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Grave of the Fireflies
On its release in 1988, Grave of the Fireflies riveted audiences with its uncompromising drama. Directed by Isao Takahata at Studio Ghibli and based on an autobiographical story by Akiyuki Nosaka, the story of two Japanese children struggling to survive in the dying days of the Second World War unfolds with a gritty realism unprecedented in animation. Grave of the Fireflies has since been hailed as a classic of both anime and war cinema. In 2018, USA Today ranked it the greatest animated film of all time.
Yet Ghibli's sombre masterpiece remains little analysed outside Japan, even as its meaning is fiercely contested - Takahata himself lamented that few had grasped his message. In the first book-length study of the film in English, Alex Dudok de Wit explores its themes, visual devices and groundbreaking use of animation, as well as the political context in which it was made. Drawing on untranslated accounts by the film's crew, he also describes its troubled production, which almost spelt disaster for Takahata and his studio.
Yet Ghibli's sombre masterpiece remains little analysed outside Japan, even as its meaning is fiercely contested - Takahata himself lamented that few had grasped his message. In the first book-length study of the film in English, Alex Dudok de Wit explores its themes, visual devices and groundbreaking use of animation, as well as the political context in which it was made. Drawing on untranslated accounts by the film's crew, he also describes its troubled production, which almost spelt disaster for Takahata and his studio.
- GenresNonfictionFilmJapan
104 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 10, 2021
The excellent series of BFI books on films carries on quite excellently.
"There is something fitting about this, for beneath the veneer of critical consensus, the film turns out to be a bundle of paradoxes: a work of groundbreaking animation directed by a non-animator; a box-office mediocrity with a considerable influence; one half of an utterly unorthodox double bill; a masterpiece that almost derailed its director’s career; a tragedy that celebrates the beauty of existence; a historical drama that is, first and foremost, about the present day."
I had never seen Grave of the Fireflies - it has this massive reputation, basically coming across like a soul-scalding feature, rife with gory horrors and emotional sandtraps. So I decided the publishing of this book would be an excellent chance to finally watch the film, and move on to reading the book.
And the film is incredibly good, and very emotional. And a brave feature to make, in a country that was still struggling with its own part in WW2.
And then there is this book, which gives a good sense of that struggle, and the thoughts behind making the film. I had no idea Grave of the Fireflies was supposed to be part of a double bill with My Neighbor Totoro, and Grave is certainly an outlier in the Ghibli cannon (and the only Ghibli film not currently on Netflix, at least here in Europe).
The book is illustrated with stills from the film, and includes other material, including pictures of some merchandise (another surprise).
Recommended.
(Thanks to Bloomsbury Academic for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
"There is something fitting about this, for beneath the veneer of critical consensus, the film turns out to be a bundle of paradoxes: a work of groundbreaking animation directed by a non-animator; a box-office mediocrity with a considerable influence; one half of an utterly unorthodox double bill; a masterpiece that almost derailed its director’s career; a tragedy that celebrates the beauty of existence; a historical drama that is, first and foremost, about the present day."
I had never seen Grave of the Fireflies - it has this massive reputation, basically coming across like a soul-scalding feature, rife with gory horrors and emotional sandtraps. So I decided the publishing of this book would be an excellent chance to finally watch the film, and move on to reading the book.
And the film is incredibly good, and very emotional. And a brave feature to make, in a country that was still struggling with its own part in WW2.
And then there is this book, which gives a good sense of that struggle, and the thoughts behind making the film. I had no idea Grave of the Fireflies was supposed to be part of a double bill with My Neighbor Totoro, and Grave is certainly an outlier in the Ghibli cannon (and the only Ghibli film not currently on Netflix, at least here in Europe).
The book is illustrated with stills from the film, and includes other material, including pictures of some merchandise (another surprise).
Recommended.
(Thanks to Bloomsbury Academic for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
April 23, 2021
De Wit's analysis of Takahata's classic film is thoughtful and grounded, examining the ways we as viewers don't take from the film what Takahata intended, which interestingly doesn't decrease its power as a movie, but does say a lot about audiences. I would have liked to see him compare this to Marguerite Duras' Hiroshima, mon amour, because I think there are some very interesting parallels to both works, but that was probably outside the scope of the type of analysis de Witt was doing.
March 11, 2026
hard to rate these kinda of books really. do you rate based on how much you enjoyed it or how well it achieves its goal of explication and being a companion piece of media?
either way, this book is exceptionally good at both. 5/5 for achieving its goal, 4/5 for enjoyment.
Currently writing a script that takes much inspiration from these characters, and this book was perfect for expanding my understanding of this movie.
either way, this book is exceptionally good at both. 5/5 for achieving its goal, 4/5 for enjoyment.
Currently writing a script that takes much inspiration from these characters, and this book was perfect for expanding my understanding of this movie.
August 19, 2022
Huvitav raamat sellest, kuidas tehti samanimelist animefilmi, kuidas see sobitub Jaapani sõjanarratiivi ja kuidas seda tõlgendati kui sõjavastast filmi. Väga põnev oli teada saada filmi taustast ja valikutest, mis aitasid selle kinolinale tuua sellisena nagu ta on.
Isiklikult oleksin sellises teoses tahtnud näha ka lühijutu tõlget, aga ka muu filmitaust oli päris huvitav.
Isiklikult oleksin sellises teoses tahtnud näha ka lühijutu tõlget, aga ka muu filmitaust oli päris huvitav.
January 28, 2026
interesting, analytical, thought-provoking.
it was accompanied by beautiful images and passages - takahata’s reaction summed up my own personal feelings when i first saw grave of the fireflies as well: ‘watching just a few opening scenes kept me crying until dawn’.
also, it was written in an easily understandable/ accessible style which is important to me as so many academic publications are exclusionary!!
it was accompanied by beautiful images and passages - takahata’s reaction summed up my own personal feelings when i first saw grave of the fireflies as well: ‘watching just a few opening scenes kept me crying until dawn’.
also, it was written in an easily understandable/ accessible style which is important to me as so many academic publications are exclusionary!!
December 28, 2023
Important read! Both for animation and film theory, as well as historical context of the film and Japanese society!
April 13, 2023
4.5/5. A touching homage/analysis on Studio Ghibli's best film.
August 16, 2023
INTERESTING STUFF!!
June 24, 2021
I think this is the first BFI Classic I have received where I hadn't seen the film - which felt strange. There must be people who read them without, and I toyed with trying that, but luckily there was a screening of Grave Of The Fireflies last weekend and so I read this as soon as I came out. So oddly, it became the book that I read with the film most vividly in my memory. Not that its a book that requires great recall of the film from its reader, as in part of its comparison between the source novella and film, the author ends up summarising the film in quite some detail. Which in many ways is emblematic of a book written by a working critic, rather than academics or those outside the field, who have authored a number of the BFI Classics I have read. This is more of a biography of the film than a hagiograph. Its clear Dudok de Wit admires the film, and has done since he first saw it as a boy, but he never aggressively argues for its virtues - and indeed spends much of the book discussing whether or not it was a failure considering the aims of the director.
Grave Of The Fireflies is an odd film in the Studio Ghibli ouvre, though not so odd if you think of Takahata's films compared to Miyazaki's. A war film, about the impact on the Japanese civilian population of the American firebombings of their cities (in this case Kobe), its a hugely affecting story of a brother and younger sister slowly dying. The book considers how unusual it is as anime and therefore grasps with themes and ideas outside just the purview of the film, not least what realism in animation looks like. Equally the films place historically in Japanese cinema which has often not dealt with the war years, or the Japanese civilian population who propped up the Empire (partially as the Shōwa era was only just at its end, Hirohito still being in place). So whilst the book spends a lot of time on the film, and its themes, it also spends more time on the world the film was created in, not least because this plays into the thematic issues where Takahata feels he failed.
GotF is often thought of as an anti-war film, and it works exceptionally well on that front. However watching it there is a broader spread of responsibility for the children's death than just war being assigned. Most people point at the mean aunt, who they leave due to her attitude. But Takahata wanted the film to also consider how responsible Seita - the elder brother - is for their eventual death. They move out of his aunt's because of pride more than anything else, she does not kick them out and is at least feeding them. Does the films emotional power overshadow this question, do the audience see a fourteen year old boy (animated too), as being able to have that kind of responsibility. He seems to think he is responsible for his sister, so in taking her from an unpleasant but safe environment, is the ultimate end his fault. Its an interesting question (I picked up on this watching, but must admit the overall sadness does overwhelm). Authorial intention means little once the film is out there, and yet this was a good issue to pin the book on and I even got the sense that in the process of writing Dudok de Wit's opinion of the film has changed a bit. And in between all of that there are lots of lovely bits of trivia about the film, not least that it was initially released in a double bill with My Neighbour Totoro, a very tonally jarring pairing.
Grave Of The Fireflies is an odd film in the Studio Ghibli ouvre, though not so odd if you think of Takahata's films compared to Miyazaki's. A war film, about the impact on the Japanese civilian population of the American firebombings of their cities (in this case Kobe), its a hugely affecting story of a brother and younger sister slowly dying. The book considers how unusual it is as anime and therefore grasps with themes and ideas outside just the purview of the film, not least what realism in animation looks like. Equally the films place historically in Japanese cinema which has often not dealt with the war years, or the Japanese civilian population who propped up the Empire (partially as the Shōwa era was only just at its end, Hirohito still being in place). So whilst the book spends a lot of time on the film, and its themes, it also spends more time on the world the film was created in, not least because this plays into the thematic issues where Takahata feels he failed.
GotF is often thought of as an anti-war film, and it works exceptionally well on that front. However watching it there is a broader spread of responsibility for the children's death than just war being assigned. Most people point at the mean aunt, who they leave due to her attitude. But Takahata wanted the film to also consider how responsible Seita - the elder brother - is for their eventual death. They move out of his aunt's because of pride more than anything else, she does not kick them out and is at least feeding them. Does the films emotional power overshadow this question, do the audience see a fourteen year old boy (animated too), as being able to have that kind of responsibility. He seems to think he is responsible for his sister, so in taking her from an unpleasant but safe environment, is the ultimate end his fault. Its an interesting question (I picked up on this watching, but must admit the overall sadness does overwhelm). Authorial intention means little once the film is out there, and yet this was a good issue to pin the book on and I even got the sense that in the process of writing Dudok de Wit's opinion of the film has changed a bit. And in between all of that there are lots of lovely bits of trivia about the film, not least that it was initially released in a double bill with My Neighbour Totoro, a very tonally jarring pairing.
June 25, 2021
A great book to read if you want historical context for this movie, as it compares the original manuscript with the changes that were made, the intentions of the director and the symbolism used, and what actually happened to Nosaka and what he changed.
June 29, 2021
Shone a new light on this film - and left me pondering what other great war films might be better communicated through animation...
July 17, 2021
grave of the fireflies is one of my all-time favourite films. it is definitely the saddest film i've ever seen, but because it's so sad, i never really do much thinking about it afterwards. i'm overcome by emotion to try and critically think about it.
and that's where this amazing book comes into play. it talks about the true depth of grave of the fireflies. it talks about how takahata didn't want to set out to make what is simply a sad film but wanted to criticise how the japense population were living since the post-war industrial expansion.
i read another bfi book on a ghibli film, but that had none of the insight or knowledge which this contains.
i really hope alex dudok de wit get's to make another one of these. truly fantastic.
and that's where this amazing book comes into play. it talks about the true depth of grave of the fireflies. it talks about how takahata didn't want to set out to make what is simply a sad film but wanted to criticise how the japense population were living since the post-war industrial expansion.
i read another bfi book on a ghibli film, but that had none of the insight or knowledge which this contains.
i really hope alex dudok de wit get's to make another one of these. truly fantastic.
January 9, 2022
I received a free eARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't have much to say about this title, so I'll keep it short. This was an interesting look at various aspects of the film Grave of Fireflies. It explores the original source material (Nosaka's autobiographical work) and looks at how it was changed for film. It also talks about the process of production and reception of the film.
It's easy to read, and very well researched. I would recommend this for those interested in film studies, Japanese film, Japanese history (including WWII, and animation history), and fans of Grave of Fireflies itself.
I don't have much to say about this title, so I'll keep it short. This was an interesting look at various aspects of the film Grave of Fireflies. It explores the original source material (Nosaka's autobiographical work) and looks at how it was changed for film. It also talks about the process of production and reception of the film.
It's easy to read, and very well researched. I would recommend this for those interested in film studies, Japanese film, Japanese history (including WWII, and animation history), and fans of Grave of Fireflies itself.
February 10, 2022
This is a deep look into Isao Takahata’s anime film “Grave of the Fireflies” released by Studio Ghibli. Basically an extended form essay, it is written by the son of the director of The Red Turtle which was overseen by Takahata (as Ghibli was producing it).
The book compares the film to the autobiographical novella by Akiyuki Nosaka, and also talks about Japanese society during the time of World War II. With many references to other anime and war movies, it helps place “Grave of the Fireflies” in a context of animation, history, war movies, and society’s tendency to whitewash the causes and effects of war.
The book compares the film to the autobiographical novella by Akiyuki Nosaka, and also talks about Japanese society during the time of World War II. With many references to other anime and war movies, it helps place “Grave of the Fireflies” in a context of animation, history, war movies, and society’s tendency to whitewash the causes and effects of war.
May 25, 2021
Thank you Alex Dudok de Wit! I was so happy to able to read this book. Grave of the Fireflies was the most heartbreaking film I think I've ever watched. Beautiful anime. It was very interesting to read the back story of it and to learn it had been a graphic novel. I had no idea, but am going to try and find the book now that I know. I think it was fascinating to learn how the story was related to the author's life and his thought's on the story. Anyone who loves this film should read this book. Just great!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
June 25, 2021
My very best friend spent a long time persuading me to read and watch Grave Of The Fireflies. I feared both were outside my comfort zone. I'm glad he persevered and I discovered this great iconic story.
Alex Dudok de Wit helps one to grasp all the various aspects, from Nosaka's memorial to his sister and his own guilt, to Takohata's more classically tragic interpretation of Seita and Setsuko.
The summer of 1945 was a time of people in crisis and Grave Of The Fireflies has the power to bring tears to our eyes. We should never forget the horrors of war.
Alex Dudok de Wit helps one to grasp all the various aspects, from Nosaka's memorial to his sister and his own guilt, to Takohata's more classically tragic interpretation of Seita and Setsuko.
The summer of 1945 was a time of people in crisis and Grave Of The Fireflies has the power to bring tears to our eyes. We should never forget the horrors of war.
June 9, 2025
I like that this gives more background to the emotional movie. The movie is great and multifaceted. I didn't see it as an antiwar movie, I saw it as a failing society. I don't study history, it bores me.
Spoilers: The movie is based on true personal stories. I knew the director had seen real firebombs but I didn't know that he had a sister who died. Also mentions that the book has some incestual themes. Why does that seem to be so common in Japanese media?
Spoilers: The movie is based on true personal stories. I knew the director had seen real firebombs but I didn't know that he had a sister who died. Also mentions that the book has some incestual themes. Why does that seem to be so common in Japanese media?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
I've rarely watch animated films and when I do it is usually disney-esk and meant to be for children. This movie was devastating, real, and made grand statements.
Reading the behind the scenes on how this movie came to light, the struggle... made it that much more meaningful.
I recommend the read and watch.
Reading the behind the scenes on how this movie came to light, the struggle... made it that much more meaningful.
I recommend the read and watch.
June 25, 2023
A clear explanation of the history, culture, production, behind the scenes edits, story, and film “Grave of The Fireflies” by studio Ghibli. A bit long and boring in some chapters but very thorough in showing everyone’s part in the movie and their reasoning.
April 21, 2024
FASCINATING READ. i really liked it
December 20, 2024
Truly fascinating, it’s written impeccably and is very readable. I read it in one sitting.
A must read for anyone who was moved by the film. At times it felt more powerful than the film.
A must read for anyone who was moved by the film. At times it felt more powerful than the film.
July 30, 2025
This novella-length discussion of the animated film, much of it scene by scene or even shot by shot, leaves me nothing to complain about except that it could have been even more detailed. Unless you've done a lot of targeted digging, you can look forward to understanding the film's intentions much better after reading, at which point you'll also know more about how it invites such an emotional pummeling at such a high artistic register. (It didn't just make me cry. It sent me through all the stages of grief!)
Many people don't ever want to see Grave of the Fireflies again, it's that devastating. (I plan to revisit it... one day.) This book presents a less intense way to go over how the symbolism works, how the director tended to ask questions more than insist on answers, and some of what happened behind the scenes and how the work is understood inside and outside of Japan.
Why do I care? I do think Grave of the Fireflies could be the greatest animated film. This is my take after watching plenty of Disney and Pixar and anime... plus all the Studio Ghibli productions at least once and usually several times (not to mention the pre-Ghibli animated features from directors Takahata or Miyazaki and their teams). I guess my "favorite" Ghibli films are Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies, favorite in the sense that these seem the most fully realized, transporting, and more or less "flawless," yet I feel very differently about rewatching them (I've seen Spirited Away more than 5 times, at which point I lost count). While I enjoy every Ghibli film and most are brilliant and several are just about "flawless" (whatever that really means), I agree with the view that these two are the strongest, most impactful, most universal, however you want to put it. How did that happen? What makes the greatest-of-the-great anime tick?
So that's why I care.
One thing I did sort of miss is more information about the double-billing: Grave of the Fireflies played back-to-back with My Neighbor Totoro on release (of both simultaneously). The book touches on that several times, but I'm not sure how the projects were coordinated artistically. What is revealed by watching them together? If this was mentioned, I must have forgotten. Maybe not so much is. Miyazaki and Takahata were friends, collaborators, and rivals. (On that note, for Miyazaki insights, I can't recommend highly enough the set of documentaries following him around daily during the development of Ponyo all the way up to The Boy and the Heron, when he suddenly has to grapple with the death of his old friend, rival, and even mentor, Takahata. As you may have heard, that changed the course of that project.)
You might not understand the craft and purpose behind Grave of the Fireflies as well after 20 watches as after checking out Alex Dudok de Wit's book. Isao Takahata sadly passed away in 2018; this seems to be the closest thing to a director's commentary available in English.
Many people don't ever want to see Grave of the Fireflies again, it's that devastating. (I plan to revisit it... one day.) This book presents a less intense way to go over how the symbolism works, how the director tended to ask questions more than insist on answers, and some of what happened behind the scenes and how the work is understood inside and outside of Japan.
Why do I care? I do think Grave of the Fireflies could be the greatest animated film. This is my take after watching plenty of Disney and Pixar and anime... plus all the Studio Ghibli productions at least once and usually several times (not to mention the pre-Ghibli animated features from directors Takahata or Miyazaki and their teams). I guess my "favorite" Ghibli films are Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies, favorite in the sense that these seem the most fully realized, transporting, and more or less "flawless," yet I feel very differently about rewatching them (I've seen Spirited Away more than 5 times, at which point I lost count). While I enjoy every Ghibli film and most are brilliant and several are just about "flawless" (whatever that really means), I agree with the view that these two are the strongest, most impactful, most universal, however you want to put it. How did that happen? What makes the greatest-of-the-great anime tick?
So that's why I care.
One thing I did sort of miss is more information about the double-billing: Grave of the Fireflies played back-to-back with My Neighbor Totoro on release (of both simultaneously). The book touches on that several times, but I'm not sure how the projects were coordinated artistically. What is revealed by watching them together? If this was mentioned, I must have forgotten. Maybe not so much is. Miyazaki and Takahata were friends, collaborators, and rivals. (On that note, for Miyazaki insights, I can't recommend highly enough the set of documentaries following him around daily during the development of Ponyo all the way up to The Boy and the Heron, when he suddenly has to grapple with the death of his old friend, rival, and even mentor, Takahata. As you may have heard, that changed the course of that project.)
You might not understand the craft and purpose behind Grave of the Fireflies as well after 20 watches as after checking out Alex Dudok de Wit's book. Isao Takahata sadly passed away in 2018; this seems to be the closest thing to a director's commentary available in English.
Read
October 12, 2021Alex Dudok de Wit’s book on “Grave of the Fireflies” is a recent and welcome addition to the BFI Film Classics series. It discusses the production, reception, and sociopolitical context of that resonant anime with clarity and perception, making a solid case for animation as a format with strong “realist” possibilities. Recommended.
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