Hotarubi no Mori e

During a summer vacation at her grandfather’s house, six-year-old Hotaru Takegawa gets lost in a forest rumored to be inhabited by spirits. While crying out in desperation, Hotaru is approached by Gin—a mysterious boy wearing a mask—who offers to help her.

Overjoyed at the sight of another person, Hotaru runs to Gin with open arms only to be rudely fended off. However, she quickly learns the grave reason behind his behavior: a dreadful curse has been cast upon Gin. Should he ever be touched by a human being, he will disappear forever.

Though Gin urges her to never return, Hotaru does the exact opposite, and before too long, the two become close friends despite his delicate situation. Nonetheless, as years pass and their mutual feelings grow stronger, Hotaru and Gin start struggling with the boundaries that destiny has set between them.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Gin Main

Uchiyama, Kouki Japanese

Takegawa, Hotaru Main

Sakura, Ayane Japanese

Mother Takegawa Supporting

Sawada, Izumi Japanese

Ryouta Supporting

Taya, Hayato Japanese

Grandfather Takegawa Supporting

Tsuji, Shinpachi Japanese

Miyake, Masanori Producer

Katsumata, Hideo Producer

Sugawara, Hirofumi Producer

Yokoyama, Shuko Producer

Reviews

May 7, 2025

Khaledkucci1

Recommended

One of the shortest and most amazing movies I've ever watched in my life. On a Friday, about 4 months ago, at the beginning of 2025, in January, when the sun rose, a new, dazzling day, I watched this movie. I don't know what to say other than that it's a masterpiece worth watching. The characters are extremely realistic and even the story is something unique. I highly recommend it.
The movie was truly amazing and full of exciting creativity, and the story is a Japanese folk tale.
Many people said the ending wasn't good, but for me it was the opposite. This ending is more realistic, ... romantic, sad, and beautiful at the same time.
A wonderful movie, and I hope Hotaru forgets Gin so she never suffers in her life. But she said she will never forget him, and neither will he.
10/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Sep 14, 2025

elumizu

Mixed Feelings

Hotarubi no Mori e thrives on fragile paradox, telling a story that is deceptively simple yet emotionally potent, centered on the bond between Hotaru, a human girl, and Gin, a spirit bound by a curse that prevents physical contact. The plot moves in a straight line with little complexity, which works both as its strength and its weakness. Its brevity intensifies the bittersweet core but also leaves certain aspects underdeveloped, particularly in terms of worldbuilding and side characters, who mostly serve as fleeting background rather than meaningful contributors. The main characters, however, are tenderly drawn. Hotaru embodies youthful innocence and longing, while Gin carries the ... quiet melancholy of impermanence. Their dynamic reflecting the ache of loving something that cannot last. Internally, the story’s logic is consistent within its supernatural framework, though its rules are kept deliberately vague, prioritizing mood over clarity. Thematically, it meditates on transience, the inevitability of loss, and the beauty of fleeting moments, weaving a moral core that resonates more through feeling than through explicit message. Visually, the animation captures the languid magic of summer forests, with soft palettes and gentle movements that mirror the story’s restraint, though it lacks the depth or dynamism of larger productions. The music, delicate and atmospheric, reinforces the ephemeral quality of the narrative, while the voice acting, understated yet heartfelt, gives weight to the quiet spaces where words falter. In the end, the film offers not grandeur but an ephemeral experience, a fleeting wisp of emotion that lingers like the memory of fireflies in the dark. Brief, fragile, and unforgettable precisely because it cannot be held.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Oct 25, 2025

twinktaro

Not Recommended

What is with the obsession of having a old spirit or creature be attracted to a child/teenager. I'm so sick of anime romances being centred around an adult man and a 15 year old girl. Gin met Hotaru when she was 6 for Christ's sake and she's only 15/16 at the end of the film. I wouldn't have minded if she was the only one with a crush, that's normal, but why was this grownass man interested in her??!?!

Even if we ignore the weird as hell age difference, this movie was just incredibly basic. Soundtrack, voice acting, and animation were all just fine. Nothing ... special but also not terrible, just incredibly basic. I mightve given this a higher review if I didn't find the story so goddamn creepy. Why did she have to be a child???

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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