“Young Kayoko's childhood innocence fades as WWII intensifies, culminating in devastating 1945 experiences based on true events.”
Who's Left Behind?
うしろの正面だあれ
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Young Kayoko's childhood innocence fades as WWII intensifies, culminating in devastating 1945 experiences based on true events.
Kayoko is a young girl in 1940, just starting first grade. She's a bit of a crybaby, which is no secret to those around her. She loves playing with friends and singing cute schoolyard chants, and occasionally having fun with her three older brothers. Her mother is pregnant, and so she looks forward to being a big sister, only partially understanding the responsibility that might bring. Meanwhile, the war effort is growing, and it`s only the natural thing to do to be patriotic and support the country... Kayoko goes so far as to contribute her favorite dolly, whose materials could help build explosives. Time passes, and as she grows older, Kayoko sees how the war has affected her life and those around her. Nothing can prepare her for 1945, however, and the bleak times that are soon to come. Based on original creator Kayoko Ebina's real life experience during World War 2 on Showa era. (Source: ANN)
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 6 sampled reviews
What 6 viewers settled on.
Strong agreement
σ 0.58 · scores cluster tight
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
↑ 0.00
Running avg · Jun 2013 → Nov 2025
- 8 “After having seen Grave of the Fireflies, I found myself wanting to watch something similar, so I went digging and came across "Who's Left Behind?", which doesn't seem all that popular nor known...”
- 8 “I'd never heard of this movie before so I wasn't sure what to expect. But since it had a high rating I went on and watched it. Is this movie worth your time? Short answer, yes. Very much so....”
- 9 “The first Japanese film I've seen that criticizes Japan in a World War II context. Kayoko's mother mentions that her abundantly lovable daughter freely offered up her baby doll to the government...”
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- Format 1 × 90′ eps × min
- Total runtime 1h 30m all episodes
- Aired Mar 1991 – ongoing
- Source Movie media type
- Rated G All Ages
- Ref. BS-2527 catalog