Best War Pictures: 5. Grave of the Fireflies

8 months ago 06th Oct 11:52

Over twenty years Studio Ghibli has been producing high quailty animation movies that have enjoyed success all over the world but especially in Japan and was written and directed by Isao Takahata.

The story is based on the semi-autobiographic novel by the same name, whose author, Nosaka, lost his sister due to malnutrition in 1945 wartime Japan. He blamed himself for her death and wrote the story so as to make amends to her and help him accept the tragedy.

In post-World War II Japan, a janitor finds a deathly ill boy lying beside a metal candy container. The janitor unwittingly tosses the possession into the night, beginning a most unusual tale of survival set amid the atrocities of war in the Animé Grave of the Fireflies.

Brother and sister Seita and Setsuko, ages 14 and 4, flee their disheveled home and deceased parents to make their bid for a new life.

Before American troops begin to occupy their country, the children resort to dwelling in an abandoned bomb shelter in the countryside.

Though these siblings later get a sense of safety, they realize necessities such as food and water will not be easy to come by.

Grave of the Fireflies is perhaps the most famous of Studio Ghibli's movies and was directed by Isao Takahata.

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