Apr. 16, 1988|Japan|89 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Animation;Drama;War
Description: “Grave of the Fireflies” (1988) is a poignant animated film available for download in both English and Japanese with dual audio options in 720p and 1080p resolutions.
The story begins on September 21, 1945, shortly after World War II ends. A teenage boy named Seita succumbs to starvation in a Kobe train station. A janitor discovers a candy tin among his belongings and tosses it into a field, revealing burnt bones inside. The spirits of Seita and his younger sister, Setsuko, emerge from the tin and board a train, accompanied by a swarm of fireflies.
Months earlier, Seita and Setsuko’s home is destroyed during a firebombing raid in Kobe. While they survive, their mother dies from severe burns. The siblings move in with a distant aunt, and Seita retrieves supplies he had buried before the bombing, giving most of it to his aunt but keeping a tin of Sakuma drops. As food becomes scarce, the aunt pressures Seita to sell his mother’s silk kimono for rice. Over time, the aunt grows resentful, accusing the children of not contributing to their upkeep.
Frustrated by her constant criticism, Seita and Setsuko leave and take refuge in an abandoned bomb shelter. They release fireflies to light the shelter, but the insects die the next day. Setsuko buries them, questioning why both the fireflies and her mother had to die. As their situation worsens, Seita resorts to stealing food from farmers and looting homes during air raids, often facing beatings as a result. When Setsuko falls ill, a doctor diagnoses her with malnutrition.
In desperation, Seita withdraws the remaining funds from his mother’s bank account. During this time, he learns of Japan’s surrender and the likely death of his father, a captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy whose ship was sunk.
This heart-wrenching film captures the devastating impact of war on two innocent lives, offering a profound exploration of loss, resilience, and the human spirit.
Cast director: Isao Takahata
Cast actor: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi
Original name: 火垂るの墓