FEATURE FILM

Grave of the Fireflies

8.4/10
TMDB6,942 votes
1988Original: Japanese89 min

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.

Genres: Animation, Drama, War
Cast: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Masayo Sakai

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THE STORY & THE PEOPLE

About Grave of the Fireflies

Why do fireflies have to die so soon?

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is a film in the animation, drama, war genres. Directed by Isao Takahata. The cast includes Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi.

Released
1988-04-16
Original language
Japanese
Runtime
89 minutes
Status
Released
Production countries
Japan
Production companies
Studio Ghibli
Directors
Isao Takahata
Writers
Isao Takahata

Grave of the Fireflies cast & characters

Audience reviews

8.4/10 from 6,942 TMDB votes. Ratings and reviews are supplied by TMDB. Reviews are attributed to their original authors.

Andres Gomez

TMDB member review

The terrible story of two orphaned Japanese kids during the ending of WWII. Incredibly well told and totally moving, without using clichés. A must seen in the anime arena.

sykobanana

TMDB member review

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…

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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 where Totoro is about innocence maintained and the joy of childhood, Fireflies is innocence lost, a light dimmed after a short period.

Alunauwie

TMDB member review

Grave of the Fireflies masterfully portrays the human cost of war through a deeply emotional and well-structured narrative. With powerful animation, moving performances, and a haunting soundtrack, the film delivers a timeless and heart-wrenching message about loss, survival, and humanity. It's a must-watch war film that emphasizes empathy over action. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version :…

Read moreShow less
Grave of the Fireflies masterfully portrays the human cost of war through a deeply emotional and well-structured narrative. With powerful animation, moving performances, and a haunting soundtrack, the film delivers a timeless and heart-wrenching message about loss, survival, and humanity. It's a must-watch war film that emphasizes empathy over action. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

Questions about Grave of the Fireflies

What is Grave of the Fireflies about?

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.

Who stars in Grave of the Fireflies?

Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Masayo Sakai, Kozo Hashida. See the cast cards above for character names.

How can I watch Grave of the Fireflies online?

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