Grave of the Fireflies

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Grave of the Fireflies

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1h 28m

Drama

War

Anime

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47 Reviews

95%

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10,000+ Ratings

A devastating meditation on the human cost of war, this animated tale follows Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi), a teenager charged with the care of his younger sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), after an American firebombing during World War II separates the two children from their parents. Their tale of survival is as heartbreaking as it is true to life. The siblings rely completely on each other and struggle against all odds to stay together and stay alive.

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Critics Consensus

An achingly sad anti-war film, Grave of the Fireflies is one of Studio Ghibli's most profoundly beautiful, haunting works.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

It’s one thing to have a film really sadden you, but I also found it sublime in its beauty... [Setsuko and Seita's] happiness together is transcendent.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 7, 2022

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Glenn Kenny

New York Times

One of the most startling and moving animated films ever.

Jan 3, 2019

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Chris Cabin

Slant Magazine

Isao Takahata makes survival the thematic core of the story, but he never degrades his characters or fetishizes their suffering.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 30, 2018

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

“Grave of the Fireflies” is simply a work of art; a film that, more than thirty-five years ago, demonstrated that animation can be used to tell mature, bloody, emotional, tragic, believable and very human stories. [Full review in Spanish].

Rated: 5/5

Feb 5, 2025

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Denise Pieniazek

EscribiendoCine

It is a moving piece in front of which the public cannot remain indifferent, the story enunciates with warmth and raw honesty, the consequences of war on childhood and its irreversible consequences and how the adults seem to be absent...

Rated: 8.5/10

Feb 1, 2025

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

The film has so much to say not just about war and death but also about pride. This is an incredibly worthy film that is a unique piece of Studio Ghibli's filmography.

Mar 26, 2024

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Mohammed a

this is such a sad masterpiece of a movie it explains how life was like at the end of ww2 and I still think about it now even though i watched it so long ago

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

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Jesus P

No hay palabras solo emociones

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

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Ben B

This movie is peak sadness. The story was compelling beginning to end, and throughout the movie you are just hoping things don’t end up the way they are planned in the beginning, but they do and it plays out extremely well. 5/5 10/10 100/100 I wish they survived, do you want trauma! WATCH THIS.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

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Bahaa a

Lost for words just broke me more knowing it's inspired of a real picture for a kid holding his sister on his back knowing she's dead 😓.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

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Michael S

I am disturbed, and that's ok, I feel like more of a human for watching this movie. Will stay with me for ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

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Roberto T

To me, this anime is possibly the very best animated movie ever. Only Bambi compares.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

Full Review

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Isao Takahata

Director

Tsutomu Tatsumi

Seita

Ayano Shiraishi

Setsuko

Yoshiko Shinohara

Mother

Akemi Yamaguchi

Aunt

Shannon Conley

Additional Voices

Grave of the Fireflies: Netflix Trailer

1:43

Grave of the Fireflies: Trailer 1

1:42

Grave of the Fireflies: Fathom Events Trailer

0:30

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Synopsis

A devastating meditation on the human cost of war, this animated tale follows Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi), a teenager charged with the care of his younger sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), after an American firebombing during World War II separates the two children from their parents. Their tale of survival is as heartbreaking as it is true to life. The siblings rely completely on each other and struggle against all odds to stay together and stay alive.

Director: Isao Takahata
Producer: Toru Hara
Screenwriter: Isao Takahata, Akiyuki Nosaka
Production Co: Studio Ghibli
Genre: Drama, War, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2014
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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