A complex animation for adults

When it comes to Japanese animated features, Studio Ghibli is unparalleled, with the animation purveyor's list of triumphs including Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and the transcendent Spirited Away. Another of the studio's highly acclaimed titles is 1988's Grave of the Fireflies, an adaptation of Nosaka Akiyuki's novel of the same name, set in Japan during the Second World War. Still as vital, powerful and unbearably poignant in 2015 as it was back in the 1980s, this haunting yet admirably unsentimental animated endeavour is ultimately a moving story about the relationship between a brother and sister facing poverty and isolation, set against the backdrop of a devastating war. A survivalist drama, Grave of the Fireflies portrays the collateral damage caused by the American firebombing of Japan in WWII, shining a light on one consequence of warfare that is often overlooked.

The story largely unfolds through flashbacks focusing on WWII's final months. In 1945, bombs were being dropped across Japan by American pilots, leading to mass devastation. During a bombing raid, Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) and his little sister Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi) are forced from their home and separated from their parents. Desperate for food and shelter, the pair move in with their aunt (Akemi Yamaguchi), but she is distant, and her hospitality becomes increasingly frosty. Ultimately, circumstances drive Seita and Setsuko to a life of fending for themselves, with Seita trying his hardest to shield his sister from the horrors around them. Tragically, the war takes its toll on the supply line, with food and water becoming scarcer as time goes on.

Grave of the Fireflies holds up due to the power of its themes and director Isao Takahata's compelling storytelling, even if the animation looks dated to some extent, lacking the precise fluidity of more recent animated productions. The artists at Studio Ghibli spend years on any single film, meticulously hand-drawing every frame, and the artistry is staggering to behold. The visuals are often haunting, effortlessly capturing the time and place, while the colour scheme underscores the downbeat nature of this tale. Curiously, even though this is a downbeat movie, it is not dull or insufferably dour, with the rich artistry in each frame and the unforgettably poignant score by Michio Mamiya immensely bolstering the production.

Although viewers often perceive and label Grave of the Fireflies as an anti-war film, several critics, including director Takahata himself, challenge this notion. War serves as more of a background detail than a primary focus here, but the movie undeniably has things to say about the futility and price of warfare, showing that the seemingly senseless fighting still affects civilians who live far away from the battlefield. Takahata, who co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki, presents the narrative in a matter-of-fact fashion, eschewing sentimentality and manipulation, and the resulting cinematic spell is effective and often enthralling. Moreover, the movie does not degrade the characters or fetishise their suffering; instead, the characters carry nuance and humanity, making them easy to like and become invested in.

A haunting standout in the Ghibli catalogue, Grave of the Fireflies has lost none of its potency or emotional power, and it remains an essential watch for anime enthusiasts and film buffs. With its harrowing themes and visceral imagery, the movie proves that the animated format is not merely a children's medium, as it can be used to tell rich, complex stories for mature viewers. There is a reason why Grave of the Fireflies has endured for years as one of the greatest animated movies of all time.