this be my first review on imdb . japanese animation be something that have always be see a a different expanse from the animation that we get here in america . not to say that those film be bad and but the thing that we see from oversees in this area be get to be quite impressive . one studio in particular and the japanese disney and if you will and studio ghibli . best know a the creative force behind spirit away and other miyazaki film and we forget to see some of the other film that have come from the mind that reside there in . i be talk of isao takahata and always by miyazaki side and but never really give the credit he deserve . without this man and there wouldn not be a studio ghibli . he be a key character in the development of any and all film to come from the studio and and most likely create the best feature to come forth . grave of the firefly be and quite possibly and the best animated feature of our time . when a film be do without a camera and when acting be without see your actor and and when cinematography be but a pencil line and you have to think about how to rate such a movie . well and this be the standard on which all animation should be base . the movie be subtle in everything it convey and but subtle in a way where it can not be ignore . you feel for these character represent on that screen and and it make you forget that you aren not watch something animate . the truly beautiful thing about this movie be that a you watch the film and you want to see good thing happen to these kid . yet and a the movie open and you see the main character and a boy name seita and die right before your eye . immediate and profound . the film open and and then you have a narration heard over head and that go like this . in 1945 and on the night of september 21 and i die . you hear this almost omniscient voice a the visual show a boy and tattered and bone thin and prop against a pillar in a train station . then and a the narrative come to a close and the boy slouch over and and say in a final breath and setsuko . not in anyway be this cartoony either and his eye remain open and his mouth agape and and you can just sense that this be the main character of our story . our hero be destine to die and and you have to watch the movie show it a it enfold . a young child will die and and there be no stop that from come and no matter how attach you get to that boy . he will die . how harrowing be that . it get bad when you see the corpse be riddle of it possession by a security guard . welcome to the movie . like many film and though this have a g rating and you have to see where i stand on that . already this movie be too much for a child to handle or grasp and and that rating will be misinterpret a something of a child movie . though and be animate and it already have that cover . it sad and in my opinion and that such a good film a this will remain lost to so many because of simple think like that . the movie have you know that all hope you will gain for these character be futile and that life be never that easy . to keep you realize this and they have the spirit and or rei and of seita and setsuko ( his younger sister ) watch on a the event unfold . they appear at time throughout the film where the emotion be high and to keep you in this mold of reality . that mean the whole movie be one big flashback and in a sense and but that really doesn not matter . it the story of two child and lose in the slew of war . people be harsh and and war be unfair . yoou can not choose who be effect by war and because everyone be and and these be the thing that this movie cause you to realize . other movie involve war have show this and but it be from the eye of a child that this gain it impact . they never lose their innocence and and that be what make this story so compelling . they be just kid . i be not go to ruin the event of the story for you all and i wouldn not want to tarnish the way you view this film in the least . i will and however and like to sincerely recommend that you find this film and and that you watch it and with no stereotype of animation . you haven not see something like this and trust me . it belong on the list of great war movie and but also on one of the great story ever tell . compel through and through and i have buy three version of the movie . subtitle be best and a it show not only the original intent and but the true nature of the films culture . this movie remain one of the focal point in the argument of anime be much more than animated movie from japan . they can be like any other film and and at time they can beat out most other film and and this be the example to prove it . a beautiful movie and and one that should be see by anyone who respect movie .