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 #51 | 3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tsutomu Tatsumi	...	Seita (voice)
Ayano Shiraishi	...	Setsuko (voice)
Yoshiko Shinohara	...	Mother (voice)
Akemi Yamaguchi	...	Aunt (voice)
Tadashi Nakamura	...	(voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marcy Bannor	...	Aunt (Sentai Filmworks dub) (voice)
Shelley Calene-Black	...	Mother (Sentai Filmworks dub) (voice)
Luci Christian	...	Additional Voices (Sentai Filmworks dub) (voice)
Shannon Conley	...	Additional Voices (Central Park Media dub) (voice)
Justin Doran	...	Additional Voices (Sentai Filmworks dub) (voice)
Crispin Freeman	...	Doctors / Old Man (Central Park Media dub) (voice)
Adam Gibbs	...	Seita (Sentai Filmworks dub) (voice)
Dan Green	...	Additional Voices (Central Park Media dub) (voice)
Amy Jones	...	Aunt (Central Park Media dub) (voice)
Susan O. Koozin	...	Additional Voices (Sentai Filmworks dub) (voice) (as Susan Koozin)

Storyline

The story of Seita and Satsuko, 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:

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

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

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:

Mono Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) (theatrical print)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only Ghibili theatrical feature film to not be part of the Disney-Tokuma deal.

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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

Referenced in Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal (1999)

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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.