Many famous animated movie recommendations are actually inspired by true stories in history. These movies present interesting human stories with a nice touch of animation.
They are able to portray deep and emotional stories, often providing new perspectives on historical events or important figures.
In this article, we will provide some recommendations for animated movies that tell stories based on historical events or real characters.
Recommended Animated Movie About History
1. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies, as one of Studio Ghibli’s flagship works, offers a touching and sad story. The movie tells the story of the struggle of Seita and Setsuko, sisters, to survive in Japan during World War II.
The inspiration for the movie comes from the author’s personal experience of suffering during the war, and it describes in detail how these historical events shaped a narrative full of empathy and meaning in the lives of the two main characters.
With themes of loss, courage, and resilience, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most touching and emotionally draining animated films.
2. Anastasia (1997)
Next up is Anastasia, an animated film that follows the life of Anastasia Nikolaevna, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nikolai II, the last ruler of the Russian Empire. The movie tells the fictional story of how Anastasia survived the massacre of her family in 1918.
With an intriguing plot, the movie successfully combines historical elements with fantasy to create an immersive and adventurous story.
While there are some creative liberties in the storytelling, Anastasia still provides a fascinating look into Russian history and the legend of Anastasia that has persisted for years.
3. The Wind Rises (2013)
The next history based animated movie recommendation is The Wind Rises. The story of The Wind Rises is based on the real life of Jiro Horikoshi, a famous aircraft engineer in Japan before World War II. The movie depicts Jiro’s life journey from his youth to becoming an important figure in the Japanese aviation industry.
Using beautiful animation and accurate historical research, The Wind Rises highlights Jiro’s challenges and achievements in developing the famous aircraft.
In addition, the movie also features a love story between Jiro and a young woman who inspires him, which gives a deep emotional dimension to the historical story that the movie presents.
4. Persepolis (2007)
Persepolis is an animated film that has a unique and distinctive visual style. The movie tells the life journey of Marjane Satrapi, a woman from Iran, during the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War.
Using expressive animation techniques in black and white, Persepolis depicts how Marjane deals with the political and social changes in her country, as well as her process of finding her identity as a modern woman in Iran.
The film provides an intimate and powerful look into Iran’s controversial history, while emphasizing the strength and resilience of individuals in the face of life’s changing challenges.
5. Waltz with Bashir (2008)
Waltz with Bashir is an animated film that highlights the tragic events that took place during the Lebanon War in 1982 and also explores the journey of self-discovery amidst the chaos of the war.
Depicting a strong historical backdrop of the conflict, the movie visually and emotionally portrays the personal experiences of the director, Ari Folman, who struggled to recall details of his dark past during the war.
Through its heartfelt depiction of war trauma, Waltz with Bashir presents a profound narrative of the human experience amidst conflict as well as the uncertainty of war.
6. Pocahontas (1995)
Pocahontas, an animated film by Disney based on the true historical story of Pocahontas, a Native American woman in the 17th century. The movie tells the story of the love between Pocahontas and John Smith, a European explorer.
The movie presents a romantic and dramatic depiction of their meeting. With the use of stunning visuals and stirring songs, Pocahontas successfully portrays the struggle between two different cultures. In addition, this animated movie provides a unique view of the relationship between Native Americans and European colonists of the time.
7. Tatsumi (2011)
Tatsumi is an animated movie about the life of the famous mangaka, Yoshihiro Tatsumi. The movie gives a brief account of Tatsumi’s life and focuses on his influence in the manga world.
In addition, Tatsumi also provides an in-depth understanding of Japan’s historical and social themes in the post-war period, including the conditions of Japanese society at the time and how they are reflected in Tatsumi’s works.
With a strong depiction of Tatsumi’s life and works, the movie provides a deep insight into the influence of history and social context on one’s art and creativity.
8. The Road to El Dorado (2000)
The Road to El Dorado tells the story of the adventures of two Spanish explorers, Tulio and Miguel, who seek to find riches in the legendary land of El Dorado. With the historical background of the El Dorado myth, the movie successfully portrays the beauty and mystery of the legend.
In a journey full of challenges and surprises, viewers will be invited to enter a world full of magic and heartfelt friendships.
With entertaining humor and stunning visual imagery, The Road to El Dorado provides lessons on the true meaning of courage, friendship, and wealth.
9. Mulan (1998)
The movie Mulan is an animated work inspired by a Chinese legend about a woman named Mulan who takes on the identity of a man to replace her father in war.
Through this movie, we can see how Mulan shows her courage and dedication in protecting her family and her country.
Mulan’s struggle to seek justice and recognition in the midst of a raging war. It shows how strong Mulan’s character and values are.
With its powerful message of courage, sacrifice, and loyalty, Mulan has become a source of inspiration for audiences around the world.
10. Balto (1995)
Balto brings an interesting story about the hero’s journey of a dog named Balto. Balto had the task of delivering diphtheria serum to the city of Nome, Alaska in 1925.
With a strong narrative, the movie depicts the courage and resilience shown by Balto and his dog team as they face difficult terrain and extreme weather to save the lives of the townspeople from the plague.
Combining elements of adventure and inspiration from history, Balto delivers an inspiring message of courage and determination in the face of daunting challenges.
So, these are the animated movies that take real stories from historical events. These movies are not only entertaining, but also provide a deep understanding of history and human courage.
11. Flee (2021)
The next animated history movie adaptation is Flee. Flee is an animated documentary that keeps the identity of its subject, an Afghan refugee now living in Denmark under a pseudonym, a secret. By combining animation and archival footage, the film manages to tell a story with urgency and connects it to reality.
The movie highlights the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and provides a new perspective on the struggles of an individual, creating an atmosphere of desperation that many can relate to. The movie presents the facts clearly, without getting entangled in excessive emotions, thus portraying the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers very well.
12. Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles (2018)
Luis Buñuel is an iconic director known for his influence in the surrealist movement. The movie Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles highlights important moments in his life, especially when he made his first documentary, Las Hurdes: Terra Sin Pan, which combines fact and fiction with a surreal touch.
The movie features surreal images that reflect Buñuel’s dreams and conversations between the characters. Despite its unique visual presentation, the movie still manages to convey emotional depth and connectedness.
