Grave of the Fireflies - Most Traumatizing Animated Movie

Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓 Hotaru no haka) is a 1988 Japanese animated war drama film written and directed by Isao Takahata and animated by Studio Ghibli. It is based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka. 

Set in the city of Kobe, Japan, the film tells the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, and their desperate struggle to survive during the final months of the Second World War. The film was critically acclaimed. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times considered it to be one of the best and most powerful war films. It is commonly described as an anti-war film, but this interpretation has been denied by the director.

Setsuko and Seita are brother and sister living in wartime Japan. After their mother is killed in an air raid they find a temporary home with relatives.

Having quarreled with their aunt they leave the city and make their home in an abandoned shelter. While their soldier father's destiny is unknown, the two must depend on each other to somehow keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. When everything is in short supply, they gradually succumb to hunger and their only entertainment is the light of the fireflies.

Although they were having a hard time, they were easy to satisfied. They could be happy because of minor things. Because they still were children in young age. It is also why this movie is called the Most Traumatizing Animated Movie. They had experienced wartime which they could not control, even they didn't know what war was. 

Many audiences dropped their tears when watching the scenes of Setsuko was suffering from malnutrition but offers no help. And Seita only could find his sister is dying. He brought food to find her and cooked hurry but she died soon after.

The relationship between this young brother and little sister was one of the main focus of the movie. It shows the mind-change of Seita from being annoyed of Setsuko to wiling to take care her and feeling sad because of her. The fruit drops which used by Seita to make his sister happy is the most memorable features too.

Movie Trailer