Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

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

Director:

Isao Takahata

Writers:

Akiyuki Nosaka (novel), Isao Takahata

Stars:

Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Akemi Yamaguchi

Top Rated Movies #46 | 3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tsutomu Tatsumi	...	Seita (voice)
Ayano Shiraishi	...	Setsuko (voice)
Yoshiko Shinohara	...	Mother (voice)
Akemi Yamaguchi	...	Aunt (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 / Doctor (voice)

Storyline

The story of Seita and Setsuko, two young Japanese siblings, living in the declining days of World War II. When an American firebombing separates the two children from their parents, the two siblings must rely completely on one another while they struggle to fight for their survival.

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | food | survival | older brother younger sister | homelessness | 

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Produced concurrently with My Neighbor Totoro (1988). Many of the animators had trouble remembering which film they were animating.

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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.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in The Art of Japanese Life: Cities (2017)

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Soundtracks

Gunkan kôshinkyoku
(Warship March)
Written by Tôkichi Setoguchi

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

Japan USA

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

26 July 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grave of the Fireflies

Box Office

Budget:

$3,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$158,101, 12 August 2018

Gross USA:

$516,962

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$516,962

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shinchosha Company, Studio Ghibli

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1