[The_Reader_David]

Grave of the Fireflies is a truly excellent film. It is the only movie, ever, live action or animated, to actually bring me to tears.

[Darkwolf377]

I liked it, and liked some of the realistic depiction of the kid's life alone. But I have to say I was underwhelmed. I'm very reluctant to watch animated movies, so they have to be very special. This one DID have enough of a story to hold my interest but visually, I'm just not into these limited animation things, and ultimately it didn't really say anything new.

The audience I'd recommend it to would be bright middle schoolers who're sophisticated enough to read Night or The Diary of Anne Frank--this isn't about the Holocaust but it might have some appeal to such kids.

[Borges]

It's the events of WW2 told from the Japanese point of view and it's very sad indeed.

[zook]

I have the older edition and it's a great animated film. I use it in my teaching. I won't say too much, because I don't want to spoil it, but I have to say that for me, this is *not* an anti-war, let alone an anti-American, film.

I would also encourage you or anyone else viewing "Fireflies" to read "Leaves From An Autumn Of Emergencies: Selections From The Wartime Diaries Of Ordinary Japanese" by Samuel Hideo. It helps a lot to understand the historical context.

[Andyman]

It is a stunningly good movie. Get it.

[RSteyn]

Fireflies is worth owning--but it was considered so downbeat that it was released with "My Neighbor Totoro", which was probably a good idea. Totoro is a wonderful movie, not like anything else, distinctly Japanese, and no cat person will ever forget the Neko Bus.

Ghibli Studio animation is extraordinary stuff.

[hypocritter]

It's truly a memorable story, but I don't know if I'd watch it again.