Here’s an understated, striking account of potential nuclear warfare. Taking place in a sleepy rural England village, viewers are left to watch on as an elderly couple face the onslaught of an atom bomb.

A notable example of more adult animation making its impact, When the Wind Blows (1986) has a cult following. And the passage of time only seems to add further value to its powerful message.

Haunting Themes of Devastation in When the Wind Blows

There’s a French animated film out right now called Robot Dreams we’re going to watch soon. In The Spectator’s (a British news magazine) review, Deborah Ross typed out this headline:

“Readers, I welled up! At a cartoon!”

The review also stated:

“It was up for an Oscar but was beaten by Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron, which is thoroughly incoherent yet is voiced by Florence Pugh, Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe and Christian Bale, among others. That had the stars – and this? It has the storytelling.”

The awful take on Studio Ghibli’s latest film aside, this reviewer seems oblivious to Ghibli’s track record of films. Not least with the incredibly moving Grave of the Fireflies (1988).

Ross’ seems to hint it’s unexpected to have a cartoon make you cry, as if the medium should more be about jollification. Just as a headline we found that ignorant to the history of animation and what it’s achieved.

Anyway, this leads us to When the Wind Blows.

It’s a British adult animated disaster film directed by Jimmy Murakami. The film was adapted from Raymond Briggs’ 1982 eponymous graphic novel.

That’s the same Briggs responsible for classic children’s picture book The Snowman (1978), marking an incredible tonal shift.

Steeped in a sense of paranoia and dread, When the Wind Blows depicts the most brutal possible warfare outcome from the view of an innocuous provincial married couple.

The Plot of When the Wind Blows

Living in rural Sussex in southeast England, we meet Jim (voiced by Sir John Mills) and Hilda Bloggs (Peggy Ashcroft). The married couple are retired and enjoy sleepy activities such as baking cakes and reading the local newspaper.

The lurking threat of the Soviet-Afghan War surfaces rapidly, with radio news reports stating war is mere days away.

Jim prepares his home for the outcome of this. But he and his wife are confident they’ll come through alive, as they did so during World War II.

However, the nuclear blast that follows is entirely different.

The narrative of the film then follows the radioactive fallout, watching on as their optimism fades due to illness and the decay of all social structures.

So, yes, a very brutal film then. But not without its moments of black humour. For example, Jim hears on the radio there are minutes until nuclear mayhem.

He tells his wife and she responds by saying she needs to get the washing in.

There aren’t many clips available online, but there’s a large amount of debate about the text. Lots of YouTube reviews and critiques, such as here with the brilliant social commentary mind of Georg Rockall-Schmidt.

The thing about the film is, despite being almost 40 years old, it’s still entirely relevant to modern life. In disturbing fashion, frankly, and we should imagine it’ll remain forever timeless.

Much like other works based on this topic. We nod to the John Hersey book Hiroshima (1946) as a prime example.

The themes of the film are clear.

You’ve got a very ordinary couple who’ve placed blind trust in their government (similar to what a generation has done with the Conservatives here in the UK), which backfires in the most appalling way.

When the Wind Blows is a bit like the notorious Watership Down film (1978).

All sweet and innocent with its appearance, but containing a volatile and pertinent message within. It’s the type of film you’ll only watch once, but its powerful anti-war message won’t be lost on you.

The Production of When the Wind Blows

Many of you reading this will no doubt remember the 1982 animated film The Snowman. For us, watching it as kids, the thing is burned into our memory.

Briggs worked with the same production company, TVC, to bring When the Wind Blows to audiences. It received a UK and US release, although wasn’t successful at the box office.

However, it was praised by critics and its reputation has grown over time.

Also notable about the work is the soundtrack. Many popular musicians of the day produced songs for the film, including David Bowie, Roger Waters, and Genesis.

In 1998, Briggs produced another graphic novel called Ethel & Ernest.

It’s based on his parents and their lives up until 1971, with the book basically confirming the When the Wind Blows couple was also based on them.

Raymond Briggs was with us until very recently, passing at the age of 88 in 2022.