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Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
"Hotaru no haka" (original title)

 -  Animation | Drama | War  -  16 April 1988 (Japan)
8.4
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Ratings: 8.4/10 from 67,760 users  
Reviews: 414 user | 105 critic

A tragic film covering a young boy and his little sister's struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

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(novel),

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Edit

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tsutomu Tatsumi ...
Seita (voice)
Ayano Shiraishi ...
Setsuko (voice)
Yoshiko Shinohara ...
Mother (voice)
Akemi Yamaguchi ...
Aunt (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rhoda Chrosite ...
Setsuko (voice)
Shannon Conley ...
Additional Voices (voice)
...
Additional Voices (voice)
Dan Green ...
Additional Voices (voice)
Amy Jones ...
Aunt (voice)
George Leaver ...
Additional Voices (voice)
...
Seita (voice)
Nick Sullivan ...
Additional Voices (voice)
Veronica Taylor ...
Mother (voice)
Full cast and crew »
Edit

Storyline

Setsuko and Seita are brother and sister living in wartime Japan. After their mother is killed in an air raid they find a temporary home with relatives. Having quarreled with their aunt they leave the city and make their home in an abandoned shelter. While their soldier father's destiny is unknown, the two must depend on each other to somehow keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. When everything is in short supply, they gradually succumb to hunger and their only entertainment is the light of the fireflies. Written by Corrected by Liron

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

japan | shelter | food | hunger | air raid | See more »

Genres:

Animation | Drama | War

Certificate:

Unrated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

16 April 1988 (Japan)  »

Also Known As:

Grave of the Fireflies  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| (as Dolby Stereo) (theatrical print)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

In South Korea, the release of the movie was postponed indefinitely because of the concern that the movie somewhat justified Japan's role in World War II. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Seita: September 21, 1945... that was the night I died.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"Home Sweet Home"
Performed by Amelita Galli-Curci
Courtesy of RCA Victor Red Seal, a division of BMG Classics
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Q: Is this movie based on a (graphic) novel?
Q: What's in the box that Seita carries with him?
See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Haunting
28 January 2001 | by (Ontario, Canada) – See all my reviews

I was warned this movie would be emotional, but I had no idea just how understated that was. By the end, my friend and I were huddled together, pouring out tears I've never shed for any movie before. It was a mix of horror, empathy, sadness, and so many more emotions I can't even begin to list.

Visions of this film have haunted me since first watching it, and I would find it hard to watch again, simply from it being so heart-wrenching. Only one movie has ever hit me hard enough to keep me from subjecting myself to it's strong emotions again (The thief, the cook, his wife and her lover).

I strongly urge all to watch this, as it rises well about any films I've seen, anime or not.
272 of 285 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?
Review this title | See all 414 user reviews »

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