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Title: Grave of the Fireflies
Genre: Drama
Company:Studio Ghibli
Format:1 moive
Year:1988
It is the last year of Japan's World War II. Americans have turned the tides of battle and are attacking the
cities and infrastructure of Japan. It is in this world that Seita, his younger sister Setsuko, and their |
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"Baby, the other other white meat"
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mother reside. A carpet bombing of their peaceful lives in Kobe leaves Seita's mother dead; he and his sister must
go reside with a distant Aunt. A life story filled with inhumanity, sadness, and destrucuction, the beautiful image of the empire of Japan fades from Seita's eyes as he too
sinks into eternal peaceful slumber. - summary by Otaku Alex
Otaku Alex
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Plot
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C. Development
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Music
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Animation
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Premise
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Mean
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10
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10
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9
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8.5
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10
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9.5
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If you are having a good day, do not watch this movie. It will depress you, it will touch your every emotion, it will
inspire you with a sense of both hope and sadness. Another great triumph of Studio Ghibli, this movie is one of the most dramatically heartfelt renditions of World War II Japan to
date. It is difficult to give this animé enough praise so I will not give it any and let you decide for yourselves.
The plot and character development are the two central issues
that this animé deals with. In fact
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"I didn't know the sky is red"
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the central theme of this movie is how the world responds to Seita's suffering and the inhumanity of war. In this sense, it exetutes its purpose perfectly. If you
do not feel the pain that the character is feeling by the end of Grave of the Fireflies, you are truly heartless. The character development deals mainly with Seita's
realizations of wartime realities and his inability to survive in an unforgiving world. This is displayed overtly in the end with Seita's death and the happiness it brings
him.
Animation was as crisp as could be expected from a 1988 animé movie. Almost all of the frames were original and some of the artwork was done in an incredible
awe inspiring ink-painting style (you will notice this in some of the scenery clips). As for the music, it set an ambience in the atmosphere that parlleled the story and
whatever was transpiring. The overall effect was astounding realism down to the very gestures of the characters.
The premise for the animé actually comes from a book
published by Nosaka Akiyuki titled, "A Grave of Fireflies." During the war his sister died of malnutrition and he blamed himself, finally writing this novel to come to terms
with his inner demons. The movie follows startlingly close to the novel, and is an enlightening experiance for all to see. PS Click
here for Nosaka Akiyuki's reflection on "A Grave of Fireflies."
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