Hotaru no haka (1988)

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89 min - Animation | Drama | War - 16 April 1988 (Japan)

8.4

Ratings: 8.4/10 from 53,187 users
Reviews: 385 user | 77 critic

A tragic film covering a young boy and his little sister's struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
	Tsutomu Tatsumi	...	Seita (voice)
	Ayano Shiraishi	...	Setsuko (voice)
	Yoshiko Shinohara	...	Mother (voice)
	Akemi Yamaguchi	...	Aunt (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Rhoda Chrosite	...	Setsuko (voice: English version)
	Shannon Conley	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
	Crispin Freeman	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
	Dan Green	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
	Amy Jones	...	Aunt (voice: English version)
	George Leaver	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
	J. Robert Spencer	...	Seita (voice: English version)
	Nick Sullivan	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
	Veronica Taylor	...	Mother (voice: English version)

Full cast and crew »

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Storyline

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. Written by Corrected by Liron

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Genres:

Animation | Drama | War

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

16 April 1988 (Japan) See more »

Also Known As:

Grave of the Fireflies See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shinchosha Company, Studio Ghibli See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono | Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) (theatrical print)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

See full technical specs »

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The fruit drops that Setsuko eats were made by the Sakuma Confectionary Company, which in real life was established in 1949 (four years after the events in this movie took place). A few years ago, Sakuma released limited edition tin cans that resembled the one seen in the movie. Some variations of these tins also had a picture of Setsuko looking through her tin for the last drop. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Seita: September 21, 1945... that was the night I died.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"Home Sweet Home"
Performed by Amelita Galli-Curci
Courtesy of RCA Victor Red Seal, a division of BMG Classics See more »

Hotaru no haka (1988)

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Cast

Storyline

Plot Keywords:

Genres:

Parents Guide:

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

Also Known As:

Company Credits

Production Co:

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

Did You Know?

Trivia

Quotes

Connections

Soundtracks