
Grave of the Fireflies(1988)
“Why do fireflies have to die so soon?”
Overview
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.
Director
Isao Takahata
Studio
Studio Ghibli
Budget
$4M
Revenue
$842K
Cast

Tsutomu Tatsumi
as Seita (voice)

Ayano Shiraishi
as Setsuko (voice)

Yoshiko Shinohara
as Mother (voice)
Akemi Yamaguchi
as Auntie (voice)
Masayo Sakai
as Woman who takes care of Setsuko (voice)
Kozo Hashida
as Obayashi Chairman (voice)
Kazumi Nozaki
as Cousin (voice)
Yoshio Matsuoka
as Gosaku (voice)
Masahiro Kanetake
as Aunt's House Guest (voice)
Kiyoshi Yanagawa
as Patrolman (voice)
Hajime Maki
as Man who arrests Seita (voice)
Atsuo Omotem
as Person in Bank (voice)
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Movie Facts
Release Year
1988
Runtime
1h 29m
Language
Japanese
Rating
8.4 / 10
Budget
$4M
Box Office
$842K
Production Companies
Studio Ghibli
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Grave of the Fireflies?▼
Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for Grave of the Fireflies (1988).
What is Grave of the Fireflies about?▼
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.
Who directed Grave of the Fireflies?▼
Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Isao Takahata and released in 1988. It is a animation, drama, war film.
How long is Grave of the Fireflies?▼
Grave of the Fireflies has a runtime of 1 hours and 29 minutes (89 minutes total).
Who stars in Grave of the Fireflies?▼
The cast of Grave of the Fireflies includes Tsutomu Tatsumi as Seita (voice), Ayano Shiraishi as Setsuko (voice), Yoshiko Shinohara as Mother (voice), Akemi Yamaguchi as Auntie (voice), Masayo Sakai as Woman who takes care of Setsuko (voice) and more.
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