The devastating cost of war has never been seen so concisely as in writer/director Isao Takahata masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies. The most important work of Studio Ghibli should be required viewing for everyone. It stands as a powerful reminder of the causalities and atrocities of war are human beings not fighting but attempting to survive.
Set in the waning days of WW2 in the pacific theater Seita and Setsuko are left orphaned and alone in Kobe as their father fights for Japan’s Imperial Navy. They are sent to live with their aunt and uncle in the countryside. They eventually flee their cruelty to an abandoned bomb shelter outside of the city. The harsh realities of war face the children at every turn. Seita attempting not only to shelter his younger sister from these horrors but keep her alive finds only an uphill battle and little kindness from adults.
There are few more somber films that are as compelling as Grave of the Fireflies. It isn’t just misery for the sake of misery. There are moments, fleeting as they are, of hopefulness and beauty. Those moments keep Seita and Setsuko pushing forward in the chance they will somehow survive this devastating series of events. As children they do not know any other way. They also are firsthand witness to the cruelty and selfishness of survival even at the hands of someone who is family.
As the inevitable becomes apparent to the audience and even Setsuko we are left to watch Seita attempt some sort of small victory even as the Japanese have surrendered the war. The tragedy isn’t just Setsuko fate but that she realizes her fate and has accepted well before her brother has realized it. The breaking point in the film, the point that devastates is Setsuko asking Seita to stay with her. Seita blind to the obvious, unable to see what is in front of him thinking he has the plan to save his sister. A child not wanting to be alone, not wanting to be afraid. Another child unable to face the inevitable.
Grave of the Fireflies shows the true cost of a war no matter what side it is. Humans striped of their goodness for the sake of survival. Children stripped of their innocence. Few films have shown this more powerfully than Takahata’s film.
The Audio
A special note should be made that GKIDS has included not just the Original Japanese Language track but BOTH English Dubs. Yes, both the 1998 Dub and the 2012 Dub have been included. I mention this because for many the 1998 Dub was their first introduction to the film and fell in love with that track. The 2012 Dub is far more accurate to the original Japanese Language track and definitely has its fans as well. This reviewer always recommends the original language track but appreciates the fact that GKIDS has made sure that these are all available and shows the love and care they take in their releases and considerations to fandom.
The Transfer
The transfer provided to GKIDS is a perfect example of how they continue to take care and pride in producing home video releases for their Animated films. The razor-sharp transfer is complimented by its color reproduction and contrast levels. The film especially the way the film plays with color differences in darkness– which could create artifacting or ghosting issues with the transfer. This Blu-Ray transfer handles those possible problems without any issues. This is the best Grave of the Fireflies has looked on Homevideo.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC ONE (BLU-RAY):
Feature-Length Storyboards
Deleted Scene Storyboards
Isao Takahata on Grave of the Fireflies
Film Critic Roger Ebert on Grave of the Fireflies
Joint Project Promotional Video
Image Galleries
Teasers & Trailers
DISC TWO (DVD):
Deleted Scene Storyboards
Isao Takahata on Grave of the Fireflies
Film Critic Roger Ebert on Grave of the Fireflies
Joint Project Promotional Video
Teasers & Trailers
Feature Length Storyboards (88:23) – GKIDS included the full-length storyboards for Grave of the Fireflies. Part of watching any feature like this is your interest in how animation is created in its various forms. This Storyboard version has rough pencils to semi developed pencil drawings of what will be guides for completion of shots. In someways this coarse version adds to the drama and makes the experience even more harrowing. Anyone that interest in making animation or just how these movies are developed will want to watch. Note: you do have your chose of the original Japanese Language track of both of the English Dubs.
Deleted Scene Storyboard 1 (1:52) – the pond near Seita and Setsuko’s camp site is overflowing washing away the camp.
Deleted Scene Storyboard 2 (0:38) – dreams of eating shaved ice cream and lunch.
Image Galleries – Main Menu brings you to a submenu with various galleries.
Background art (68:45) – approximately 765 images in this gallery showing the various background art used in the film. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Background design (4:52) – approximately 57 images in this gallery showing background concept designs in various forms of completion. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Behind the Scenes (4:47) – approximately 56 images in this gallery showing the various voice cast and animators at work on the production. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Character/Color Design (10:02) – approximately 119 images in this gallery showing character design board. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Concept Art (9:32) – approximately 113 images in this gallery showing styles of concept arts and character designs the production. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Image Boards (15:02) – approximately 179 images in this gallery showing and mood art for production. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Location Scouting (8:52) – approximately 105 images in this gallery showing photos of the real life locations captured by the production as references for the film. The gallery can either run automatically or navigated through by using the next or back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
Joint Project Promotional Video (15:19) – this archival featurette from the time of release charts the making of the film from novel to animated film from the creatives. This is not your average making of featurette or EPK they made in the US in the late 1980s. Rather this is the kind of serious-minded making of you would have found on Laserdiscs of the era. There is some great comments from everyone involved and how they took a very considered approach to adapting this truly important story.
Isao Takahata on Grave of the Fireflies (17:48) – in this archival interview with Director Isao Takahata begins with discussing the concept of Grave of the Fireflies and how they approached what to his mind was a simple story to fill it with complexities. Takahata goes on to discuss the preproduction of the film; the audition process – finding the right children; working/directing children; the release of the film and the awkwardness of it being double featured with My Neighbor Totoro; critical and audience reactions to the film – which was very different than his intent making the picture; and much more.
Film Critic Roger Ebert on Grave of the Fireflies (12:17) – in this archival interview with Ebert he begins with his emotional reaction to the film and how different it is as war film and its emotional connection to its character. The critic goes on to discussion the reason why the film works so perfectly in animation; the approach Japanese take to the point of view of the WW2 – in this film and how it allows to connect to an audience; the style of Japanese Anime – and how it works here and in style as a whole; and much more. Note: the interview does have burned in Japanese subtitles.
Teasers & Trailers (2:41) – a collection of three Japanese trailers. In Japanese with English subtitles.
The Final Thought
GKIDS has given Graves of the Fireflies a wonderful and considerate version filled with contextual special features. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
The haunting and devastating Grave of the Fireflies comes to Blu-ray thanks to GKIDS.
The Film
The devastating cost of war has never been seen so concisely as in writer/director Isao Takahata masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies. The most important work of Studio Ghibli should be required viewing for everyone. It stands as a powerful reminder of the causalities and atrocities of war are human beings not fighting but attempting to survive.
Set in the waning days of WW2 in the pacific theater Seita and Setsuko are left orphaned and alone in Kobe as their father fights for Japan’s Imperial Navy. They are sent to live with their aunt and uncle in the countryside. They eventually flee their cruelty to an abandoned bomb shelter outside of the city. The harsh realities of war face the children at every turn. Seita attempting not only to shelter his younger sister from these horrors but keep her alive finds only an uphill battle and little kindness from adults.
There are few more somber films that are as compelling as Grave of the Fireflies. It isn’t just misery for the sake of misery. There are moments, fleeting as they are, of hopefulness and beauty. Those moments keep Seita and Setsuko pushing forward in the chance they will somehow survive this devastating series of events. As children they do not know any other way. They also are firsthand witness to the cruelty and selfishness of survival even at the hands of someone who is family.
As the inevitable becomes apparent to the audience and even Setsuko we are left to watch Seita attempt some sort of small victory even as the Japanese have surrendered the war. The tragedy isn’t just Setsuko fate but that she realizes her fate and has accepted well before her brother has realized it. The breaking point in the film, the point that devastates is Setsuko asking Seita to stay with her. Seita blind to the obvious, unable to see what is in front of him thinking he has the plan to save his sister. A child not wanting to be alone, not wanting to be afraid. Another child unable to face the inevitable.
Grave of the Fireflies shows the true cost of a war no matter what side it is. Humans striped of their goodness for the sake of survival. Children stripped of their innocence. Few films have shown this more powerfully than Takahata’s film.
The Audio
A special note should be made that GKIDS has included not just the Original Japanese Language track but BOTH English Dubs. Yes, both the 1998 Dub and the 2012 Dub have been included. I mention this because for many the 1998 Dub was their first introduction to the film and fell in love with that track. The 2012 Dub is far more accurate to the original Japanese Language track and definitely has its fans as well. This reviewer always recommends the original language track but appreciates the fact that GKIDS has made sure that these are all available and shows the love and care they take in their releases and considerations to fandom.
The Transfer
The transfer provided to GKIDS is a perfect example of how they continue to take care and pride in producing home video releases for their Animated films. The razor-sharp transfer is complimented by its color reproduction and contrast levels. The film especially the way the film plays with color differences in darkness– which could create artifacting or ghosting issues with the transfer. This Blu-Ray transfer handles those possible problems without any issues. This is the best Grave of the Fireflies has looked on Homevideo.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC ONE (BLU-RAY):
DISC TWO (DVD):
Feature Length Storyboards (88:23) – GKIDS included the full-length storyboards for Grave of the Fireflies. Part of watching any feature like this is your interest in how animation is created in its various forms. This Storyboard version has rough pencils to semi developed pencil drawings of what will be guides for completion of shots. In someways this coarse version adds to the drama and makes the experience even more harrowing. Anyone that interest in making animation or just how these movies are developed will want to watch. Note: you do have your chose of the original Japanese Language track of both of the English Dubs.
Deleted Scene Storyboard 1 (1:52) – the pond near Seita and Setsuko’s camp site is overflowing washing away the camp.
Deleted Scene Storyboard 2 (0:38) – dreams of eating shaved ice cream and lunch.
Image Galleries – Main Menu brings you to a submenu with various galleries.
Joint Project Promotional Video (15:19) – this archival featurette from the time of release charts the making of the film from novel to animated film from the creatives. This is not your average making of featurette or EPK they made in the US in the late 1980s. Rather this is the kind of serious-minded making of you would have found on Laserdiscs of the era. There is some great comments from everyone involved and how they took a very considered approach to adapting this truly important story.
Isao Takahata on Grave of the Fireflies (17:48) – in this archival interview with Director Isao Takahata begins with discussing the concept of Grave of the Fireflies and how they approached what to his mind was a simple story to fill it with complexities. Takahata goes on to discuss the preproduction of the film; the audition process – finding the right children; working/directing children; the release of the film and the awkwardness of it being double featured with My Neighbor Totoro; critical and audience reactions to the film – which was very different than his intent making the picture; and much more.
Film Critic Roger Ebert on Grave of the Fireflies (12:17) – in this archival interview with Ebert he begins with his emotional reaction to the film and how different it is as war film and its emotional connection to its character. The critic goes on to discussion the reason why the film works so perfectly in animation; the approach Japanese take to the point of view of the WW2 – in this film and how it allows to connect to an audience; the style of Japanese Anime – and how it works here and in style as a whole; and much more. Note: the interview does have burned in Japanese subtitles.
Teasers & Trailers (2:41) – a collection of three Japanese trailers. In Japanese with English subtitles.
The Final Thought
GKIDS has given Graves of the Fireflies a wonderful and considerate version filled with contextual special features. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
GKIDS’s Blu-ray Edition of Grave of the Fireflies is out July 8th
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