Grave of the Fireflies

Name: Grave of the Fireflies
Brand: Allen & Unwin
SKU: 9781838719241
Price: 29.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Alex Dudok de Wit

Series: BFI Film Classics

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4.39

( 89 ratings, 23 reviews)

Summary

Grave of the Fireflies is a poignant exploration of two Japanese siblings struggling to survive during the final days of the Second World War. Directed by Isao Takahata at Studio Ghibli and based on Akiyuki Nosaka's autobiographical story, the film is renowned for its gritty realism and emotional depth, standing as a landmark work in both anime and war cinema.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Grave of the Fireflies

$29⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This study is ideal for fans of Studio Ghibli, students of animation and film studies, as well as readers interested in Japanese culture and wartime history.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is a Studio Ghibli masterpiece. In this book, author Alex Dudo de Wit analyses the film's pioneering use of animation and the nuanced treatment of its subject that earned it 'classic' status.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is a Studio Ghibli masterpiece. In this book, author Alex Dudok de Wit analyses the film's pioneering use of animation and the nuanced treatment of its subject that earned it 'classic' status.

Description

On its release in 1988, Grave of the Fireflies riveted audiences with its uncompromising drama. Directed by Isao Takahata at Studio Ghibli and based on an autobiographical story by Akiyuki Nosaka, the story of two Japanese children struggling to survive in the dying days of the Second World War unfolds with a gritty realism unprecedented in animation.

Grave of the Fireflies has since been hailed as a classic of both anime and war cinema. In 2018, USA Today ranked it the greatest animated film of all time.

Yet Ghibli’s sombre masterpiece remains little analysed outside Japan, even as its meaning is fiercely contested—Takahata himself lamented that few had grasped his message. In the first book-length study of the film in English, Alex Dudok de Wit explores its themes, visual devices and groundbreaking use of animation, as well as the political context in which it was made.

Drawing on untranslated accounts by the film’s crew, he also describes its troubled production, which almost spelt disaster for Takahata and his studio.

Series: BFI Film Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book has been described as "a little jewel of a book, concise, lucid, informative, moving" by The Times and offers the first English-language in-depth analysis of the film, providing valuable insight into its socio-political context and groundbreaking animation. Reviews commend the book for being well-researched, enlightening, and richly illustrated, making it essential reading for scholars and fans alike, as noted by Asia Times, The Japan Society, and Sight & Sound. Its detailed exploration of the film's production challenges and intended messages has been praised by Total Film.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838719241

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 May 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: BFI Publishing

Illustration: 60 colour illus

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 8.0mm

Width: 134.0mm

Height: 188.0mm

Weight: 180g

Pages: 104

Collections

Alex Dudok de Wit Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Series: BFI Film Classics

About the Author

Alex Dudok de Wit is the Associate Editor at Cartoon Brew. He is an animation correspondent for Sight & Sound. His writing has also appeared in Vulture, Little White Lies, The Telegraph, The i, The Independent, Time Out, Index on Censorship and elsewhere, including specialist animation publications like Skwigly and ASIFA Magazine. He also translates from Japanese as part of Art Translators Collective. He is based in London, UK.