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The setting of the film is partially based on the firebombing of Kobe in 1945, an event that the author, Akiyuki Nosaka, experienced firsthand. By depicting a real historical event through anime, the filmmakers achieved control over the emotional impact of the events and meticulously rendered the environmental devastation, allowing the viewers to reflect on the consequences of war and violence. Nosaka’s personal experience of losing his younger sister due to malnutrition during the war adds a layer of authenticity and emotional weight to the film and allows the viewers to feel the guilt and pain of the author.

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The character designs are simple and realistic with a diverse and profound range of emotions that capture the essence of joy, innocence, pain, and even bitter resentment. This artistic style allows the audience to easily connect with the characters as it promotes empathy and understanding of the cost of war.

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To further amplify the weight of the characters’ feelings, some scenes were created with limited animation, allowing the audience to fully absorb the scene and create a more introspective experience. This is evident in the scenes where Setsuko cries as she searches for her mother after the first air raid, when Setsuko screams for Seita’s name as he is brought to the police station, and as Setsuko lies on the floor after her last meal. These moments of stillness  make the scenes more powerful and contribute to a more immersive experience for the viewers.

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Another interesting aspect was the utilization of certain elements to establish the mood for particular scenes. Airplanes were used to represent war or danger, and throughout the film, the mere sight or sound of an airplane elicited a sense of threat and anxiety in the people. This association was a clear symbol of the film's central theme of war which resulted in devastating loss and destruction to the community.

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Setsuko’s doll was another critical element in the film as it represented innocence and comfort in the face of fear and uncertainty. Setsuko clung on to this dull in the midst of the chaos as it provided her a sense of familiarity and reassurance. As the film progresses, the doll eventually gets worn out, mirroring Setsuko’s deteriorating health and loss of innocence.

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This movie is incredibly effective at making the audience feel things not despite it's medium, but because of it.

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Maximizing the media's impact through animation

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Maximizing the media's impact through animation

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The practice of juxtaposing such horrific subject matter with beautiful hand-drawn frames maximizes the effect of the film’s content through contrasting imagery. For instance, Setsuko is portrayed as a cute and innocent child, so her slow and agonizing death is made all the more painful by the circumstances and Seita’s efforts. Using animation makes the movie particularly haunting, in a medium that is often associated with lighter themes (as with slice-of-life anime or drawings of cute anime girls with exaggerated eyes). Occasionally, anime will use blood and gore to maximize hype or emphasize a character’s intentions, as is often the case with seinen or shounen anime nowadays. But I think it is relatively uncommon to have a work of animation tackle such heavy issues in real life, which makes it all the more impactful.

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Most significantly, the incorporation of fireflies accentuated crucial moments in the film as it imbued symbolisms of hope, fragility, and connection to spirits. Fireflies served as the siblings’ source of pure joy during their darkest hours and were placed into scenes that marked pivotal points in the plot such as the siblings’ decision to travel and stay with their aunt, their decided to live in an abandoned shelter, and the brother’s arrest for stealing crops.

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One of the ways in which Grave of the Fireflies is able to evoke such strong emotions from its viewers is due to the great use of timing in its musical score to complement the film's storytelling. There is an absence of a musical score for most scenes of the film, which sets the tone of the film as it likely highlights the seriousness of war that is present in the film's setting. This is in contrast to certain media that are more reliant on its use of a musical score to tell a story, such as in musicals, where its main function is to make the overall story more whimsical to better suspend the disbelief of the audience.

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However, this general lack of a score in Grave of the Fireflies can be used as a powerful tool in storytelling as it greatly enhances the emotional impact of the scenes which do have a score.. The greater emotional impact of these scenes will then leave a lasting impression on the audience, making the scene overall more powerful and impactful. This use of musical score is evident in Grave of the Fireflies, as a score is mainly only played in the film in order to highlight the underlying emotion of a scene, making the scene stand out more compared to the scenes that lack a score. For example, the ominous music that was played during the scene where Seita and Setsuko sees the destruction of their homeland highlights the overall dread that is likely felt by the two characters at that moment.

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On the other hand, the calm and simple tune played during the scene where both Seita and Setsuko were playing at the beach conveys a sense of relief and nostalgia, which are likely the emotions in which the characters are feeling especially as they find respite from the dangers of war through their childlike playing.

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The critical realism of the film’s animation presented an honest and realistic portrayal of how war affects innocent lives. It successfully captured the brutality and suffering, portrayed by the disturbing and unsettling scenes of death, hunger, and despair, endured during wartime. Throughout the portrayal of these scenes, it also maintained a sense of artistic interpretation achieved by its poignant symbolism, like the fireflies representing fleeting beauty, a symbol of lost innocence and impermanence of life.

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Oyasumi Punpun is a manga where the main character has a bird for a head, but it's themes are anything but jovial.

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Hard subject matter in different types of media

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Hard subject matter in different types of media

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The movie’s ability to portray the horrific reality of war through an animated medium is a feat in and of itself, considering how easy it is to disconnect yourself from a drawn medium. After all, one would find it easy to think they’re just drawings, lending them an air of triviality. The film upends this notion by presenting harrowing images of burnt bodies and the stench of the death, but the presentation of the idiosyncrasies in war are also equally evident: the screams of the damned as their homes are destroyed, or the palpable tension and imminent sense of doom from whether one would have their flesh and bones rended apart by bombs or slowly wither away from starvation. I love how masterfully they manage to convey the darkness of such events with the simplicity of everyday life. Personally, I don’t believe media like this is meant to be enjoyed but rather experienced. Some other media that I feel captures this emotion very well is the film Requiem for a Dream which tackles drug use, or the manga Oyasumi Punpun which has themes of suicide and mental health. Such art tells us to grapple with the atrocities we’re capable of as human beings, and makes us visualize the darkness of the human heart. The film is desolate, but it ends in a way that I don’t think live-action could ever be capable of capturing. In the last scene, Setsuko and Seita reunite in the afterlife, with fireflies scattered all around. In a live-action movie, this scene would seem almost campy and out of place amidst a realistic backdrop. But in this movie, we feel nothing but soul-crushing emptiness for the two siblings, who finally manage to be together again.

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Dreamlike elements, such as Setsuko’s imaginary food that offers moments of escapism, highlighting the contrast between reality and desire. Non-linear storytelling, jumping between past and present through flashbacks and dream sequences. Along with these, the subtle facial gestures and hauntingly beautiful music, amplifies the emotional impact of the film. The combination of critical realism and artistic interpretation evokes strong emotion and encourages reflection on themes of loss, sacrifice and consequences of war. This approach made it possible to connect more deeply with universal human experiences regardless of historical or cultural context.

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The film's portrayal of the challenges faced during a war is a potent reminder of our shared humanity. It drives us to reassess how we perceive the effects of war on people and societies throughout history.

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The last scene is beautiful precisely because of how it is presented, and this probably can't be replicated in the same way in any other form of media.

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Exploring reality through a hand-drawn lens

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Exploring reality through a hand-drawn lens

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If this movie were live-action, it would have arguably been more horrific with its presentation. But I feel like in an ironic way, Grave of the Fireflies would lose its humanity if it was made with real people and special effects. The animation sets this movie apart from other war films: movies like Saving Private Ryan or Schindler’s List present the same thesis in their own way. Each medium of artistic representation is capable of capturing the essence of the director’s ideas in a particular way, which reflect on the diversity of art and its infinite interpretations. This style of presentation is even more effective for me as I love watching animated films and media, though I’d understand if this film style isn’t for everyone’s taste. Truly, Grave of the Fireflies emphasizes that art does not necessarily have to be realistic to be communicated. It is merely a conduit for expression, and any subject matter can be covered beautifully if it is handled with  grace and sensitivity.

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Finally, the use of a melancholic song during the montage of Setsuko memories after her death highlights the intense sadness and grief that can be overall felt in the scene. The use of a song instead of a musical score also further enhances the emotional impact of the scene as it is the only song that was played throughout the whole film, thus making the scene stand out most compared to the other scenes.

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How the age is reflected in the film as a snapshot of past events

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How the age is reflected in the film as a snapshot of past events

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I’d like to add that this film was clearly a product of its time, which is evident from the tinny, haunting music and the beautifully detailed static backgrounds that contrast with the simplistic drawing style. Such elements are rarely present in modern animation, which looks much “cleaner” and fluid in terms of movement. Although I’m sure this wasn’t intended, it makes the film all the more effective when watching in the present day, as it truly feels as if you’re immersed within war-torn Japan. Although the effects of war are still felt nowadays, they are often diluted within the lens of social media and the Internet, and are infrequently presented in an artistic medium. Additionally, I thoroughly agree with your point about the use of music: its sparsity hammers in the weight of the most emotional moments, while being noticeably absent throughout to maintain the “realism” of the film.

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Grave of the Fireflies depicts the terrible effects of war on the lives of everyone, especially innocent children. Although it highlights the importance of perseverance and resilience, it is not right to romanticize these qualities since no one deserves to experience that level of adversity, especially at a young age. This resonates with the currently ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine, as well as in Israel and Palestine. It is important to be open-minded in learning about issues that do not directly affect us. And since information is easily accessible today, this gives us an opportunity to empathize with the victims sincerely.

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Grave of the Fireflies is more than just a movie; it’s an accurate representation of what the human race has become. The thirst for power and money has been the driving force in neglecting the more important issues in the world. The movie highlights the significance of having the right support system around you, even in your youth and especially during trying times. These lessons would make you think about the future and how many more lives will be destroyed by the greed of those in power.