This is easily one of the best animated movies I’ve ever seen. Period.
And honestly, it might be the saddest. I watched the original Japanese dub with subtitles. And I feel like I made the better choice. Though usually I’m not a dub vs sub purist. But I think the movie does a good job showing the devastation that can come from war. Especially the innocent people that get hurt in the process. And watching this brother and sister trying to survive the only way they know how is just so touching. But also so unbelievably sad.
I think it’s beautifully animated. Especially for the time.
If you haven’t seen it. It is definitely among the very best of Studio Ghibli’s works. I would even recommend it to non-anime fans. But make sure to bring some tissues.
Grave of the Fireflies is the only anime movie that I have to hide in my house. I have a whole family that loves anime and Studio Ghibli, but we have to keep that DVD hidden because we don’t want kids to watch it by mistake if there’s not an adult around to talk about the themes and story. I watched it as a teen myself and was devastated; I’ve watched it a few more times over the years with other people and I still can’t get through it without crying.