Grave of the Fireflies

[Jeikobu]

I just saw it, so I thought I'd share my review. Discuss your thoughts on the movie here.

Heart-Warming and Heart-Breaking.
This film is one of anime's most beautiful, touching, and saddening productions. The film takes place in the year of 1945, during the last days of World War II. Japan is constantly taking attacks from American air fighters, killing many people each time, and causing devastating damage, emotional more than physical. The film centers around a boy, Seita, who is probably in his teen years, and his little sister, Setsuko, who can't be older than five. Because of the results of the war, they are forced to live on their own eventually. Now Seita must do all he can to care for and protect his helpless sibling. They face many hardships as they struggle to survive. The movie can be cute at times, of course. Setsuko is adorable, and much like a real little kid that age, and Seita is a great older brother to her. However, the movie is not a happy one. Many have suffered the pain of war, and this movie really shows how horrible war is, during and after the attacks. It is painful to even get the idea of what these poor innocent people had to endure, and I really felt for the two siblings. Therefore it is a very moving, heart-breaking film. The movie has a pretty musical score, and excellent animation, to top off a powerful story line and great, deep characters. This is an anime masterpiece, and a must-see, however it's not kid friendly. Never the less, this movie is one of the only films, anime or non-anime, that has ever moved me to tears.

[Mangafanatic]

Man, I can't take this movie. I was depressed for close to a week after this one. I just can't stand children suffering.

And yes, it was an excellent movie that showed a side of WWII that I'd never seen, and for that reason, I'm glad I saw it. But I won't be ever watching it again. Atleast, not for thirty years for so.

[Blitzkrieg1701]

I read that Akiyuki Nosaka, the writer, actually was orphaned around the end of the war, and much of the story is inspired by personal experience (though his story, obviously, had a less tragic outcome since he could write about it)

[Hitokiri]

It was a beatiful anime, one of the few that made me cry.

[GhostontheNet]

It was an excellent, if very sad Anime. However, the timing of when I saw it was rather bad. In Japanese, we had already finished the final, so on finals day, our Japanese teacher had shown us this. As it so happened, that fell on the very last day of school and the very last period before Summer break. The end result was that I ended up going home gloomy at the beginning of summer break. :sad:

[Jeikobu]

Well, as sad as it is to watch, it is a very important film. It portrays so well how horrible war is, and how many suffer because of it. It's a sad fact but it's important to know.
Never the less I thought the movie was fantastic. It was so powewrful. I definitely want to own this, probably more than any other anime.

[Rev. Doc]

Never the less I thought the movie was fantastic. It was so powewrful. I definitely want to own this, probably more than any other anime.

I got my copy at Target. It's the cheapest I have seen it. Most places it runs $20.00 to $30.00. Target (If one near you has it) sells this title for $15.00.

[KOBUSHInoTENSHU]

i saw that movie so many times. it was so sad... WHY DO THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT JAPAN DURING WW2 IN SCHOOL???!!!!!!

[termyt]

That's a good question. I am by no means a pacifist, but the cost of war must be understood before waging it. WWII was as just a conflict as can be realized by humans, but all countries did things they should not be proud of.

Grave of the Fireflies does an excellent job of humanizing the Japanese civilians and I agree that it's a must see for all with even a passing interest in WWII. And, before you get too soft on the Japanese, read "The Rape of Nanking" as well.

[termyt]

And yet, a very similar view as well.