I know someone who bought this film for their kids. Good thing he watched it on his own first as Grave of Fireflies, despite being animated, is not a film for the little ones. It tells the story of a young boy, caught up in World War II, struggling to save himself and his little sister from starving to death in a village that is too busy with the bigger picture to see what is going on under their noses. Saddest film ever made.
One reviewer says this is not a film for 'the little ones'. I absolutely disagree - hiding bad things from children is silly. War exists and kids could and should watch this film (force feeding them pink fluffy fantasies of the world is wrong IMHO).
Anyway, this is a very depressing movie - all about Japan towards the end of World War II. It works not because of wonderful animation (which looks basic in parts) but because the characters are so well-drawn. It is utterly believable.
One thing that impressed me was the was the writer of the story was prepared to show Japanese people in wartime being horrible and nasty, even to their own people and families. It destroys the myths promoted by both East and West.
It's a sad film but that does not mean adults or children should avoid it. Quite the reverse, actually - people of all ages need educating about things like this because so many are so ignorant.
If you want gormless dumb fantasy cartoons to rot your brain there are plenty to choose from. This movie makes you think. Brave for the story to develop as it does - no Hollywood studio would ever allow such a thing due to that old obsession with a happy ending and heroics!
Good too that it has both subtitles AND dubbing into English if you want - the film is from 1988; the English version from 1998.
Marvellous animation spoilt by American dubbing. Is the subtitled version available in this country?