The tragedy known as World War II is coming close to its end. In the final days of this global pandemic, as the United States fire bombs Japan, a brother and sister--Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) and Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi)--must rely heavily on one another to survive. Grave of the Fireflies finds the siblings as they are separated from their mother. As the two navigate the changed world, and search for their mother, their understanding of themselves, one another and the world in which they live will change drastically. This newly strengthened bond of siblingship opens the young Setsuko’s eyes to what the world is really like and what it can be.
Led by six year old Shiraishi and sixteen year old Tatsumi, Grave of the Fireflies runs the risk of falling flat in terms of voice acting. It’s hard enough projecting emotion in a passable way in a live-action film, but the ability to manipulate the voice to express emotion from behind the scenes is a different monster. Relying heavily on two children to express the necessary emotions without ever seeing their faces is a major risk that ultimately pays off. Both youths, particularly Tatsumi, are able to convey emotion from beginning to end, reeling in viewers and allowing them the ability to fall in love with these two lead characters. The clear innocence in Shiraishi’s voice is what attracts audiences to the character. It’s easy to feel for someone who appears young enough to visualize the world around her as incredible, only to have the things she loves stripped away with great force. From her opening lines viewers root for the child and pray that she survives the tragic events of WWII.
As brilliant as Shiraishi is, however, Tatsumi outshines her and everyone else around him. He has great range in the tone of his voice and is able to manipulate his voice in ways that seem impossible. It’s not as if the mood throughout Grave of the Fireflies is difficult to understand, however, Tatsumi’s voice is a clear representation of how viewers are meant to feel. As he projects these emotions onto the audience, they are able to appreciate the severity of certain situations and the innocence of others. His voice and the emotions present within it help to foreshadow certain events and keep audiences in the know in regard to what is taking place.
The voice acting is top-notch, but in order for the voices to mean anything the animation team has to find a way to match the intensity of what is being said. Grave of the Fireflies employed nearly one hundred animators tasked with bringing these characters to life. The attention to detail helps to drive the narrative forward and add to the delight of Shiraishi and Tatsumi’s performances. Single hairs being blown in the wind, the darkening shadows on the faces of the protagonists and the slow decay of a watermelon bring the story of this brother and sister to life and help to provide a better understanding of everything taking place.
As horrific and saddening as the story of Grave of the Fireflies is, the relationship that forms throughout between Setsuko and Seita is beautiful and endearing. Even as the story darkens throughout, the bond forged between brother and sister remains at the forefront of the film and intrigues audiences. Both characters wiggle their ways into the hearts of viewers, making the events of the film all the more heartbreaking. Through their navigation of the ever-changing world, these siblings win the love of everyone that watches. The captivating performances, the nearly flawless animation and the all too real story of love and loss win the hearts of many. Grave of the Fireflies is a hidden gem; it’s brilliantly real and its message is unfaltering.
Directed by Isao Takahata. Written by Akiyuki Nosaka & Isao Takahato. Starring Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi & Tadashi Nakamura.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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