Ranked #32

Grave of the Fireflies

I once heard a singer define what he thought of love. He said, 'Love is watching someone die.' For Seita, a young Japanese boy living during one of history's darker moments, he witnesses several events that can only be called true tests on the heart.

Set in the backdrop of World War II, Seita and his much younger sister try to survive while their country is wracked with the devastation of war. The Americans bomb their town, and they are forced to live with an aunt after becoming orphaned. A country torn by war leaves its people with homes ripped with dissent: their aunt starts to feel the pressure of having two young children in her house, and Seita decides, in a moment of pride, to take off with Setsuko and try to live by themselves in an abandoned bunker outside of the village.

Grave of the Fireflies is not a fairy tale despite Seita's attempts to make Setsuko think that they are living in one. The movie sadly follows their lives in this bunker where they don't battle soldiers and warmongers, but try to battle scabs, starvation and sorrow. In an interesting light, despite the very graphic and violent scenes that the movie opens with, the rest of the movie does not deal with fighting and war, but more of the war's impact on these two children. Calling it a history lesson would be wrong. It isn't. The film has often been criticised as anti-American in sentiment as it details the Japanese suffering. This notion could not be more incorrect. It doesn't matter who dropped the bombs--the bombs have fallen anyway, and people have been affected. This is not about who was right, who was wrong, who started it--this is about a young boy, his sister, and watching as life slowly trickles away just as the light of a firefly eventually diminishes.

This film encompasses what a tragedy is really. Terrible things happening to two children is tragic, yes, but there are different facets it also looks at. A true tragedy is not only watching the downfall of a person--it's watching that very person causing their own downfall. Yes, Seita should have swallowed his pride and stayed with his aunt. He would have been guaranteed food, shelter and safety. This movie is exceptional because it knows bad decisions are made all the time, and it shows that. Isn't war one of them? A terrible choice? It is, which makes wars tragic events. Isn't Seita's decision to try to be independent when he really couldn't bear the responsibility a terrible choice? It is, and this is why everything that happens afterward is a tragedy.

Art and animation for this movie are truly magnificent. Made decades ago, and yet it still looks amazing. The movie is gruesomely detailed, showing the exact look of a body burned beyond recognition, the little nits and lice that thrive from destitute and unhygienic living conditions, the bones pressing against skin that has been denied nourishment. There's something darkly, hauntingly beautiful about the artwork for this anime. The character design is realistic, and watching Seita and Setsuko, well, it could be any two Japanese children. Which I think means a lot more in the grander picture: how many boys and girls just like them have been victims of the second World War? Possibly more than we truly want to know.

Grave of the Fireflies has an excellent score. The technical aspects of this film are near perfection. The score utilises melancholy sounds, but it understands the quality of silence just as well. Take the first scene of this movie. There is dead silence. And breaking this silence is the voice of a boy, telling you that something has happened to him. Breaking this silence are his weak, laboured, quiet and quick breaths he takes as you watch him sitting on the floor of a train station, waiting for death to take him. There are few silent scenes in anime that have managed to bombard a listeners' very emotions. But where there is no vitality, where there is no life, then there is no sound. And when it's all over, the bustle and noise of life continuing swells and crashes. Grave of the Fireflies captures that perfectly.

Setting a World War II epic around young children who cannot understand the weight of the situation at large around them is possibly the most unorthodox, but most brilliant way to look at it. World War II was not only about the the Jews being executed or countless soldiers dying to defend their cause. There were other people who were affected. Grave of the Fireflies looks at two Japanese children.

Seita is a good brother. He tries, with all his might, to take care of his little sister. He plays with her, tries to take her mind off of their situation, and does things that would shame him to try to feed her. His character is defined by his pride as a Japanese male (whose father, in the Navy, must have taught his son about Japanese dignity). He refuses to be dependent, but his independence causes most of the problems for himself and Setsuko. He tries to be strong and tries to be a man. This movie looks at what happens after responsibility is dumped on a young boy and places him in situations where he has to become the adult. His mother dies, he knows he can't cry. He has to be strong. But how does he relate this to a little girl? He can't, because he doesn't know how and he does what he can to make her smile again, even if it does mean playing blindly after a devastating experience.

Setsuko is adorable and it's hard not to love her. Her childish innocence and her outlook on life is refreshing, when there's not much else but death and decay surrounding her. And it will break your heart to watch her, as she tries to entertain herself, as she tries to stop the rumbling in her stomach, and as she has to live in an environment of suspended unhappy playtime. The interactions between Seita and Setsuko are a marvel to watch. Anyone with siblings can relate to what they share. Their bond is deep. It's something else to watch them turn into each other's worlds when the world outside has turned ugly.

It is debatable on whether you can call Grave of the Fireflies 'enjoyable'. Can watching the spiralling descent of two innocent children be entertainment? I highly doubt. This movie is utterly depressing, and if your heart isn't made of stone, you will probably bawl your eyes out. I've seen unemotional, grown men break down during this movie. There is something darkly fascinating about watching Seita and Setsuko. There won't be a minute to stop after you've started this movie. It is slow, depicting the side of war we rarely ever see in movies, which is living. No battles, no enemies, no guns. Just a boy, his sister, and them trying to get by and see another day.

Grave of the Fireflies is tragic. From seeing Setsuko dig a grave for the delicate fireflies after they die to seeing Seita figuratively dig their own graves with his choices and the lifestyle he gives himself and his sister, this movie is an experience that will move you greatly. read more

Looking at the poster of this film, a boy with an officer`s hat caring for his sister in the midst of an American bombing, I feared this would be a piece of Japanese conservatism meant to incite nationalistic indignation towards America, or perhaps the rest of the world, for committing such atrocities. I imagined the boy-scout equivalent kid symbolizing the innocence of Japan or some such nonsense. Thankfully, it doesn`t wave a finger of blame around. American bombs certainly sparked the series of events in this film, but it is just as much the aunt`s fault for speaking insensitively to the children. Equally at fault is Seita, the brother himself, for not being able to swallow his pride and underestimating the harshness of reality. Seita`s fervent faith in the Japanese empire is an ironic shot at the government of the time; they too had a part in these events for bringing the American military to their own doorstep and putting off the unconditional surrender. The film never picks out one party to villainize. It doesn`t give us the respite of anger or hatred, or any other respite at all, from the depression that this film positively bleeds. Because the viewer knows the inevitable outcome early on, every bit of childish sweetness, every instance of love between the siblings is all the more heartbreaking. There is no escaping the sadness, and for this it is unique as a film that is engrossing, but also tremendously difficult to sit through.

Grave of the Fireflies is neither a history lesson, nor is it entertainment. It is a chronicle of events that never comes to a climactic point. There is no definitive explosion of melodrama that marks the film`s peak. It feels pointless, much the way such events would feel in real life.

The passivity with which the children express their emotions takes our pity for them to another level. When they lament their misfortune, they weep, or stare blankly, as if they no longer have the strength to give themselves release through bawling loudly, or screaming bitterly at the sky. That battered demeanor communicates a stifling sense of resignation and depression that is more powerful than any melodramatic outcry.

The animation is a little stiff and unspectacular for a Ghibli feature, but the film rarely relies on motion to convey anything so this is not a big hinderance, easily made up for by the spectacular detail and variety in way the characters` facial expressions illustrate the different nuances of pain in different situations. The most striking element by far is the gruesome and uninhibited way it shows how war can destroy humanity. People insensitively handle the very graphically drawn dead bodies. There is an instance when the poverty stricken Setsuko visits a doctor. As she lifts up her shirt, the lines of her ribs are clearly visible, and with the depression in her abdomen and festering infections all over, it`s clear that she is in imminent danger, yet the doctor barely bats an eyelash. As striking as the depictions of death and disease are to us, it is even more alarming that the characters in this film look at it so nonchalantly. The music is largely slow and tragic, but a couple of pieces have a gentler, melancholic feel that fit well with Setsuko`s oblivious innocence. The discordant sounding strings can be a bit heavy handed, and there are times when some of the sweeter scenes are obtusely paired with heartbreaking pieces, but for the most part the music is elegantly used.

Fictional tragedies are usually bittersweet. In Romeo and Juliet, an unfortunate circumstance created a misunderstanding, but the final acts themselves were in the name of the most beautiful emotion in the world. The audience can then take comfort in the fact that the misfortune was in the end, an expression of love. You`ll find none of that in Grave of the Fireflies. I groped around desperately for some reprieve, a character to hate, a moral to the story, a silver lining, something that could make sense of the senseless tragedy. I found no such thing, and perhaps this is more in tune with reality, but I`d prefer fiction to indulge in a poetic flourish of some sort, just for the sake of balance; a bit of sweet to all the bitterness. Grave of the Fireflies is commendable for not selling out the unforgiving nature of reality, but as a result, it is the one of the most suffocating animated films ever created. read more

I like the story. It’s an “us against the world” archetype. I felt like the children in the movie had no luck at all. They experienced everything victims of the war could’ve experience – losing their home, their relatives, and their will to live. You have to feel sorry for them.

Although it’s not as good as I thought it would be (meaning I didn’t think it was that sad), it really touched me. While I was born WAY after WWII, I was able to witness how people lived in those days. Knowing the historical basis behind this movie is simply not enough, and I think that’s one of the main reasons why this story was made. The movie was able to capture the essence of what was it like in those days, and that’s what makes the movie so touching and even relatable.

One of the good points of this story is that you only get to focus on two fascinating characters, namely Seita and Setsuko. They clearly made this movie. You cheer them on, and you get frustrated because they keep losing and losing. I’m a bit iffy about Setsuko. She’s adorable, but she can be a bit of a brat. I do have to remind myself sometimes that she is a kid, probably not more than 5 years old. On the other hand, I find Seita a bit weird, since he’s not acting the way I want him to. Their mother just died, and he didn’t show that much emotion for it. I guess that’s just him trying to keep himself together and focus on what’s going on at the present. Also, he’s probably thinking that what’s done is done, and crying about it will not accomplish anything. If I look at him that way, he’s actually quite admirable. The closeness between Seita and Setsuko is something you don’t see in siblings too often these days, and it is a bit enviable.

I got the chance to check both English and Japanese dubs, and picking the Japanese dub over the English was a good decision. The Japanese dub had more feeling, and the English dub felt somewhat robotic. The Japanese dub fit the characters much, much better.

Animation-wise, I have to say I’m impressed. Considering the year the movie was made, you’d think the animation would be of low quality, compared to present anime. It’s actually beautifully made, with wonderful watercolor backgrounds and relatively detailed drawings. I can’t help but think that this movie might have been enhanced or something like that in all these years, but I still think it’s impressive nonetheless.

The music is also beautiful. It can be a bit melancholic though, but it is a sad movie, so expecting a lot of upbeat songs in its soundtrack would be a bit weird. I noticed that most of the music was made by using woodwind instruments, but I’m not sure. I think I detect flute sounds or something like that. The music gave off a serene and peaceful mood.

The good thing about it was that the creators didn’t hesitate to tell the truth. They didn’t want to show a repackaged, cleaner version of the truth – I felt like that’s how it really was back then. If it was otherwise, I don’t think Grave of the Fireflies would make such an impact to everyone who has watched it. read more

Title: Grave of the Fireflies

Novel, Anime: Grave of the Fireflies was originally a semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, written as an apology to his younger sister, who died during World War II. The novel was written and won the Naoki Prize in 1967.

Grave of the Fireflies was animated by Studio Ghibli (famous for Spirited Away and their recent adaptation of Howl's Moving Castle) and directed by Isao Takahata (famous for his work on Pom Poko). The film was released on April 16th, 1988 in Japanese theatres, and came Stateside courtesy of Central Park Media in 2002 (oddly enough, this movie wasn't picked up by Disney when they licensed the Ghibli movies).

Story: Grave of the Fireflies is about a dead brother and sister. It's not a spoiler for me to tell you this, because you see the older brother, Seiza, die in the first few minutes of the film. What this film centers around is the relationship between him and his little sister Setsuko, and the things they go through after they are orphaned, which includes, but is not limited to, cruel in-laws, famine, malnutrition, starvation, firebombing, living in a bunker by the river, and all sorts of other lovely things.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, this movie is depressing. It approaches and matches Saikano-esque levels of depression, but luckily, it doesn't go beyond it. Honestly, you will want to keep anything you can hurt yourself with out of reach when you're watching this. And you will cry. This is the first anime I've cried at in a very long time, let alone a movie. If you don't cry when Setsuko finally dies, you are a heartless bastard and then some.

Why? Because it's so heartbreaking to watch as these children stick with each other through all they go through. It's hard to watch Seiza trying to keep the fact that their mother is dead from Setsuko. It's hard to watch Seiza do everything he can to keep Setsuko alive as she slowly starves to death. And it's even harder when you watch them just being kids, like your little siblings were when they were young, and so realistic, at that, in contrast to all the shit they go through.

Also, there is a lot of symbolism in this movie. At points, the symbolism will be so blunt that you will feel like you are being hit over the head with a hammer. But you won't mind it all that much.

Art: Yeah, it's fairly obvious that the animation for this is a bit dated. But when you look at anime that were released about the same time (Macross, Galaxy Express 999), it looks pretty damn good, for its time.

Music: I didn't really notice the music for this much. It doesn't particularly stand out, but then again, it's not bad, either. So, average.

Seiyuu: I really have to give them props here, because they went and cast a five-year-old as the seiyuu for Setsuko, and she gave a performance that reminded me of my little siblings when they were that age, which just makes the movie that much harder to watch through. All-around excellent performances.

Length: Perfect. Any longer and I would've killed myself, any shorter, and it just wouldn't have had the impact that it did.

Overall: An absolutely heartbreaking film, with perfect seiyuu, and pretty good animation, for the time.

Another one of my top picks. Go watch it. NOW. Just be sure you keep anything you can hurt yourself with out of your immediate grasp.

Story: 10/10
Art: 9/10
Music: 8/10
Seiyuu: 10/10
Length: 9/10

Overall: 46/50; 92% (A) read more

Truly one of Studio Ghibli's greatest crowning achievements, Grave of the Fireflies is a brilliant masterpiece fully deserving of a place in any of the best movies ever made. Not just an astonishingly great (and, at the risk of coming off as cliché, perfect) work of art, this is a moving, thought-provoking, and ultimately heartbreaking tale about the loss of innocence and the tragedies of war.

Based on an autobiography by Akiyuki Nosaka, the film, set during the bombing of Japan in --of all times-- World War II, centers on Seita, a loving, headstrong Navy soldier's son and his innocent little sister, Setsuko. Their fatal struggle for survival begins right at the start, when both are bombed out of house and home by American B-29s. Mom is seriously wounded and found wrapped in bandages at a hospital, where she dies shortly after. The children move to Nishinomiya to stay with their aunt. Auntie, a cold, bitter, self-serving woman, has no patience with Seita or Setsuko, especially when they would rather chase after fireflies at moonlight, play by the beach, or lounge around the house instead of helping out. After butting heads with Auntie long enough, the children decide to run away, setting up home in an abandoned cave by the lake. Both try by all means to live off of vegetables or whatever food they can afford to trade and/or steal, to no avail....

The outcome of the story is actually showcased at the opening of the movie, where we see a ghostly specter of Seita watching a more malnourished version of himself die a painful, lonely death at a train station. Indeed, as we see how these events came to pass, we find ourselves rooting for Seita and Setsuko to find a way to stay alive, but alas, it is not to be, given Seita's stubborn pride. The overall tone of the movie is of a very tragic nature--even such lighthearted moments as the aforementioned sequences involving Seita and Setsuko playing around the house or gathering fireflies as lights for their cave are all tainted with a touch of sadness, for we know that these brief scenes of happiness will not last.

Who is to blame for the plight of these children? The movie never addresses this question to the audience, nor does it really care to. It would be easy for director Isao Takahata to make this an anti-American movie, but he does better than that. Instead, he aptly conveys that war can spell serious--and deadly--consequences for victims. He also eschews casting any character as a hero or villain, and instead makes this a very human story, with no clear-cut "good" or "bad" characters. The aunt, for example, is not evil; she is merely an angry, desperate woman who is only struggling to survive just as much as Seita and Setsuko are. Atrocious as her treatment of the children is, we somehow never see her as a true baddie, but a very flawed, multi-faceted human being.

Normally one would think of this kind of story as suitable for live-action, but Grave of the Firefliesproves that it can be told through the art of animation as well. This is no mindless showcase of gorgeous visuals--although the artistic merits of the movie are, as with Ghibli productions, sumptuous and at times breathtaking--but a display of real characters struggling with very tangible emotions. And the most amazing accomplishment about this movie is how much we grow to care for Seita and Setsuko--their inseparable bond of love and companionship is the heart and soul behind the movie.

There are long stretches of silence on the soundtrack, with music used very sparingly, yet the movie is all the more powerful for it. The most effective moment is where we hear a scratchy rendition of "Home, Sweet Home" over a montage of Setsuko playing by the shelter. It's a simplistic, sweet, yet very saddening moment that not only works in the context of the movie, but on its own as well.

I don't normally say this in my reviews, but I would definitely recommend watching this movie in its native language of Japanese for a truly powerful and memorable experience. That's not to imply, however, that the English dub, produced by New York-based Central Park Media, is inferior; on the contrary. It is, in fact, surprisingly good, with an effective lead in J. Robert Spencer and noteworthy cameo appearances by Anime voice-over actors Veronica Taylor, Crispin Freeman, and Dan Green. Rhoda Chrosite's Setsuko is the one voice that doesn't fare so well; she sounds more like an adult pretending to be a young girl, and comes across as strained during most scenes (save for when she is sick from diarrhea). Still, for those who can't read subtitles, the dub is more than adequate (although not as high-profile as others that I've heard).

Even in a genre as multi-faceted as Japanese Anime, there are few films that literally everyone really must see. Grave of the Fireflies is one such movie. read more

Few movies I've seen can bring me to the brink of tears, and only a handful of those can actually haunt me days after seeing them. Grave of the Fireflies is one of those rare movies I've seen that did this to me. Very few films have EVER made me feel as bad as this one did. Try to think of the saddest movie you've ever seen, Schindler's List (Widescreen Edition), Saving Private Ryan (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition), anything, and this movie blows it out of the water. This film has the power to devastate you, to move you, to bring you to the brink of tears and then push you over into a chaotic world. This is Grave of the Fireflies.

Set during the last days of WWII, while the US Air Force was fire bombing Japanese cities, Grave of the Fireflies is a movie about a young boy named Sata and his little four year old sister Setsico. When their mother is killed in the firebombing of Tokyo Sata is forced to care for his little sister in a nation ripped apart by war and famine. With his father far away serving in the Japanese navy, Sata is the only one who can care for his sister. The love shared between these two siblings is something that will forever leave an impression on me. As an older brother myself I could very easily put myself into Sata's situation. His need to give his sister the very best he can while not being able to provide for her is a very real feeling.

There are no heroes in this film, and there are no villains. Sata and Setsico are no heroes; the only heroic things they do throughout the movie are love and take care of one another. And, their aunt, although harsh and unfair, is no villain. At the same time neither side of the war, American or Japanese, is portrayed in a negative light. This is not a war movie and doesn't exist to condemn one side or the other. This is a movie about two orphan children trying to survive while the society they grew up in crumbles to dust around them.

Many critics of this movie complain about how annoying little Setsico is. Yes, I can admit, sometimes Setsico can be annoying, but really, what little girl isn't? She's a child, and children can't understand everything that's going on around them. Setsico doesn't understand that there is a war going on and that she can not have everything that she wants, she doesn't understand that Sata is killing himself trying to provide for her. As an older brother I find it absurd when people complain about how annoying little brothers/sisters can act in movies without even realizing that siblings are annoying in real life. Sata is no different. if you read this review, please leave a comment. read more

Set in World War II, Grave of the Fireflies follows the story of Seita and his little sister Setsuko as they attempt to survive in the aftermath of a bombing which has destroyed their home and killed their mother. With their father a naval officer away at war, they must travel the country looking for food and shelter.

Grave of the Fireflies serves primarily as an anti-war piece, illustrating the effects of war on an entire family. By focusing the narrative on two orphaned siblings, the film is able to uniquely touch on the issue of the lack of charity and concern for others during times of war and hardship. Seita and Setsuko suffer from this first hand, forced as mere children to find a way to survive while others often look upon their misfortune, unmoved and uninterested.

The film also focuses on the effects of the loss of family: frequently we see little Setsuko alone, looking at mothers and daughters and realizing her own loss. Seita too is shown in the film's opening scene, starving on the floor as he dies, alone in the world after Setsuko has passed away. The film's story is truly touching and perhaps one of the most powerful anti-war pieces ever produced. In animation and audio too, Studio Ghibil delivers a superb product. Though done in the late 80s, characters and settings are beautifully realistic and detailed, rivaling even many recent productions.

The soundtrack is wonderfully done: cute, but always a bit eery and unnerving, it captures the mood of the film perfectly. Voices (both Japanese and English) are well chosen for their parts and memorable. Little can be said against the film. It was disheartening to see Seita's pride play a role in bringing about such tragedy, and so if you're like me you may have been watching, saddened yet realistic to the degree of control each person has in determining his fortune. Overall, however, Grave of the Fireflies accomplishes its goal: viewers will be heartbroken by this tragic tale, questioning the merits of war and hopefully more concerned with its awful effects on those involved.


Overall Score: A

Find snapshots and a high quality download at my blog, http://animefiend.blogspot.com read more

Story - 10/10
A true tragedy of war and innocence lost. I can't go any farther than that without spoiling the movie as a whole. Sorry.

Art - 8/10
The animation is somewhat old, but not outrageously so. It might appeal to you, it might not. It didn't really appeal to me. Per the 8/10 rating.

Sound - 8/10
The music was pretty nice and beautiful. Beyond that, nothing more to say. It felt hit-or-miss to me.

Character - 10/10
You will fall so deeply in love with Seita and his little sister. You'll laugh, you'll cry - I can almost guarantee that. You'll like most of the supporting cast Seita and his sister meet. They are true and unique.

Enjoyment - 10/10
I can't say I enjoyed it a good way, you'll have to watch it to find out. I don't and can't spoil the movie for you. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It's truly memorable experience.

Overall a 9/10 is deserved, This movie is a tragic masterpiece and I urge each and everyone to own this movie. It's a must-have for all anime fans.

Sorry I couldn't go into detail but I wanted to avoid spoilers no matter what because you should see it for yourself. If you haven't seen this one yet, you really are missing out.

Go out and buy it!
read more

(I have a feeling most people reading this will hit the "Not Helpful" button as soon as they see my overall score, but for the few who actually care to read the review, there are several interesting points to consider)

"Grave of the Fireflies" is a late eighties Studio Ghibli film, a well-renowned classic about 14 year-old Seita and his little sister struggling to survive after their home is destroyed by carpet bombing, their mother killed, and their father is away fighting with the Navy.

Except...they don't really struggle. Not at first anyways. They have a loving aunt who is more than willing to give them a place to stay, help cook for, and take care of them. Far from being eternally grateful and thankful for this extraordinarily lucky turn of events, though, Seita is angry and resentful towards her. Why is this?

Well, because occasionally she makes insensitive comments about how Seita plays all day with his sister and eats her food, instead of going to school or working. And you know what? She's absolutely correct!

A 14 year old in the 1940's was a completely mature adult, especially during wartime, and more than capable of working for a living.

At that age, my great-grandparents and grandparents (who were born around the same time as the fictional Seita, except in the USSR, where far more people starved to death and died during the war than in Japan) were either in the military or working to support their family. This wasn't considered either tragic or unusual; it was simply the way life was back then for the countries at total war.

Hell, even the USA, which had by far the best of it during that time, had war rationing, and many young adults were forced to get jobs early.

However, Seita, despite supposedly caring for his sister, can't take this horrible verbal insult to his pride. He leaves his aunt's house, ignores the advice of a kindly farmer who tells him to go back and apologize, and continues obliviously playing with his younger sister...as they both slowly starve to death.

Thus, Seita is a completely callous, idiotic monster, responsible not only for his own death, but the death of his sister as well. That's my first problem with "Grave of the Fireflies". That the main character is responsible for the entire tragedy that ensues.

Another weakness of the movie is how completely contrived and fake the emotions were. You're telling me that when Seita sees his dead mother, her skin burned off her very flesh, he doesn't cry? He's so tough, that he tries to entertain his younger sister by doing tricks on a metal high bar?

That might make a great scene for a movie, but it's pure bullshit. Especially considering how childish and immature Seita acts throughout the rest of the movie. Him and his sister laughingly frolicking so soon afterwards is also pure garbage.

The aunt's own temperament is very odd. You're telling me that she shows no emotion upon hearing that her own sister has died? She's clearly no monster, and treats her nephews quite well, so why the utter lack of emotion? And why her bizarrely antagonistic attitude towards Setsuko, the younger sister? She's a four year old.

Seita is the one at fault here, not her. Again, it just makes very little sense.

While these two problems are to some extent forgivable, I can't overlook the third and most glaring flaw of this anime; it fails to make a statement. There is, quite literally, no point to the entire story.

Seita and Setsuko suffer tragedy during World War 2. They play and laugh a lot. Seita ignores the responsibilities of an adult. Eventually, they starve.

What's the punchline? What's the meaning? There have been thousands of films before this and hundreds of films afterwards about the cruelty of war. What makes this one special? What's the director's message about life and the human condition? There is none.

Arguably worst of all, I didn't feel any particular pity for the two fictional characters. The director even failed to do that.

Losing one's parents, living in a country at total war, and not having enough to eat are all horrible things...which every single one of my grandparents experienced during World War 2, except in their case, there was also a tuberculosis epidemic and a horrid evacuation to Siberia that makes the locales in Grave of the Fireflies seem like the Elysian Fields.

Thank God they didn't act like petulant children (despite being younger than 14 at the time) and lay down like the protagonists of the story, or else I would never have been born!

On the bright side, the animation of "Grave of the Fireflies" is, for its time, absolutely breathtaking, as is its attention to the most minute details of a scene must have taken tremendous dedication and effort on the part of the artists.

The music, while a simple orchestral score, is nevertheless touching, adding just the right emotion to several important scenes. It's not overpowering, but rather a soft background noise that makes one think of nostalgia and regret. In certain scenes, the music isn't used at all, which, if anything, enhances the scene.

I recommend people to watch this film for its historical significance, but don't believe the hype. read more

"To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori"
- Wilfred Owen
This film is personally one of the most emotional things I have ever witnessed. It takes place near the end of the second world war war in Kobe, Japan and follows the lives of two children: Seita and Setsuko.
(*Synopsis/Spoiler Warning*)
---+The children quickly become orphaned as their mother is killed in the fire bombing by the Americans, and their father is absent, serving in the Imperial Japanese Navy and are forced to live with their extended family. The cruel nature of a war-torn country quickly reveals itself as the two children are shunned and resented by their fellow citizens and family for simply being children and are viewed as burden and miscreants by society. The two children flee their unloving second family and try to make it on their own, and a harsh struggle for survival quickly ensues as food and shelter are scarce in the war-time Japan. +---(*end*)
The animation is typical of a late 80's anime, however is still tastefully done, and the music provides an adequate undertone for the content of the movie. The characters and plot are unquestionably what makes this movie special. As Seita and Setsuko face the challenges that are inherent in their historical backdrop and specific circumstances of their lives, it becomes very easy to connect with them. The fates and actions of the characters become extremely thoughtfully and emotionally provoking and, in my case, forces self analysis to anyone living in a peaceful era. Riddled with sentimentality and symbolism, this film is a must-see. read more