One of the most amazing and depressing animated films is coming to Blu-ray!
Sentai Filmworks will release Japanese director Isao Takahata’s 1988 film Hotaru no Haka (a.k.a Grave of the Fireflies on Blu-ray November 20th. Specific technical specs and supplemental features to be included with this release have not yet been announced.
Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, this haunting anime tells the story of two children, 14-year-old Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) and his four-year-old sister Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), who are struggling to survive in 1940’s war-torn Japan which is constantly being hit by bombs and napalm from American warplanes. After their mother is killed in an air raid, and the fate of their Naval officer father remains unknown, the children are left to fend for themselves. After a brief and unpleasant stay with their seemingly uncaring aunt, they run away and set up home in an abandoned bomb shelter. They find some happiness living on their own with a field of almost magical fireflies to keep them company. However, as food rations become more and more scarce, it’s increasingly more difficult for Seita to find the strength to keep him and his sister alive.
Produced by the prolific Studio Ghibli, not only is this one of the greatest animated films I’ve ever seen, but one of the greatest films period. It’s a haunting heart wrenching tale that is sure to require a few tissues. If you’ve never seen this film you owe it to yourself to do so an this new Blu-ray release will be a fantastic way to do that.
