Goldberg, W. (2009). Transcending the victim’s history: Takahata Isao’s Grave of the Fireflies. Mechademia, 4(1), 39-52. doi:10.1353/mec.0.0030

In addition to the shortness of the production period, there were technical problems due to the launch of two simultaneous productions. The workforce was absolutely not sufficient and the studio once again called on Tôru Hara (former Tôei, president of the Topcraft), for his long experience in management and production. Hara was therefore the producer on both films.Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓) by Studio Ghibli is the saddest movie I have ever seen and at the same time the best anti-war movie I have ever seen. It tells the story of two orphan children, Seita and her sister Setsuko, after the bombing of Kobe at the end of World War II. They are alone trying to survive on their own and one of the few things they have to eat is a candy box that Setsuko keeps as if it was a treasure. As the story unfolds the candy box becomes one of the most important symbols in the movie. Their aunt is an example we see clearly throughout the movie. When the children first show up, she seems warm and welcome to their presence. But after the aunt can find no more self-benefitting use of them, she begins to turn on them. Her cruelty was so bad, it led to the siblings leaving her.

Sakuma drops ( サクマドロップス, Sakuma Doroppusu) are a hard candy from Japan, flavored with fruit juice. Available since the Meiji period from 1908, the candies have become an easily recognizable icon in Japan. Critics have claimed that this movie is an anti-war movie, as it depicts personal struggles and the emotional depictions of the negative consequences of war. Its director Isao Takahata has repeatedly denied this. The Grave of the Fireflies was released in Japan on VHS by Buena Vista Home Entertainment under the Ghibli ga Ippai Collection on August 7, 1998. On July 29, 2005, a DVD release was distributed through Warner Home Video. Walt Disney Studios Japan released the complete collector's edition DVD on 6 August 2008. WDSJ released the film on Blu-ray twice on July 18, 2012: one as a single release, and one in a two-film set with My Neighbor Totoro (even though Disney never currently owns the North American but Japanese rights as mentioned). Note : the "Grave of the Fireflies" candy tin by Sakuma Drops is still available in many countries, for example : Kenji Sasaki, Kenjiro Yagi, Kunioki Hatsumi, Shizuya Shibata, Shunichi Satō, Tadahiko Arai, Takanobu Sato, Takashi Nitta, Takuo MuraseGF - This product is Gluten Free but may be manufactured in a factory that uses Gluten. Cross contamination is the worst...>< Seita relocates to an abandoned shelter, thinking their leftover money would be enough to survive through the war. Rival manufacturer Sakuma Confectionery Co, which was founded when its management team parted ways with Sakumaseika after the war, has announced that it will continue to produce and release a similar product called Sakuma Drops. Instead of a red tin, the confusingly named product is stored in a green tin. Visiting Ueno Zoo for the first time as an adult shows our reporter the true appeal of the place 11 views