The true WWII story of Stanley Hayami, a talented teenager caught between his dream of becoming an artist and his duty to his country. Based on Hayami's diary and letters, this coming-of-age tale chronicles his life behind barbed wire and as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The film captures his imagination through endearing cartoons and witty observations that provide a firsthand look at the indignity of incarceration and the tragedy of war.