Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Name: Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Genre: Drama, War, Animation
Released: July 26, 1989
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 94
Cast: Akemi Yamaguchi, Ayano Shiraishi, Justin Doran, Luci Christian, Marcy Bannor

1989

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 156 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 156 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Toho Company | Release Date: July 26, 1989 | TV-14

Starring: Akemi Yamaguchi, Ayano Shiraishi, Justin Doran, Luci Christian, Marcy Bannor, Shannon Conley, Shelley Calene-Black, Tadashi Nakamura, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Yoshiko Shinohara

Summary: A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

Director: Isao Takahata

Genre(s): Drama, War, Animation

Rating: TV-14

Runtime: 89 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Grave of the Fireflies is not a film to be taken lightly. It is not even a film to be enjoyed. It is a film which demands – and deserves – total concentration and emotional surrender. The reward is an experience unlike any other: exhausting, tragic and utterly bleak, but also somehow monumental. Read full review

100

James Berardinelli

While a child might be affected by the film, it takes the weight of a certain number of years to fully absorb what director Isao Takahata has put up on the screen. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

An emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation. Read full review

IndieWire Staff (Not Credited)

Fireflies is, at times, unbearably sad, a eulogy for a bleeding nation but also a hugely imaginative tale that reminds us of art’s power to lift us from the ramparts of our own devastation. Read full review

Peer Schneider

From its powerful opening line to the very end, Grave of the Fireflies is an important film that will prove to even the most stubborn naysayer that animated films can move you just like the "real stuff". Read full review

J.R. Jones

Rivals the films of Hayao Miyazaki in elevating anime to the level of fine art. Read full review

Juan Barquin

Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli's second best-known filmmaker and co-founder, adapts Akiyuki Nosaka's short story of the same name to great effect, using animation to create a film that emphasizes the horrors of war better than most live-action films. [21 Jun 2016]

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User Reviews

Emilio200

Aug 15, 2023

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

spencerWoody

Apr 5, 2022

A true masterpiece. Easily deserves to be on any list of the greatest films of all time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

naldosborges

Oct 15, 2021

Animação que mostra o caos trazido pela guerra e isso mostra o porquê não glorificar ou idealizar guerras.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

junkcrab

Nov 2, 2020

This is my favorite Studio Ghibli film, it is so heart-wrenching and sad, it will make you cry. The animation is great as any Ghibli movies, and the story is simple but very effective

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Bromareo

Dec 10, 2021

Masterpiece of fiction. Nothing more should be said, watch it, especially if you can enjoy a really well written movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

abolfazlvahed

Dec 23, 2022

the saddest animation you can see. if you have sister or brother its more painful.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

pokegod11

Jul 24, 2020

Feels very lackluster in comparison to other sad movies but it definitely has its moments that can make you cry