Grave of the Fireflies

Hotaru no Haka

Also Known As: GotF, GotFF, Graveyard of the Fireflies, Grave

Genre: Drama

Format: 1 Movie

Allegiance: Studio Ghibli

Director: Takahata Isao

Vintage: 1988

Intelligence Agency Report by: Munky

Near the end of World War II, American air-raids on Japan threatened many lives. After losing their mother, 14 year old Seita and his baby sister Setsuko are forced to live on their own. The harsh war times make it difficult to find food, or get help from neighbours and family. Finding it hard to get nutrition, toiletries, and other needed services, death and starvation seems to be the only way out.

Field Agent Report by: Munky

Plot
Characters
Impact
Visual
Audio

9.00
9.25
9.75
8.25
7.50

Overall

9.25

(not an average)

This anime, based on Nosaka Akiyuki's semi-autobiographical novel Hotaru no Haka, at first, had me little skeptical of getting it because I don't like war films at all. Though this anime takes place in war times, it is not all about fighting. This anime is about the harsh reality of what everyday citizens face during a war crisis. The epic story is indeed a sad one that will have anybody crying like a baby. The art may seem a little low quality and grainy because it's a 15 year old movie, but the animation is amazing, especially for its time.

I watched this anime for the second time with some friends of mine. We were watching it, cracking jokes about random things during the movie, but towards the end, one of my friends looked up and said, "I'd make a joke, but it's just so sad!". And he was right. The movie had gotten to the point to where if you joked about the situation, then you were seriously sick minded. During the parts when Setsuko was whining about different things, she was just a little girl, it seemed real. Even though it made me want to slap her, and tell her to be quiet, it was still very well done. I felt every emotion. And I loved every minute of it.

This anime will make you cry, make you laugh, and everything in between. It is definitely a great title and worth a checking out. The artwork may not be much by today's standards, but it still looks beautiful and is worth appreciating. I urge you to run to the store and buy the Collector's Edition immediately.

Field Agent Report by: Drake

Plot
Characters
Impact
Visual
Audio

7.00
1.00
4.00
8.00
8.00

Overall

6.75

(not an average)

When I first saw Grave of the Fireflies, I was told that this movie would instantly become a favorite of mine, and that no other movie would ever top the brilliance of this one. I’m sorry to say, neither part of this statement is in anyway true, at least in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong – I did not dislike the movie, it just did not touch me in the way it apparently has touched others.

The movie takes place near the end of World War II, and revolves around two siblings who have lost their mother and find themselves trying to survive in the wilderness. While the movie does a decent job of depicting life in Japan during that period, the characters failed to reach me. In fact, I feel Setsuko irritated me more than moved me, while her brother just left me thinking how much of a total idiot he was. With the two lead characters failing to touch my heart, I was unable to see the rest of Akiyuki Nosaka’s beloved story as a heart wrencher.

One of the things I really did enjoy was seeing Studio Ghibli once again manage to have highly top-notch animation that can be appreciated by all. The studio has gained a reputation with me for always delivering timeless animation, and this coupled with the music score (most of which was depressing, melancholy music to relay the desperation of the Japanese) was able to bring up my opinion of the movie from horrible to decent.

Overall, while the characters annoyed me, and the overall product left me desiring much more from the film, I’d have to say this is a film anyone interested in Japanese history should pick up and watch if the opportunity arises. However, don’t expect to find the mind-blowing movie experience that the anime community seems to believe is in Grave of the Fireflies, as you’ll be highly disappointed.