The Heike Story

A beautifully-animated Japanese history lesson

Based on an 800-year-old historical account, The Heike Story follows Biwa, an orphan who can see the future. When she is adopted by a member of the Taira clan, she becomes entangled in an increasingly bloody civil war with the lives of her loved ones at stake. Although Biwa herself is a creative liberty on the part of the writers, her inclusion is a nice homage to the original text, which was a written version of chanted epics performed by biwa players. The voice acting and soundtrack help bring this adaptation to life, immersing viewers in this lesser-known chapter of history. This is an excellent pick for historical fiction fans who don't mind a tiny amount of fantasy sprinkled in.