Grave of the Fireflies - Recommendations

aldat says...

War and humans. Real humans, not some fancy heroes with mighty swords and special techniques. Humans with things they love, with values that don't always perfecly fit the war they're in. This is what connects Grave of the Fireflies and Now and Then, Here and There. And makes, among other things, them both worth watching.

Laone says...

Both explore the dark side of humanity and the ridiculous where humans are tested and show their true selves while being set in another space and/or time. GotF and NTHT are both considered "sad" by many viewers, but I found both to be encouraging and uplifting, showing sides of human courage and strength even during the most difficult of times. The viewer's identification with a specific character and/or events may not be possible yet emotional identification can be a nice replacement.

freakzilla says...

Both NTHT and Grave of the Fireflies touch upon harsh parts of our world such as war and child abuse. Both show the scars these things leave behind and bring the mood down.

CuddlyMcTickles says...

Grave of the Fireflies and Now and Then, Here and There are must sees for anybody. Not just for anime fans, but for anyone that yearns to feel. They both deal with sad themes, and you become enthralled by the burdens of the characters and the heaviness of the plot. Both of these shows will make you appreciate life a litle bit more and give you plenty to think about for years to come.

Oehr says...

What those two have in common? War, a sad serious story and awesome storytelling. I enjoyed every second of each anime even though i cried in the end. That's all that I can say. Beautiful masterpieces in every aspect! Watch them both!

VivisQueen says...

You want to be really sad? And you want to feel like you just learned something while you're at it? You want to cry in the most profound and gut-wrenching manner possible? If you've just watched either Grave of the Fireflies or Now and Then, Here and There and want more of that powerful sadness, you will absolutely love the other. They essentially work in the same way, portraying gripping dilemmas that leave no way out but tragedy whilst simultaneously showing some of the triumphs of the human spirit. Not only that, these shows are equally good - yes, there are two such astoundingly tragic and effective anime.

Gundevil says...

Both Grave of Fireflies and Now and Then, Here and There are fantastic pieces of work that expose the horrors of war and its effect on innocent children. Both are about the loss of innocence and are told through the eyes of society's most vulnerable victims. If you liked one, you would definitely like the other.

Omurqi says...

Now and Then, Here and There is basically a fantasy version of Grave of the Fireflies with more physical cruelty, about as much psychological cruelty and just a little less emotional impact. If you loved one of these, and for some reason want to expose yourself to a similar heartwrenching, cruel story, give this anime a try.

DeathCrunch says...

Both extremely depressing (melancholy is far to whimsical a word) tales of the brutality of war.

If you "enjoyed" one, for lack of a better word, you should definently check out the other.

Now and Then has the much happier ending though, unsurprisingly

eaper says...

Each of these series focus on what is lost in war. Further, each series centers in on a man trying to protect an important person at great personal injury. Finally, the mood of each series is similar (extremely sad).

jypsel says...

Both deal with the concept of war and of children being the innocent victims of the harsher adult tatics.  Both are heart breaking and yet both are undeniable truth.

antonitheanimefan says...

Just like its successor, Grave of the Fireflies also talks about the tragedies of war and how people must survive during these rough times. On an emotional level, both of them are quite the tear-jerkers and Seita and Shu are quite similar in terms of their optimism, their headstrong nature and never give up attitude as they always try their best to keep their heads up in the face of danger and depression.

ChalamiuS says...

Both of these series deal with war and the tragedies that come with it. In both Grave of the Fireflies and  Now and Then, Here and There children end up being victims of war.

abunai says...

Though Barefoot Gen and Grave of the Fireflies both present a Japanese view of the finale of WWII, with special focus on the plight of the children, they also function as the antithesis of each other, in terms of protagonists.

The protagonist of Barefoot Gen is exemplary and selfless, whereas Grave of the Fireflies shows us the experiences of a selfish, far-from-exemplary boy. In both cases, though, we are prevented from harsh judgement and are brought up short by the realization that these are children, suffering the most dreadful imaginable circumstances. Whether they behave well or badly, they are ultimately victims, suffering in the cruellest possible way, and any blame lies with the adults who stole away their right to an innocent childhood.

If you have seen either of these films, and it moved you as deeply as it should (and if it didn't move you, you should consider a career in politics or law), you will surely want to watch the other.

Ran says...

Barefoot is more centered on the war's horrors while Grave of the Fireflies insists more on the human aspects of it. Both anime show the struggle of children to survive in a very sad manner, showing how children have to grow responsible all of a sudden, and still keep a part of their innocence despise the hardships they have to go through.

Abashi says...

Both take place in WW2 Japan, and show the grim times during the end of the war. They are very gloomy depressing stories that might make you cry. They may also make you hate America, or its foreign policy at least.

sothis says...

I know it's cliche, but I have to recommend Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen with each other. It's true that both are about WW2 - but beyond that, each has one or more main characters who refuse to give up and try to live their lives to the fullest. As well, both are tragic and depressing, though not without small rays of hope.

chii says...

Both anime take a tragic look at WW2 from the eyes of the people, mostly children, that were affected by it personally. Even though faced with plently of dispare, hope is never tossed aside. If you liked one check out the other.

cassiesheepgirl says...

On its basic level, both of these films are set in Japan towards the end of the Second World War. However they also focus on the experiences of children during wartime and how they cope with bereavement and the increasingly difficult living situation. If this aspect of one film interested you then you should watch the other.

Funkgun says...

I see a lot of people recommending a fantasy world of Here and Now, Then and There. for these two very potent titles of Barefoot Gen and Grave of the Fireflies

I can not help but think, that is not based on REAL world situations such as Grave and Barefoot respectively.

Forgive me for saying this, but a forien world of science fiction should NOT be the number #1 recomendation for two titles based on history and the ramifications of the nuclear bomb. 

dannyc says...

Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen are truly heart-wrenching films. But Barefoot Gen is an autobiography made by a survivor of the attack on Hiroshima. The survivor being the author of the manga Barefoot Gen.

skankfish says...

Both harsh but touching portrayals of regular people during wartime, victims of forces far beyond their own control. Both very sad but very well made, too.

Bears2828 says...

Same topic, just different view points. Barefoot gen is from a point of view of a child, as grave of the fireflies is from the view of a adolescent. It would be easy to enjoy barefoot gen as it is basically the same.

azerifactory says...

Both take place in WW2 Japan, and show dark side of nuclear war. Gut-wrenching and traumatizing as the depiction of the bombing and its immediate aftermath are, it is the extended serialization of the post-war experience that offers one of the real cultural and historical values of both animes.

Omurqi says...

Both Grave of the Fireflies and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 show the struggle to survive of young siblings in the face of disaster. While Grave of the Fireflies is a lot more cruel, they both give a good display on how much people can change during difficult times, especially children. If you watched one of these touching stories, and are looking for something similar, absolutely don't miss out on this one.

badazz5001 says...

Bouth series follow two childrin as they try to survive threw very difficult circumstrances. Bouth series are heartbreacking and show the strength of humanity. BOuth series have simmiler animation and simmiler endings.

Kari5 says...

Both of these are sad stories that follow a brother and sister as they deal with disastrous circumstances. Both deal with possible/real life events, which makes them even more touching. Fans of one will enjoy the other for their look on human struggle through the worst odds.

cassiesheepgirl says...

If you enjoyed the emotionally gripping drama of two young children trying their best to survive in horrific conditions of either Grave of teh Fireflies or Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 then you will certainly enjoy the other. Both are incredibly moving, deeply touching and amazingly poignant; just make sure you have your tissues at the ready.

SuperMudkipz says...

Both very similar themes in terms of survival depicted through the experiences of 2 children with Tokyo Magnitude focusing more on the actual personalities of the children rather than the strive for survival in Grave of the fireflies. Both very sad stories and both have a disaster theme to it.

eaper says...

Both of these series focus on a pair of siblings attempting to protect each other during a very difficult time (a war in GotFF and the aftereffects of an earthquake in TM8.0). Each series tries to be a very emotional story throughout, making these titles very similar.

BlackVoid says...

They both depict tragic tales of young brothers and sisters in a threatening environment. Their characters are impossible not to like, which makes it sad to see all the misfortunes that continue to happen to them.

Gumby says...

Both tell the story of how people must cope with and survive in the aftermath of a disaster. Both follow the perspective of a young child trying to protect his/her younger sibling in a dramatically changed and increasingly hostile world. The stories unfold realistically and really make you emotionally invest in the main characters. Even moreso than most slice of life dramas, stories like these show the full range of the human experience. Grave of the Fireflies is set in WWII and Tokyo Magnitude is set in the early 21st century.

dbzssjkris says...

Both of these are beutiful animes that show how people would act in times of crisis. when watching either always rember you are lucky to be living in your homes with your current worries.

AmimeCow says...

Both of these animes have similar sibling-survival themes. These animes are quite heart warming as we see siblings bond when faced with adversities.

ChalamiuS says...

Both Grave of the Fireflies and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 follow a brother and a sister trying to survive after something terrible has happened. In Grave of the Fireflies it's world war 2 and in Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 it's a massive earthquake.

mangle says...

The subject matter of the two movies is very similar, though my general feeling is that In This Corner of the World is slightly more emotionally humane to the viewer.  I would expect that if you liked one, you would like the other.

KarmicFairy says...

Both movies are set during WWII during the air raid and atomic bomb attacks. They are told from two different perspectives. One from a youg woman who has recently wed and started a new life and one from children that are trying to survive. 

Maranee says...

Both movies tell about the struggles in daily life, poverty, losses and the meaning of family during WWII. However Grave of Fireflies is the "heavier" one.

Warpuppy says...

Both anime show in great detail how much the daily lives of everyday people are affected by the constant threat of air raids. 

OkamiHime95 says...

Both movies are set during World War 2, and are both highly emotional films, AKA tearjerkers. If you liked one, you'll like the other, since they both have very similar themes.

gimmedemyokai says...

They both have a concept of world war 2 (i think) however the circumstances are quite different 

They are both amazingly written and all the characters are great, quite a few shocks and sadness in both

voidsocks says...

It is based on the same event in history and gives a heartwarming portrayal of a family. It shows loss, love, poverty and many other experiences through the eyes of Suzu.

meowreviews says...

This anime is quiet simular to grave of the fire flies, both stories start during the ww2 but the only diffrence is the story line. Grave of the fire flies has a sad story of two boys who lose their parents(mother) and live in a poor life style, but for corner of this world it's more of a love story/sad story. But both stories are very simular but not exactly!

Chuuyasdandruff says...

Both movies show the effect of war in a pretty similar way. They both show stories of people that lose people they care about due to the war. Overall both movies are very similiar

VRDave says...

SaiKano has a very similar depressing story about a desperate struggle with a loved one. You will 'enjoy' it just as much as Grave of the Fireflies.

freakzilla says...

While the overlying story is different, both Saikano and Grave of the Fireflies try to show how a war can damage the people around it. A seriously sad mood is used in both.

rogue says...

Grave of the Fireflies and Saikano have stories that are about two things: war and pain. These anime are the kind that can make you cry, even if you are cold-hearted. If you liked one, you'd like the other too.

AsukaLangley says...

Saikano and Grave of the Fireflies are both heartbreaking tales of love and war.

Saikano deals with a boy and his girlfriend being broken apart by a fictional modern war.

Grave of the Fireflies is about a boy and his sister losing their family and homes to the a very real representation of World War Two.

Both of these great anime made my cry the entire time I was watching them. If you're interested in the horrors of war on young people, watch these anime!

Omurqi says...

Both shows show you the painful struggle of the main character to protect the person he cares for. They both display the ugliness of war and the actual pain it brings to the people involved. You might not (want to) believe this after just watching one of these, but they are about equally heartwrenching, you have been warned.

eaper says...

Both of these series show the pains war imposes through the eyes of a guy trying to protect someone extremely important to them. Throughout each title, things (for the most part) continue to get worse and worse until they finally have a very emotional ending.

ChalamiuS says...

Both of these series focus on the effects of war (and all the horrible things it brings with it) through the eyes of the main male character.

Rar says...

Both highly autobiographical animes, Grave of the Fireflies (adapted from a novel of wartime childhood) and Totoro (based largely of Miyazaki's own experiences) are very different in feel. It is particularly interesting to see from similar beginnings - mother absent in hospital, and young children left to fend for themselves - how differently the stories turn out. The natural world, that produces the fantastical figure of Totoro to help and protect Satsuki and Mei, proves entirely hostile to Seita and Setsuko in Grave, nor is there the reassurance of a father (however absent) or caring local community. As a final interesting point, these two films were originally shown in theatres as a double release, though seemingly for very different audiences.

ToonMasta says...

Both films are about two young children and take place during roughly the same time period. They were also released at the same time, and on the same bill, in Japan as a double feature. Both films also highlight the importance of family, Totoro in a happy tone and Grave of the Fireflies in a very sad and somber one. If you like one, you'll most likely like the other. And if you're a fan of Hayao Miyazaki's films, you're sure to like both.

dunkyrok says...

Two stories of how children eek to survive in an environment where adults have little influence and little positive to bring to the children's lives. Although Totoro has been viewed as more upbeat and Fireflies as darker, and this may be true to an extent, both tales are in reality stories of lost children and their deepest fears - they just deal with them in different ways. Whereas in Toroto Mai and Satsuki have the magical Totoro to guide them and offer distractions from everyday existence, Setsuko and Seita in Grave of the Fireflies are much closer to the cold reality of life.

Both are also based to some extent on real experiences, helping to give these two Anime an extra dimension, and strongly significant imagery that will remain with you long after you have finished watching them.

PiotorVie says...

one fantastic movie that i liked so much art is so pretty and the story is sad and amazing

lemonadekoki says...

It is said that you are meant to see these two back to back. I can see why

caitlin says...

Although they have very little in common, both Grave of the Fireflies and Fullmetal Alchemist have a handful of similarities. Both have amazing animation, and beautiful music resonating in the background of a very serious story; the stories focus mainly on the plights of the characters and deal with everything the protagonist has and will go through just to protect their younger sibling. If you liked one of these heart-wrenchers, you should definitely try out the other.

Oehr says...

Beautiful animation combined with a sad story. The protagonists have both to deal with their problems on their own, which is often somewhat sad and you're sometimes about to stop watching, especially in Grave of the Fireflies!

Howlingwar says...

They bothare about to siblings tring to get by in a war that has taken away friends or loved one. Though one is doing something about it.

badazz5001 says...

Bouth anime have to do with siblings trying to survive together in a world where they have lost there parents and bouth have morels about the horer and the cost of war and what it means to be humen

SpErAnZa says...

Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies are captivating from the start, and have a mysterious storyline. The characters in each movie fight very hard for what they want, and it's amazing to see if they achieve what they desire. With their vivid experiences, the characters help make their stories be exceptionally powerful.

eaper says...

Both being Ghibli films, there is a striking resemblance ranging from the story structure to the artwork. a few similar themes run through each. That being said, if you liked one then it is worthwhile to check the other one out (although GotFF is a lot more sad).

sgray3 says...

They are both focused on the journey and hardships of a child. Although Grave of the Fireflies is much, much sadder. Both of these movies also have a decent cultural aspect. They also both tend to emphasize the lack of aid and overall uselessness of the adults involved. Grave of the Fireflies is pretty upfront with everything, while Spirited Away is a little more child-friendly.

paudkny10 says...

appart they are from the same studio (Ghibli), they both show the life of children, one in a war, and the other one with some strange creatures. It's Ghibli and they are clasics,so you'll love them. 

lilien says...

Both movies take place at the end of World War II (1945) and the story follows the struggle of two siblings in times of war.  The two stories can be very dramatic and depressing (especially Grave of the Fireflies), but they also have moments of happiness and hope. Both movies offer a different perspective of the aftermath, since the story in Grave of the Fireflies takes place in the city of Kobe and it begins with the firebombing of the city by the U.S.A. army, whereas the story in Giovanni’s Island takes place in the island of Shikotan, an island that in 1945 became part of the Soviet Union, but both movies are worth watching.

Hutai says...

Both movies include sibblings and their struggle in WWII. Grave of Fireflies seems more darker, but both of them are very emotional, beautiful and touching. Sibblings loses their parents and tries to find a single glimpse of hope trough the hard times of war. 

sympa88 says...

Both are war - related stories of the World War 2 era about siblings trying to find their father, that would bring you to the brink of tears

Taek says...

Did Grave of the Fireflies leave you with feels that you feel deeply? Do you want more of those feelings? Giovanni's Island is the film for you.

The artstyle is unconventional, but well animated, and the story, at least in my eyes, is harsher than GotF as the events take place after Japan surrenders in WWII.

The films have enough similarity in themes and settings that anyone who enjoys one, should enjoy the other.

VRDave says...

Both Grave of the Fireflies and Jin-Roh have a very depressing storyline as well as a dark desperate feeling to them. Jin-Roh is another anime classic you HAVE to see. If you enjoyed one, you will probably like the other.

CuddlyMcTickles says...

Grave of the Fireflies and Jin-Roh have a lot of similiarities. Both deal with the casualties and sadness that accompanies war. Both of them show the more somber side of things and neither of them will leave you with happy feelings inside. They are serious and semi-depressing. However, after watching them, one can't help but to empathize more with victims of circumstance and think a little bit more deeply about the consequences of war.

Sianeka says...

A dark and bleak look at a world changed by war. If that is a setting that intrigues you, then you will find both Grave of the Fireflies and Jin Roh fit the bill. Both stories feature a main character who strives to play the hero who is protecting the weak, and both stories explore situations where the protagonist cannot fulfill his desire to save everyone from the evils of the world.

If you want to check out a deeper, more realistic story, one where the world does not conform always to a happily-ever-after standard, check out either one of these titles.