Not only is Hotaru no Haka Studio Ghibli’s second work of art, it is also one of their most well-received. Even much-vaunted movie critic Roger Ebert placed it on his “Great Movies” list. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the anime takes viewers through an emotional story that highlights the consequences of war. However, the director, Isao Takahata, explains that the movie is not anti-war, but meant instead to draw sympathy for those in their teens and twenties who live failed lives due to isolation from society.
