New Netflix Trailer for Isao Takahata’s Classic ‘Grave of the Fireflies’
by Alex Billington
August 20, 2024
Source: YouTube
“Why do fireflies have to die so soon?” One of the saddest films ever is getting a proper streaming release on Netflix this fall. Grave of the Fireflies is one of the masterpieces directed by the late Japanese animation master Isao Takahata. It never got a US theatrical release in 1988 when it initially opened, but it has since become a cult classic, known by all who love & appreciation animation. Based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s Naoki Prize-winning short story, Grave of the Fireflies is set in Kobe near the end of World War II and depicts the tragic fate of war orphan siblings and the horrors of this period. It was made by Studio Ghibli and released by Toho, though it was also the same year as My Neighbor Totoro, which is why it never achieved the same amount of fame. Written and directed by Takahata, the film stars Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, and Akemi Yamaguchi. It’s an amazingly beautiful film, but yes, it is also regarded as one of the saddest films ever made because it is so tragic following these kids. Netflix is already playing Ghibli’s films (outside of the US) but it’s great to see this one join the ranks for everyone to watch anytime.
Here’s the Netflix trailer (+ alternate posters) for Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies, from YouTube:
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. Grave of the Fireflies, originally known as 火垂るの墓 or Hotaru no Haka in Japanese, is written & directed by beloved Japanese animation filmmaker Isao Takahata (who passed away in 2018), director of other animated classics including Panda! Go, Panda!, The Story of Yanagawa’s Canals, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, My Neighbors the Yamadas, and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Based on the story by Akiyuki Nosaka. It’s produced by Toru Hara. Made by Studio Ghibli and Shinchosha; distributed by Toho in Japan. It originally opened in Japan in April 1988 right at the same time as My Neighbor Totoro initially as a double feature. It was never actually released in theaters in the US, only available years later on home video. Netflix will release Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies streaming on Netflix worldwide (except in Japan) starting September 16th, 2024 coming soon.