Barbican Cinema Launches ‘Animation at War’
– Barbican Cinema will showcase a year-long programme titled ‘Animation at War.’
– The sequence is intended to display the exceptional power animation holds in portraying the brute realities of warfare.
– This package includes rare animated films that profoundly express the psychological horrors of war.
– These films also highlight the fear of nuclear obliteration and the sad reality of lives overshadowed by conflict.
– The collection is not limited to a specific epoch and stretches over several decades, making it a historic kaleidoscope of world conflicts.
Hot Take
Barbican Cinema reminds us all why “War…huh…what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!”
This year-long extravaganza is like the Tony Stark of film programmes – ambitious and slightly terrifying. Usually, animation is all about entertaining kids or throwing us into a fantastical wonderland with talking rabbits and dancing broomsticks. But, Barbican Cinema said, “Hold my reel; we’re turning all that around.”
Using animation as a conduit to paint the harsh realities of war is like an encounter with an unexpectedly sassy grandma – it catches you off guard, makes an impact, and leaves you reeling. You’re expecting Looney Tunes, but you step into Saving Private Ryan’s world, remastered in 3D. And rare films? This is less of a treat and more of a treasure hunt, Indiana Jones style!
Viewers can prepare for an emotional roller coaster ride that might leave you needing a teddy bear and a comfort blanket, but hey, at least we aren’t shielding our eyes from the uncomfortable truth of war anymore. This way, we are getting a year-long therapy session from the comfort of our cinema seats. But beware – popcorn doesn’t absorb tears as well as napkins do!
Delve into the riveting world of animated war narratives with Animation at War. Witness a unique display of animated works that traverse through the harsh realities of war, potential nuclear catastrophes, and the aftermath of conflict. From exploring human struggle in times of turmoil to underscoring stories usually difficult to express through live-action films, animation as a medium is a potent storyteller.
The series kick-starts on Thu 27 Feb 25 with the compelling narrative of Sunao Katabuchi’s film In This Corner of the World (Japan 2016). The tale centers around Suzu, a would-be artist, whose dreams are undermined by societal expectations and the approaching storm of the Second World War.
The film brilliantly highlights the quotidian hardships of wartime while meticulously recreating the tragic architecture of Hiroshima City. Upon its release in 2017, it won public acclaim and received the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year.

In This Corner of the World, Japan 2016, Dir Sunao Katabuchi
Carrying the journey forward into May is the haunting British film When the Wind Blows (UK 1986) – an emotional saga echoing the Cold War era’s nuclear fears.
Jimmy T Murakami’s 1986 interpretation of Raymond Briggs‘ poignant graphic novel is an iconic British animation classic that captures the innocence and ignorance of the common man amid the turbulence of the nuclear war.
Blending hand-drawn images, newsreel footage, satirical cartoons, and tangible stop-motion sets, When the Wind Blows is a stark critique of the Cold War’s instigators. Its compelling emotional power remains unscathed even today.

When the Wind Blows, UK 1986. Dir. Jimmy T Murakami
The series winds up in September with Unicorn Wars (Spain 2022) by Alberto Vazquez. It is a violent conflict between Teddy Bears and Unicorns, where humour meets horror and disrupts expectations.
The narrative takes a dark turn as it explores themes of religious zealousness, the twisted aftermath of military fascism, and the soul’s darkest corners.
Our new Animation strand aims to present superior animated content from across the globe, with a notable focus on war and conflict-related films. Our goal is to use this engaging medium to facilitate a deeper understanding of the severe realities of war through illustrations that live-action films often fail to convey.
Series Curator Michael Leader and Barbican Producer Jonathan Gleneadie
Upcoming Events
In This Corner of the World + introduction by Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham, creators of the animation-focused podcast series Ghibliotheque
Japan 2016, Dir Sunao Katabuchi, 129min
Thu 27 Feb 2025, 6.10pm
Cinema 3
Katabuchi resorted to crowdfunding to adapt Fumiyo Kōno’s manga series. The film was hailed by critics and audiences alike. In 2017, it bagged the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year, surpassing the popular blockbuster Your Name, also commended by Hiroshima for Global Peace.
When The Wind Blows + ScreenTalk
UK 1986 dir Jimmy T. Murakami, 94min
Wed 28 May 2025, 6.20pm
Cinema 3
The film, based on Briggs’ parents’ experiences, sheds light on the ill-effects of nuclear war on the common man’s life, underscoring how misplaced trust and ignorance can lead to devastation.
When the Wind Blows was a second collaboration between Briggs and production company TVC – a scathing critique of the superpowers instigating the Cold War. It still holds its emotional weight even today.
Unicorn Wars + ScreenTalk
Spain 2022, Dir Alberto Vázquez, 92min
Thu 25 Sep 2025, 6.20pm
Cinema 3
Vazquez’s war narrative between Teddy Bears and Unicorns traverses into a psychological horror, throwing light on themes of religious extremism, lingering effects of military fascism, and the depths of human soul.
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/animation-at-war-year-long-season-set-to-run-at-barbican-cinema/