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Grave of the Fireflies

Name: Grave of the Fireflies
Genre: Animation, Drama, War
Released: 1988
Duration: 89 min

火垂るの墓

1988 · 89 min · Animation

In the final months of World War II, a teenage boy and his little sister, orphaned by the firebombing of their city, struggle to survive on their own amid hunger and indifference. Isao Takahata's devastating, beautiful animated tragedy.

Runtime: 89 min
Genre: Animation · Drama · War
Mood: tense · thoughtful · dark
Entry: easy entry
Best for: first visit · shorter watch · animation fans

Content notes: war or political violence · child harm or distress Non-exhaustive

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Part of 10 Essential Japanese Films

This film is stop 1 of 10 in the hand-ranked native-cinema route through Japan. See the complete ranking or read the selection methodology.

Watching this film stamps Japan in the 196 country film challenge.