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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48 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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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It is indeed magnificent. But it’s also among the most depressing movies I have ever seen, ranking alongside Italy’s Bicycle Thieves, New Zealand’s Once Were Warriors, the U.S.’s Requiem for a Dream, Russia’s Come and See, and Sweden’s Lilya 4-ever.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 15, 2025

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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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Audience Member

The story of two children who starve to death because the older brother is either too stubborn to apologize and continue living with his awful Aunt, or too lazy to get a job. The only thing more tragic is how this movie rated so highly.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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rav M

Pretty frickin good it was really sad I was freaking crying

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/25

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Luke B

this movie is truly the most raw and depressing masterpiece, you will truely be left speechless and how it perfectly encapsulates that children r the ones mostly affected by war, I urge everyone to watch it. it will change your life

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

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Ayan K

The whole movie maintained my attention till the climax, then I cried, went to wash out my tears and continued. Again, I started crying, went to wash my tears and continued. I did this 3 times till the end of the movie, and still I was shocked, thinking this in reality happened with innocent children in Japan and anywhere the war took place. If you have watched Barefoot Gen, then you should watch this. If you're looking for sibling (brother-sister) anime, you should give it a try. The artwork of Studio Ghibli was beautiful as always. The characters were realistic and enjoyable. Everyone will love the series, knowing that it was based on true events.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

Ethan O.

I haven’t been moved that much by a movie. I knew going into it that it was sad but I was still unprepared

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

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Jahzion E

frick you whoever made this!! this is too frickin sad 😭

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

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

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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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