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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 69,391 users  
Reviews: 417 user | 111 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

Isao Takahata:  The patient who comes in to see the doctor after Setsuko. See more »

Quotes

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

Connections

Referenced in Spirited Away (2001) 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

 
More moving than you could ever expect
3 February 2005 | by (Australia) – See all my reviews

This film is utterly emotionally draining whilst being rewarding at the same time.

The animation is both realistic and stylized but that's not the point, the main focus of this film is the character development of the brother and sister protagonists. Their relationship is nothing short of beautiful and touching.

And without spoiling anything I have to say that this film touched me in a way no other film has ever touched me in my adult life. One or two films have upset me and reduced me to watery eyes but Grave of the Fireflies had me in fits of sobbing despair. I was a mess! I'm talking total emotional breakdown. Couldn't talk without sobbing! One of the best films I have EVER seen, animated or not.
260 of 279 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?
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