Grave of the Fireflies: Saddest Movie Ever? (1988)

This is a movie I've always wanted to see. Many consider it one of the best anime films of all time. Even Roger Ebert once said about this movie "It belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made." I've heard that Grave of the Fireflies was really sad so I was prepared with a box of tissues before I sat down. So without further ado, lets jump right in, shall we?


Grave of the Fireflies takes place during the end of World War 2 in Japan. It centers around Seita and his little sister Setsuko. During the war, American planes droped fire bombs on the coast cities to disable Japan's naval capabilities. With the majority of the towns and cities being made of wood and paper Japanese homes, the resulting fires were unstoppable and often devastating. Kobe is the city in question in Grave of the Fireflies, and it's soon after the start of the movie that Seita and Setsuko find themselves homeless after the bombing destroys their home. It's a story of two small children trying to survive during the war when they have nothing, and everything is on the line.

The movie is told in a series of flashbacks, with the opening scene actually being the end of the story. And let me tell you, it's not a good one. The opening scene is of Seita's last night, as he sits hunched over in a train station. He finally collapses from exhaustion and passes away of starvation. A cleaner and healthier version of the boy appears in the grass outside the station, and we know that this is his spirit. We are taken through the story by Seita's spirit as he walks the countryside and recalls events that happened at those places. How did such a fit young boy get to such a desperate state. This is his story.

Seita & his 5 year old sister Setsuko

The story is profoundly human and deeply emotional. I was nearly brought to tears several times during Grave of the Fireflies. The strength of the emotion this film incites within you is astonishing. The only movie that I can say came close to giving me this same experience was another anime titled Barefoot Gen. Similarly about surviving in World War 2, Barefoot Gen is about a boy trying to survive in Hiroshima after somehow surviving the atomic bombing. Grave of the Fireflies wasn't as difficult to watch as Barefoot Gen, but it's message is also not so much about the war as it is just a tale of these children.

It's not often that we experience emotional states as profound and extreme as what is given to you by Grave of the Fireflies. I have to recommend that everyone seek out this film and watch it if you can. This movie is a MUST see. This just reminds you that those statistics of war aren't just numbers, and that many likely went through massive hardships and great pain before the end. Many consider this one of the best anime of all time. I would like to posit that it's possibly one of the best films of all time. WATCH IT.

To drive my point home, I direct you to Roger Ebert's review of Grave of the Fireflies on YouTube.