"September 25, 1945.  That was the night that I died"

Grave of the Fireflies:  A Teacher's Guide

By Aaron V.F. PICAR!!!!!!!!!

Grave of the Fireflies won the 1994 Chicago International Childrens' Film Festival's Rights of the Child Award, and Best Animated Feature Film

Content/Materials:  ON this Page you will find the following Questions for class discussion INstructor's Notes Interviews of Akiyuki Nosaka the author, and Isao Takahata the director External Review  by Roger Ebert Info about Studio Ghibli LInks to other Grave of the Fireflies webpages Central Park Media's Official Grave of the Fireflies page

"Grave of the Fireflies is heartbreaking enough to leave any viewer in tears"          Baltimore Sun "Grave of the Fireflies belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made."            Roger Ebert "Grave of the Fireflies is the Schindler's List of anime... It is the most profoundly human animated film I've ever seen."          Ernest Rister "Grave of the Fireflies transcends national and ideological boundaries"         Charles Solomon "...It's impossible not to see Grave of the Fireflies as a real work of art and a eulogy to a tragic error in the history of a nation"          Christopher Null

Objectives:  I:  SHow Students the effect of a crumbling society on it's most innocent members. II:  Show Students the perspective of the Japanese  homefront during World War II III:  Expose students to viewpoints they are unfamiliar with of a topic that they have some prior knowledge about.  IV:  Give Teachers new methods of teaching old content matter

Rationale:  Students studying World War II rarely look at the perspective of the Japanese homefront.  Studio GHibli's Grave of the Fireflies shows is this important viewpoint in a very very effective, unique, and heart wrenching manner.  No other material dealing with the subject, brings the material alive as well as Grave of the Fireflies.  The lessons tought by this film, hold true even today.

Synopsis:   Based off of Akyuki Nosaka's autobiographical novel, Grave of the Fireflies, shows the plight of Seita and Setsuko, brother and sister living in Kobe.  IN the waning days of World War II these two children lose their home and mother to an Allied firebombing.   With their father off to war at sea, they move in with an aunt who is very cruel and harsh.  Tired of her, Seita (boy age 14) and Setsuko (girl aged 5) move off in the countryside to find their own way.    As the War continues on, food becomes scarce, and their health deteirorates, and it soon becomes painfully evident that society can no longer care for them, or even feed them.

"Ultimately, Grave of the Fireflies is a masterpiece not only because of this richness of rendering, but also because of its overall form...Watching it feels like a privilege - it feels like we are getting an insight into a particular time and place as lived through by these two children."            Bill Mousuolis "Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no haka) is one of the saddest, most beautiful films I've seen, anime or live action...Grave of the Fireflies deftly moves through the gamut of human emotions...like Schindler's List, it is an important study of the human condition and does not loose its potency with repeat viewings...work transcends the genre and reaches out beyond the "anime corner" of the shelf"          Scott Olsen "There is arguably no better film that illustrates the effect of war on the innocent: the children. Grave of the Fireflies is not only a must-see for any cinema fan, but should be required viewing for everyone"            http://moviepie.com "Grave of the Fireflies is easily one of the most harrowing and riveting war movies ever made...[and] is an examination of the horrors that war can inflict, even far away from the battles between soldiers. At the same time, it's a heartfelt look at a bond between a brother and sister that can't be broken."      Emru Townsend, All Movie Guide "Grave of the Fireflies is an eye-opening look at the effects of War on the innocent...Set amidst air raids and bombings, the degree of realism is very high...The visuals are extremely detailed and fluid, exuding a very realistic feel. There are also a lot of life lessons to be learned for both the young and old...Hailed by critics worldwide, Grave Of the Fireflies is a worthwhile addition to any video library. I think history classes should show this to students, and it's something that I'd like to show my kids someday."           http://animetric.com "Grave of the Fireflies is a transendent work easily on par with Speigelman's MAUS: A Survivor's Tale, or Eisner's To the Heart of the Storm, even Wessel's NIGHT, Nosaka has created a master work rife with life lessons for all people of all ages of all nationalities, and is able to accomplish what all story-tellers strive for; a poigent truthful narrative that leaves us in tears and pulls us into the world which is created."         Aaron V.F. PICAR!!!!!

"The following morning I took what was left of her ashes, and put them in the drop can, and left the mountain.                                                                           I never returned to the shelter"

Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) is a copyright of Studio Ghibli and Akiyuki Nosaka.  1988, all rights reserved Original Japanese version "Grave of the Fireflies" ?1988 Akiyuki Nosaka/Shinchosha Co. All rights reserved.

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