiku-chan to Okami" is an adaptation of "Grave of the Fireflies" author Akiyuki Nosaka’s short story "Toshi-Oi Mesu-Okami to Onna no Ko no Hanashi" (The Story of the Old Mother Wolf and the Girl), which follows a girl and the wolf in the fields of WWII Manchuria who watches over her like a mother. (Source: AniDB)
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

None

Status

finished

Aired

2008-08-13

Shirahata no Shoujo Ryuuko

0

Description:

In 1945, American troops land on the island of Okinawa. The Japanese fight a guerrilla war against the invaders, and little Ryuko is forced to leave her grandparents behind and flee with her mother and younger sister, who are eventually killed. Ryuko heads on alone across the war-torn island. Eventually she reaches safety in Japanese-occupied caves, only to witness the Japanese troops committing suicide with hand grenades. Based on a children's book by Akira Aratagawa and Hikuji Norima, itself inspired by real American footage of an Okinawan girl, Tomiko Higa, waving a white flag at the island's surrender. (Source: Anime Encyclopedia)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

101 Min

Rating

None

Status

finished

Aired

1988-07-21

Maya no Isshou

0

Description:

Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

70 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1996-08-20

Sensou ga Owatta Natsu ni 1945 Karafuto

0

Description:

Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

70 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1990-12-08

Obake Entotsu no Uta

0

Description:

One day in 1945, children in Tokyo mistake the distant factory smoke of Shitamachi for ghosts in the sky, though their happy playtime is soon destroyed by the arrival of American bombers. (Source: The Anime Encyclopedia)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

42 Min

Rating

Children

Status

finished

Aired

1993-05-29

Yocchan no Biidama

0

Description:

Based on the picture book by Kodama Tatsuharu.
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

58 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1999-01-01

Mii-chan no Tenohira

0

Description:

Based on the book by Kikuko Inaba.
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

20 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

1993-05-29

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