Grave of the Fireflies
A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.
Directed by Isao Takahata · Animation · Drama · War · 88 min · 1989
Trailer
Director
Isao Takahata
Studio
N/A
Release
26 Jul 1989
Runtime
88 min
Genres
Animation, Drama, War
Full Plot
The story of Seita and Setsuko, two young Japanese siblings, living in the declining days of World War II. When an American firebombing separates the two children from their parents, the two siblings must rely completely on one another while they struggle to fight for their survival.
Cast & Characters
Tsutomu Tatsumi
Ayano Shiraishi
Akemi Yamaguchi
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $3.7M, Grave of the Fireflies has grossed $842,132 worldwide — about 0.2x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Grave of the Fireflies
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Incendiary bombs being dropped onto Kobe were a key inspiration for the film.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The animation style was influenced by 18th century Japanese artist Hiroshige and his follower Hergé, who created Tintin.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Grave of the Fireflies holds 8.5/10 on IMDb (383,582 votes), 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 94/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 2, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.5/10 on IMDb (383,582 votes), 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 94/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grave of the Fireflies's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Grave of the Fireflies holds a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Grave of the Fireflies's IMDb rating?+
Grave of the Fireflies has a 8.5/10 rating on IMDb from 383,582 votes.
What is Grave of the Fireflies's Metacritic score?+
Grave of the Fireflies has a Metascore of 94/100 on Metacritic.
Is Grave of the Fireflies good? What are critics saying?+
Grave of the Fireflies holds 8.5/10 on IMDb (383,582 votes), 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 94/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Grave of the Fireflies?+
Grave of the Fireflies has a runtime of 88 min.
Who directed Grave of the Fireflies?+
Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Isao Takahata.
Where can I watch Grave of the Fireflies?+
Grave of the Fireflies is available to stream, rent, or buy on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Video.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "Grave of the Fireflies" has elicited strong reactions from audiences, with some describing it as "incredibly well told and totally moving". Viewers praised its portrayal of the human cost of war on children during WWII. Critics have called the film a "masterpiece", a "timeless and heart-wrenching message", and an "artful legend" that will leave viewers "washed away by tears".
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
The terrible story of two orphaned Japanese kids during the ending of WWII. Incredibly well told and totally moving, without using clichés. A must seen in the anime arena.
Andres Gomez · 9/10This was the first animated movie that made me cry as an adult. It still does. Two children are left as orphans in World War 2 and have to survive. Such a basic premise, but this shows intimately what the effects of war are on children (a topic not covered by other movies). And a…
sykobanana · 10/10Grave of the Fireflies masterfully portrays the human cost of war through a deeply emotional and well-structured narrative. With powerful animation, moving performances, and a haunting soundtrack, the film delivers a timeless and heart-wrenching message about loss, survival, and…
Alunauwie · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
Can't wait to experience this masterpiece in theaters with my wife
@MsAnunnakisumerian · 16 likesI saw this just last night on my Bluray and I am still hurting from this film
@lust4lyfe101 · 21 likesOh no oh no oh no I'm not ready for this
@goldenpink4961 · 12 likesMy teacher send me to view this movie for homework ._ .
@angelogando6892 · 9 likesA lot of tears are going to washing away the theaters
@anonymous-km8fq · 14 likesGorgeous film and most likely the most painful film in all of history to watch. That being said, everyone needs to go see this film once more to support this brilliant masterpiece. Everyone in the world needs to get the opportunity to view this artful legend of a film. Maybe then…
@ExcelGenerations · 16 likesI saw this tonight and believe me it made me cry like a baby literally it just broke my heart 🥺💔setsuko💔
@Godarceus-x9i · 0 likesWill they’ll be a GKIDS DVD of that anime masterpiece when it comes out to stores? Cause I do not want to waste too much money on DVDs.
@O-DogKubrick · 3 likes
