Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Director: Isao Takahata

Cast: J. Robert Spencer, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi

Genre: Animation

Plot: Beautiful animated feature, about a brother-sister and their lost family, set toward the end of WWII when Japan is under constant air raids.

The story has been told in a flashback by Seita’s (brother) spirit. The essence of the movie forbids war and it basically shows how a society pays for a war, how innocence (read young Sutsiko) suffers.

One might argue technically movie is not as accomplished as some of today’s animated features but that would be a folly as there is a unique liveliness in the 80’s animation and the background music compliments it perfectly – rendering it extraordinarily moving.

8/10