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IMDbPro

Grave of the Fireflies

Original title: Hotaru no haka
  • 19881988
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
281K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,251
59
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.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
281K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,251
59
    • Isao Takahata
    • Akiyuki Nosaka(novel)
    • Isao Takahata
  • Stars
    • Tsutomu Tatsumi(voice)
    • Ayano Shiraishi(voice)
    • Akemi Yamaguchi(voice)
    • Isao Takahata
    • Akiyuki Nosaka(novel)
    • Isao Takahata
  • Stars
    • Tsutomu Tatsumi(voice)
    • Ayano Shiraishi(voice)
    • Akemi Yamaguchi(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 946User reviews
    • 140Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #44
    • Awards

    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

    Photos200

    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
    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)
        • Isao Takahata
        • Akiyuki Nosaka(novel)
        • Isao Takahata
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      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 At 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 reviews946

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      10/10
      More moving than you could ever expect
      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.
      helpful•465
      32
      • bdod5489
      • Feb 3, 2005

      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
        • July 26, 1989 (United States)
        • Japan
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
      • Production companies
        • Shinchosha Company
        • Studio Ghibli
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • 1 hour 29 minutes
        • Color
        • Dolby Stereo

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