You can’t talk aboutStudio Ghiblimodern classics without mentioningGrave of the Fireflies. The 1988 anime movie might not be as popular as other titles likeSpirited AwayandPrincess Mononoke, but it certainly ranks among the saddest and most brutal entries that the Japanese animation studio produced. Due to its importance, you’d think thatGrave of the Fireflieswould beavailable to stream everywhere— which makes it a surprise that the movie will arrive onNetflixfor Japanese audiences for the first time ever on July 15.
In the rest of the world, Ghibli feature films are already taken for granted because you can pretty muchpress play on almost all of them. However, this was not the case in Japan. And there are still a lot more developments to come, sinceGrave of the Firefliesis so far the only Studio Ghibli movie that will become available to stream on Netflix. The reason for that is pretty simple: local broadcasting company NTV holds the rights to exhibit Studio Ghibli films in Japan. Additionally,Grave of the Fireflies' distribution rights are different from otherGhibli movies, which explains why it also took longer for the title to become available in the rest of the world — Netflix only added it to its catalog in 2024, almost four years after it added the first slate of Ghibli movies.
Collectors also had to wait a long while to haveGrave of the Firefliesin their collection. The movie will get a SteelbookBlu-rayedition in the U.S. this July throughGKIDSandCrunchyroll. The special edition will feature a rare, feature-length storyboard and interviews that celebrate the legacy of the movie, including one with the legendary film criticRoger Ebert.
What Is ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ About?
Set against the backdrop ofWorld War II— a period that was devastating for Japan —Grave of the Firefliesfollows two siblings who are forced to fend for themselves after an American air raid kills their mother. The movie is praised for depictinga brutal and heartbreakinglook at post-war Japan and chronicling how the inhabitants of the country were left without any idea of how to move on after being bombed. With a perfect100% scoreonRotten Tomatoes,Grave of the Firefliesis not onlyconsidered one of the best Studio Ghibli movies, but one of the best movies ever made.
Grave of the Fireflieswas directed byIsao Takahata, who also helmedMy Neighbors The YamadasandThe Tale of Princess Kaguya. Takahata also wrote the script, which he adapted from the semi-autobiographical novel by Japanese authorAkiyuki Nosaka.
In the U.S.,Grave of the Firefliesis available to stream on Netflix.
