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Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

NR04/16/1988Animation, Drama, War1h 29m
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Why do fireflies have to die so soon?

Overview

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

Top Billed Cast

  1. Cast 1

    Tsutomu Tatsumi

    Seita (voice)

  2. Cast 1

    Ayano Shiraishi

    Setsuko (voice)

  3. Cast 1

    Yoshiko Shinohara

    Mother (voice)

  4. Akemi Yamaguchi

    Auntie (voice)

  5. Masayo Sakai

    Woman who takes care of Setsuko (voice)

  6. Kozo Hashida

    Obayashi Chairman (voice)

  7. Kazumi Nozaki

    Cousin (voice)

  8. Yoshio Matsuoka

    Gosaku (voice)

  9. Masahiro Kanetake

    Aunt's House Guest (voice)

This was the first animated movie that made me cry as an adult. It still does. Two children are left as orphans in World War 2 and have to survive. Such a basic premise, but this shows intimately what the effects of war are on children (a topic not covered by other movies). And as it's about children, it has more of an emotional impact. Described as one of the greatest war movies of all time by Roger Ebert, the work of art will impact you like no other anime. Its interesting to note that this was released originally with My Neighbour Totoro. Both are films about childhood. But...