Grave of the Fireflies

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Amberly, Jordan

Oh man, why do I torture myself like this? Probably because the is one of the greatest animated films ever made and it's just too good not to share. But really, I think watching the film after having seen it once (or in my case dozens of times) is even harder. Ultimately though, I think it's extremely rewarding.

I can't imagine it playing as it originally did in a double feature with Totoro. The two films couldn't be more opposing but to think they were in production at the same time from the same studio is a testament to Ghibli and their storytelling ability.

Like in Totoro, I am fascinated at the realism and recognisable traits in the behaviours of the young protagonists. The animation is amazing.

This is one of the cases where I absolutely insist on watching with the Japanese audio and subtitles instead of the english dub. Listening to a some lady do a severely grating impression of a 5 year old is far less preferable to hearing a real 5 year old.

The film shows another side to war that's not often explored in stories caught up in heros and action. It has a lingering impact. While it is heartbreaking, it is also extremely beautiful and a definite must see.