After Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama more than 2,500 years ago in India, it branched off into three different sects: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

In Japan, Zen Buddhism is mostly practiced, which falls under the school of Mahayana Buddhism. Throughout Japan, however, there is a mixture of Buddhism, Shintoism and Taoism, which are easily recognized within the culture.

Respect for nature, as well as reverence for bodhisattvas those who direct their attention, their lives, to practicing the way of life of a Buddha can even be seen in Japanese animations, teaching children and even adults.

With the Academy Awards taking place on March 27, a Bhutanese film Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom offers a Buddhist lesson in fulfillment. It is nominated for Best Picture in the foreign film category.

READ: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The Feast Of St. Patrick

READ: Tricycle's Western Buddhism Essay Shows How Religions Adapt To New Environs

With a movie about Buddhism at the forefront of so much recent attention, below are five animations films of a different sort and within the world of anime that have Buddhist themes and references:

First up and most obvious on the list would be the anime movie Buddha: The Great Departure. It was adapted from the 1972 manga drawn by Osamu Tezuka, who is known for his notable mangas Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion.

Read the rest here:

5 Films That Show How Buddhism Has Influenced Japanese Animation - Religion Unplugged