Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tragic WWII anime has devastating teen and toddler deaths.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Grave of the Fireflies
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
Based on 83 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is an intensely emotional journey through the horrors of war, depicting the struggles of two siblings orphaned during World War II. While many admire its beautiful animation and meaningful themes about family and loss, it is widely agreed that it is not suitable for young children due to its graphic and heartbreaking content.
- emotional impact
- not for children
- beautiful animation
- heartbreaking themes
- stark realities
- powerful storytelling
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, at a Japanese train station in September 1945, a lone teen dies of starvation, barely noticed by the cleanup crew getting set for the arriving American WWII forces. The teen's spirit unites with a little girl, and in a flashback viewers learn that they're a brother, Seita (voiced by Tsutomu Tatsumi), and his toddler sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi). With Seita's father serving in the Japanese Imperial Navy and their mother (Yoshiko Shinohara) ailing, Seita spends most of his time looking after Setsuko. When American bombardment destroys their home and kills their mother, the two children move in with an unwelcoming aunt (Akemi Yamaguchi), with Seito keeping the awful truth from Setsuko as best he can.
Is It Any Good?
Even seen-it-all critics such as Roger Ebert admit to having been moved to tears by this stirring and memorable film––which is based on actual events. Akiyuki Nosaka, author of the 1967 semi-autobiographical novella Grave of the Fireflies, lost his younger sister during the war and later wrote about the tragedy with lasting grief. It's sobering to witness a story that comes directly from the countless children who died of war crimes, not only in WWII but throughout history and up to today.
The movie's visually beautiful but realistic animation offers no fantasy heroics, no talking-animal sidekicks, and only the merest comfort when the deceased brother and sister meet again as spirits. There are far more physically violent WWII films and anime out there, but this movie doesn't need graphic bloodshed for devastating impact, and it should be watched with the same caution that parents might reserve for other heartrending films such as Schindler's List.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Grave of the Fireflies reveals about the long-lasting human cost of war. How does it serve as a powerful anti-war statement rooted in real historical suffering? How do we help war victims around the world in current time?
How does the art of animation deepen the story's emotional impact? What does this suggest about the potential of anime as a medium for telling serious, historically grounded stories?
The film purposely leaves out geopolitical details, never explaining why the film's characters and villages are under attack. How would the movie change if it explained historical events? Would you feel differently about Seita and Setsuko's situation?
How does the film portray the failure of communities and institutions to protect the vulnerable? How can we hold institutions accountable to help relieve suffering in real life?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 16, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : July 7, 2009
- Cast : Tsutomu Tatsumi , Ayano Shiraishi , Akemi Yamaguchi
- Director : Isao Takahata
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Japanese Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Central Park Media
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : History
- Run time : 77 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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