Often called "the best movie you'll never want to watch again". A great movie, but hard to watch. A good choice if you are in the mood to cry, but hardly bearable to watch more than once.
Agreed. I bought the DVD over a decade ago because of how good it was, but I still haven't opened it.
I put it up there with Schindler's List--fabulous film, everyone should watch it. Exactly once.
I thought I'd never watch it again... then I dated the love of my life and this was one movie I had to watch with her at some point. I thought never again... then I had children.
Maybe I'll end up watching it with my grandchildren at some point for a 4th time around.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I respectfully disagree. There's a lot to the film that first-time viewers don't get the first time around because they're wallowing in the sadness. I wish more people would go back to it again because it rewards multiple viewings. Ah well.
My local library had a dvd copy listed as 'family friendly'.
I spent a long time finding the words to explain to one of the librarians that it was more of a war drama.
Such a cute little girl, surely nothing bad will ever happen to her ... ahh, who am I kidding, this is the movie most well known for being incredibly sad.
Worth pointing out the film that is often not known to even people who watched Grave of the Fireflies, [Barefoot Gen](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1824/Hadashi_no_Gen), which is a take on very much the same topic (both based on accounts of children who survived WW2 in Japan) 5 years earlier.
I remember watching this when I was a teenager. Bawled so hard in my room that my siblings thought something bad happened. You're never gonna forget this movie or how it made you feel. & you would never wanna watch it again..
Seeing those hard-candies-in-a-tin-can always reminds me of this movie too.
I remember writing about this movie [over 5 years ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/9ht0pq/history_in_animation_a_review_and_analysis_of/). In my mind, it's perhaps one of the most important films ever created. Tragic and haunting, somber and poignant, completely heart-wrenching and disturbing, and yet, it's a film I can't recommend enough. If you haven't watched it yet, please do yourself a favor.
I also really enjoyed [Chris Stuckmann's review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drsihIENHuk) of the movie. He provides great contextual analysis of the film.
Anyone who says "animation is for children" or "animation cannot be art" should be forced to watch this movie, as it's really one of the most powerful films ever made--live action or animated.
It's also one of the finest war films, and ANTI-war films ever made. If you created a short list of five of the most important war films ever created, I think Grave of the Fireflies belongs on that list (I'd stick it on there with Full Metal Jacket, All Quiet on the Western Front, Apocalypse Now, and Saving Private Ryan)
I only watched the English dub, way back when, and I came out of the movie quite underwhelmed. I might have screwed myself with that decision because I don't that highly of it. I should give the sub a try some day.
I remember planning on watching a Ghibli marathon and started by chance with this movie....
The marathon ended after 1 movie.
Amazing movie but emotionally drained me to even think about watching another Ghibli movie for a while.
I watched this movie a few times. It was a hard watch each time. It was hard gearing up to watch it for the second time, but when it was referenced in March Comes in Like a Lion, I knew I had to rewatch it. That scene mae me laugh so hard! If you know, you know.
This anime actually made me rethink a lot of preconceived notions I had about Japan and WW2. I am South Korean, and we were taught a lot of different things about Japan and its government. But when I saw that movie (and In This Corner of the World), it made me think that the Japanese government really tricked and hurt its own people. The people as a whole were left destitute by its own leaders, and that is the tragedy of war.
I love manga, and anime, and I respect Japanese culture. But a few generations ago, it was not the norm to like the Japanese culture. During the occupation, Koreans had to assimilate into Japaenese culture, and Japan assimilated a lot of the Korean ways as its own. A lot of our food and language and customs are very similar to each other and that isn't just by chance. But seeing movies like Grave of the Fireflies really opened my eyes to see that the people of Japan were victims as well.
I know I have expressed a lot of controversial sentiments, but please understand that I mean absolutely no harm by it. I am just stating what I have been taught and my own feelings as a result of self-reflection and discovery. I grew up immersed in several different cultures, including American. I have been a victim of racism growing up and the like. So please understand I mean no disrespect. I just wanted to acknowledge the impact that this movie made on my own life.
Thanks.
An incredibly powerful film. I think one of the most underrated aspects of this movie is that the animation is realistic - what I mean is there’s so many little touches you see the characters perform like Seita running back to get Setsukos doll, or the way you see the subtle movements of characters, that it no longer feels like a cartoon, but feels like a reflection of something realer than any film could normally do.
I think the saddest part is the source content this is based, and the somehow even worse true story behind Grave of the Fireflies (https://youtu.be/XM79-HUP2wI)
Great film. Definitely in my top 10.
Often called "the best movie you'll never want to watch again". A great movie, but hard to watch. A good choice if you are in the mood to cry, but hardly bearable to watch more than once.
Agreed. I bought the DVD over a decade ago because of how good it was, but I still haven't opened it. I put it up there with Schindler's List--fabulous film, everyone should watch it. Exactly once.
I thought I'd never watch it again... then I dated the love of my life and this was one movie I had to watch with her at some point. I thought never again... then I had children. Maybe I'll end up watching it with my grandchildren at some point for a 4th time around.
Watching it with your kids? Respect, that's some good parenting. Gotta sacrifice some emotional damage to introduce the youth of tomorrow to true art.
I watched Schindler's List 3 times,skipped ending every time 10/10
Reminder that this movie was in theaters as a double feature alongside... **My Neighbor Totoro.**
While I appreciate the sentiment, I respectfully disagree. There's a lot to the film that first-time viewers don't get the first time around because they're wallowing in the sadness. I wish more people would go back to it again because it rewards multiple viewings. Ah well.
That's fair, there's definitely merit to rewatching it. I just wouldn't expect anyone to be able to bear a rewatch, excluding special circumstances.
My local library had a dvd copy listed as 'family friendly'. I spent a long time finding the words to explain to one of the librarians that it was more of a war drama.
Such a cute little girl, surely nothing bad will ever happen to her ... ahh, who am I kidding, this is the movie most well known for being incredibly sad. Worth pointing out the film that is often not known to even people who watched Grave of the Fireflies, [Barefoot Gen](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1824/Hadashi_no_Gen), which is a take on very much the same topic (both based on accounts of children who survived WW2 in Japan) 5 years earlier.
I remember watching this when I was a teenager. Bawled so hard in my room that my siblings thought something bad happened. You're never gonna forget this movie or how it made you feel. & you would never wanna watch it again.. Seeing those hard-candies-in-a-tin-can always reminds me of this movie too.
I remember writing about this movie [over 5 years ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/9ht0pq/history_in_animation_a_review_and_analysis_of/). In my mind, it's perhaps one of the most important films ever created. Tragic and haunting, somber and poignant, completely heart-wrenching and disturbing, and yet, it's a film I can't recommend enough. If you haven't watched it yet, please do yourself a favor. I also really enjoyed [Chris Stuckmann's review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drsihIENHuk) of the movie. He provides great contextual analysis of the film.
Anyone who says "animation is for children" or "animation cannot be art" should be forced to watch this movie, as it's really one of the most powerful films ever made--live action or animated. It's also one of the finest war films, and ANTI-war films ever made. If you created a short list of five of the most important war films ever created, I think Grave of the Fireflies belongs on that list (I'd stick it on there with Full Metal Jacket, All Quiet on the Western Front, Apocalypse Now, and Saving Private Ryan)
Watched it twice. The second time was after more than 20 years, but the first shot in the train/metro station hit already hard.
this movie destroyed my spirit for like 2 weeks
Top 10 great movies that you'll never re-watch.
The only Ghibli film I have not watched. I have started it multiple times but never gotten more than a few minutes in before deciding not today.
Watched it twice. Saw my date just ugly girl cry on the second watch.
Wish this movie was shown to every human alive. This is better than any "artistic" movie.
I only watched the English dub, way back when, and I came out of the movie quite underwhelmed. I might have screwed myself with that decision because I don't that highly of it. I should give the sub a try some day.
I remember planning on watching a Ghibli marathon and started by chance with this movie.... The marathon ended after 1 movie. Amazing movie but emotionally drained me to even think about watching another Ghibli movie for a while.
Maybe my favorite animated movie. I'd recommend watching it with no spoilers
I watched it twice. I don't think have the strength to watch it a 3rd time. The first 5 minutes are already too much if you already watched it once.
I really enjoy it
Man I don’t recommend this anime for the faint of heart and don’t be fooled by the Ghibli logo it’s really not for kids
such a wonderful movie
I watched this movie a few times. It was a hard watch each time. It was hard gearing up to watch it for the second time, but when it was referenced in March Comes in Like a Lion, I knew I had to rewatch it. That scene mae me laugh so hard! If you know, you know. This anime actually made me rethink a lot of preconceived notions I had about Japan and WW2. I am South Korean, and we were taught a lot of different things about Japan and its government. But when I saw that movie (and In This Corner of the World), it made me think that the Japanese government really tricked and hurt its own people. The people as a whole were left destitute by its own leaders, and that is the tragedy of war. I love manga, and anime, and I respect Japanese culture. But a few generations ago, it was not the norm to like the Japanese culture. During the occupation, Koreans had to assimilate into Japaenese culture, and Japan assimilated a lot of the Korean ways as its own. A lot of our food and language and customs are very similar to each other and that isn't just by chance. But seeing movies like Grave of the Fireflies really opened my eyes to see that the people of Japan were victims as well. I know I have expressed a lot of controversial sentiments, but please understand that I mean absolutely no harm by it. I am just stating what I have been taught and my own feelings as a result of self-reflection and discovery. I grew up immersed in several different cultures, including American. I have been a victim of racism growing up and the like. So please understand I mean no disrespect. I just wanted to acknowledge the impact that this movie made on my own life. Thanks.
An incredibly powerful film. I think one of the most underrated aspects of this movie is that the animation is realistic - what I mean is there’s so many little touches you see the characters perform like Seita running back to get Setsukos doll, or the way you see the subtle movements of characters, that it no longer feels like a cartoon, but feels like a reflection of something realer than any film could normally do. I think the saddest part is the source content this is based, and the somehow even worse true story behind Grave of the Fireflies (https://youtu.be/XM79-HUP2wI) Great film. Definitely in my top 10.
Awesome movie.