Hiwou War Chronicles

Hiwou War Chronicles (機巧奇傳ヒヲウ戦記, Karakuri Kiden Hiwō Senki,) is a Japanese anime series, produced by Bones. The series premiered on NHK BS-2 for twenty-six episodes, from October 24, 2000 until May 1, 2001.

Plot
Meiji period of Japan, there was a town whose folk lived by making "karakuri" for festivals. Hiwou lived with his siblings and friends, Shishi, Machi, Tetsu, Mayu, Sai, and baby Jyobu (who are exploring a cave at the time), after his mother died and father leaving on a long trip. Those were the peaceful times, until the "Wind Gang" appears, destroys the city with their own clockwork dolls, and captures its citizens. Hiwou and the others escape unharmed and embark on a quest to save the town and find his father, and bringing along with them Homura, a huge clockwork doll that functions like a giant robot.

Along their journey, the children are forced to use their clockwork dolls as weapons for defense - something they were never taught to do. while encountering a number of historical figures, before these people entered the history books during the Meiji Restoration.