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Grave of the Fireflies

Original title: Hotaru no haka
  • 1988
  • PG
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
300K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
861
332
Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Trailer for Grave of Fireflies
Play trailer1:47
4 Videos
99+ Photos
AnimationDramaWar

A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

  • Director
    • Isao Takahata
  • Writers
    • Akiyuki Nosaka
    • Isao Takahata
  • Stars
    • Tsutomu Tatsumi
    • Ayano Shiraishi
    • Akemi Yamaguchi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    300K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    861
    332
    • Director
      • Isao Takahata
    • Writers
      • Akiyuki Nosaka
      • Isao Takahata
    • Stars
      • Tsutomu Tatsumi
      • Ayano Shiraishi
      • Akemi Yamaguchi
    • 969User reviews
    • 145Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #43
    • Awards
      • 3 wins

    Videos4

    Grave of the Fireflies
    Trailer 1:47
    Watch Grave of the Fireflies
    What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    Clip 1:48
    Watch What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    Clip 2:25
    Watch What to Watch When You Need a Good Cry
    When You Need a Good Cry
    Video 1:51
    Watch When You Need a Good Cry

    Photos208

    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, and Emily Neves in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, and Emily Neves in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, J. Robert Spencer, Emily Neves, and Adam Gibbs in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, and Emily Neves in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Corinne Orr, Ayano Shiraishi, and Emily Neves in Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tsutomu Tatsumi
    • Seita
    • (voice)
    Ayano Shiraishi
    • Setsuko
    • (voice)
    Akemi Yamaguchi
    • Aunt
    • (voice)
    Yoshiko Shinohara
    • Mother
    • (voice)
    Kôzô Hashida
    • Obayashi Chairman
    • (voice)
    Masayo Sakai
    • Woman who takes care of Setsuko
    • (voice)
    Kazumi Nozaki
    • Cousin
    • (voice)
    Yoshio Matsuoka
    • Gosaku
    • (voice)
    Masahiro Kanetake
    • Aunt's house guest
    • (voice)
    Kiyoshi Yanagawa
    • Patrolman
    • (voice)
    Hajime Maki
    • Man who arrests Seita
    • (voice)
    Atsuo Omote
    • Person in bank
    • (voice)
    Teruhisa Harita
    • Station worker
    • (voice)
    Hiroshi Tanaka
    • Person in bank
    • (voice)
    Michio Denpô
    • Station worker
    • (voice)
    • …
    Shirô Tamaki
    • Person in bank
    • (voice)
    Tadashi Nakamura
      Mika Sekita
      • Nurse
      • (voice)
      • Director
        • Isao Takahata
      • Writers
        • Akiyuki Nosaka
        • Isao Takahata
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        This film was initially distributed with My Neighbor Totoro (1988) because it was the only way that Miyazaki could have been able to make "Totoro." The reason being that the original film pitch for that film was rejected, so they pitched a double feature with "Grave of the Fireflies," and the project was eventually backed financially by the original writer of the book on which "Grave" is based. It often was overlooked as a film because whenever "Totoro" was screened first, people were left happy and did not wish to be saddened by "Grave" afterward.
      • Goofs
        Right at the beginning, someone places what looks like a rice ball loosely wrapped in some tree bark as a protective cover next to the boy known as Seita. The scene cuts to Seita's face and soon after he collapses, the wrapped rice ball is nowhere to be seen.
      • Quotes

        [first lines]

        Seita: September 21, 1945... that was the night I died.

      • Connections
        Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: True Crime/Ravenous/The King and I/Forces of Nature/The Harmonists (1999)
      • Soundtracks
        Home Sweet Home
        Written by H.R. Bishop (uncredited)

        Performed by Amelita Galli-Curci

        Courtesy of RCA Victor Red Seal, a division of BMG Classics

      User reviews969

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      10/10
      Haunting
      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.
      helpful•557
      20
      • Black Rainbow
      • Jan 28, 2001

      Top picks

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      FAQ3

      • What does the fireflies represent?
      • Is this movie based on a (graphic) novel?
      • What's in the box that Seita carries with him?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • April 16, 1988 (Canada)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • Le tombeau des lucioles
      • Production companies
        • Shinchosha Company
        • Studio Ghibli
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • $3,700,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $516,962
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $158,101
        • Aug 12, 2018
      • Gross worldwide
        • $516,962
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 29 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby Stereo
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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