Hotaru no Haka


Grave of the Fireflies

Edit
What would you like to edit?
 

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Tombstone for Fireflies
Japanese: 火垂るの墓
English: Grave of the Fireflies
German: Die letzten Glühwürmchen
Spanish: La Tumba de las Luciérnagas
French: Le Tombeau des Lucioles
More titles

Information

Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 16, 1988
Producers: None found, add some
Studios: Studio Ghibli
Source: Novel
Genre: DramaDrama
Theme: HistoricalHistorical
Duration: 1 hr. 28 min.
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 8.531 (scored by 434485434,485 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #1302
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #300
Members: 727,352
Favorites: 8,737

Available At


Resources

8.53
Ranked #130Popularity #300Members 727,352
Add to My List
Episodes: /1

Synopsis

As World War II reaches its conclusion in 1945, Japan faces widespread destruction in the form of American bombings, devastating city after city. Hotaru no Haka, also known as Grave of the Fireflies, is the story of Seita and his sister Setsuko, two Japanese children whose lives are ravaged by the brutal war. They have lost their mother, their father, their home, and the prospect of a bright future—all tragic consequences of the war.

Now orphaned and homeless, Seita and Setsuko have no choice but to drift across the countryside, beset by starvation and disease. Met with the apathy of adults along the way, they find that desperate circumstances can turn even the kindest of people cruel yet their youthful hope shines brightly in the face of unrelenting hardship, preventing the siblings from swiftly succumbing to an inevitable fate.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

Hotaru no Haka is based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka, which is centered on his experiences during and after the American firebombing of Kobe in 1945, and was released as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro.

The movie has won several awards including the Japan Catholic Film Award in 1988, the Special Award in the 31st Blue Ribbon Awards in 1989, the Animation Jury and Rights of the Child Awards in the Chicago International Children's Film Festival in 1994, and the 1st Moscow International Children's and Youth's Film Festival Grand Prix in 1998.

Characters & Voice Actors

Setsuko

Main
Shiraishi, Ayano
Japanese

Seita

Main
Tatsumi, Tsutomu
Japanese

Mrs. Yokokawa

Supporting
Shinohara, Yoshiko
Japanese

Farmer

Supporting

Aunt

Supporting
Yamaguchi, Akemi
Japanese

Gosaku

Supporting

Oobayashi Chairman

Supporting

Staff

Takahata, Isao
Director, Screenplay
Urakami, Yasuo
Sound Director
Mamiya, Michio
Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement, Music
Anno, Hideaki
Key Animation


Edit

Opening Theme

Preview
Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon Music
Youtube Music
"Setsuko and Seita" by Michio Mamiya
Edit

Ending Theme

"Futari" by Michio Mamiya




Reviews

Jun 2, 2025
An exceptional story told with exceptional flair. I first encountered this film when I had only just discovered The Beatles and was awakening to the revolutions of the ’60s. As a teenager still trying to grasp the meaning of peace, it struck me hard and gently bent my moral compass toward the good. I’m convinced everyone should meet this film while they’re still young; it has the power to reshape a person from the roots up and fling open entirely new windows on the world.

I admit the finer points of its technique and animation have faded in my memory—one day, when I rewatch it, I’ll ...
May 8, 2022
Mixed Feelings
No spoilers.

Many people say this is a must-see film, and that they cried during it. Personally, I did not consider this a "must-see" or tear-inducing. If you like wartime stuff, maybe you'll enjoy this. Unfortunately, I did not care for it.

Story:
It keeps the story to the very personal, small lives of two children during the war. The war is the setting, but not the plot.

Art:
Even by nowadays standards, this holds up very well. Each shot is well directed and there are genuinely haunting images all throughout the movie. While the movie never tries to WOW you with the art, it is all very effective ...
Aug 16, 2024
FunnyFunny
After the opening of the show, Seita and his little sister, Setsuko, are orphaned and get to live with their aunt. The aunt provides them with basic lodging, food and sanitation. She also points out that the siblings are not making enough effort to contribute to the household.

Real wartime orphans would have been grateful for the roof over their heads, and served their aunt with housework and any job suggested her.

But these abnormal orphans did none of that, left their aunt to live on their own instead, and both got malnourished to death.

If you were a real war orphan, would you take your ...

Interest Stacks

44 Entries · 282 Restacks
42 Entries · 1 Restacks
50 Entries · 710 Restacks

Recommendations


Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for February

North American Anime & Manga Releases for February

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for February Week 1: February 4 - 10 Anime Releases A.D. Police (TV) Complete Collection Blu-ray Bai She: Yuan...read more

UK Producer To Make a Live Action Movie of Grave of the Fireflies

UK Producer To Make a Live Action Movie of Grave of the Fireflies

According to Cinema Today, UK film producer Dresden Pictures has acquired the live action film rights of Hotaru no Haka (Grave of the Fireflies). The filming will st...read more


Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Seita
Neo2425 - Jan 1, 2023
33 repliesby WestOnAndrewAve »»
May 19, 11:35 AM
Poll: Did you cry after you watched this movie? (spoilers) ( 1 2 3 4 )
ss4gojetanks - Jul 8, 2011
192 repliesby Terry-Sensei »»
May 3, 9:36 PM
Grave of the fireflies is not that much sad
Ishow_suii - Nov 16, 2023
28 repliesby aurora_yuuki »»
Apr 19, 10:57 PM
Poll: Hotaru No Haka Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page )
yakyuu-addict - Nov 28, 2008
331 repliesby UnHappyArt_55 »»
Apr 15, 11:26 AM
Article
GinIonSui - Oct 1, 2024
4 repliesby SoloNecromancer »»
Oct 5, 2024 3:21 AM

Top 30 Best Anime Movies of All Time

Top 30 Best Anime Movies of All Time

You think you know anime movies? Have you seen all 30 of these movies on our best anime movie list? Our writer sets themselves a only-one-movie-per-director rule and comes up with 30 movies every anime fan must see.

by 5camp

877,764 views

Top 20 Best Anime Movies to Kick-Start 2016

Top 20 Best Anime Movies to Kick-Start 2016

Tons of good anime movies have been made over the years. But why settle for good? We present to you a list of not 5, not 10, but 20 of some of the best anime movies in existence! Dig in and find some new and interesting Japanese animated movies to watch this year!