Welcome to The Best Movies I’ve Never Seen! This is the part of the blog where I work my way through 100 films I’ve never seen that are generally considered to be great. You’re invited to watch along with me if you can find a copy or find it streaming. So grab some popcorn and let’s get started!

Grave of the Fireflies

1988

Directed by Isao Takahata

Get your tissues ready, folks. Grave of the Fireflies, directed by renowned anime filmmaker Isao Takahata and released in 1988, is guaranteed to leave you an emotional wreck by the end credits. This powerful anti-war film focuses on teenage Seita and his little sister Setsuko as they struggle to survive the aftermath of World War II in Japan.

After losing their mother in an air raid, the orphaned siblings go to live with their unsympathetic aunt, who makes it clear they are a burden. Eventually, prideful Seita decides that he and Setsuko will fend for themselves. They take shelter in an abandoned bomb shelter, where Seita steals and scraps for provisions while the sweet, innocent Setsuko waits faithfully, never understanding the dire nature of their situation. The ending is tragic – no spoilers here, but you can guess things don’t turn out well.

So, how does an animated film tackle such serious subject matter so effectively? First, the animation itself is simply gorgeous, with incredible attention to detail in capturing the postwar Japanese landscape and the emotions of the characters. According to background info, director Takahata insisted on a realistic portrayal of the period instead of the usual stylized anime worlds. The result is the evocative watercolor backgrounds contrasting poignantly with the iconic big-eyed anime character style of Seita and Setsuko.

The film is carried by their relationship – the ties between them give the story its emotional weight. We witness Seita’s fiercely protective love for his sister as he strives in vain to shield Setsuko from the ugly necessities of their survival. Meanwhile, Setsuko’s innocence elicits sympathy and concern from the viewer. Her eventual fate, revealed early on so as to avoid surprising the audience, is no less devastating.

The plot may seem slow or thin to some viewers. There isn’t much driving action; rather, we watch the mundane daily struggles of children left destitute by war. But that is exactly the point – Grave of the Fireflies offers an intimate portrait of lives disrupted and destroyed by the trauma of conflict. It personalizes the true cost of war in a way live-action films often fail to do.

In the end, beyond any political message, Grave of the Fireflies remains with you because of its emotional resonance. It’s impossible not to be moved by this tale of love, loss, and the consequences of pride. Plan to watch the film by yourself or with someone you can ugly-cry in front of – don’t say I didn’t warn you! Then let me know what you thought in the comments below. Will Grave of the Fireflies earn a spot on your list of great anti-war films, or animated films, or just films period?