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One of the greatest war films of all time, Grave of the Fireflies by Isao Takahata is a masterpiece. The movie is probably one of the most prominent productions by Studio Ghibli, and although it was released in 1988, it serves as an inspiration for many creators to this day. However, Takahata had one regret with the movie that he felt hindered its success.
Grave of the Fireflies | Credit: Studio GhibliGrave of the Fireflies follows the story of war orphans Seita and Setsuko, who struggle to get through life during the Pacific War’s final moments. It was one of the greatest depictions of the final aspects of the war and the impact it had on the people of Japan, especially the ones who fought as a part of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The narrative of Seita and Setsuko was so heartbreaking that it led to people crying their hearts out. This was because it depicted the atrocities they had to face as kids. However, this aspect of the story became a nostalgic moment for many, leading to Takahata regretting it.
Takahata’s Original Plan With Seita in Grave of the Fireflies
Takahata was once interviewed for an excerpt of one of his other movies. This excerpt was shared by Ghibli Wiki as it talked about his biggest regret with Grave of the Fireflies. During the interview, Takahata revealed that his depiction of Seita was misinterpreted by fans, which led to them getting emotionally connected with him.
Takahata stated:
That was regrettable. I intended to depict the boy in Grave as a contemporary boy, rather than a boy in that time. He doesn’t bear with hardships. When the aunt threatens him by saying “OK, let’s have meals separately,” he is rather relieved. He thinks that it’s easier to eat by themselves than to bear with the discrimination from his aunt.
Initially, Takahata wanted Seita to feel like a boy from the current age who was transported back in time. He wanted him to be comfortable with being away from his aunt for being rude and brutal towards him and his sister.
Grave of the Fireflies | Credit: Studio GhibliHowever, fans started sympathizing with his problems and felt empathy towards him. This led to the emotional connection between fans and Seita which made the story even more heartbreaking.
Takahata’s Regret With Seita’s Character
During the interview, Takahata revealed that his biggest regret was not emphasizing Seita being a contemporary child. He wanted fans to realize that running away from hardships often ends in even bigger problems, but his plan backfired. Instead, they felt nostalgic for the times of war and the struggles they brought.
Grave of the Fireflies | Credit: Studio GhibliTakahata stated:
As a result, his life becomes harder. Such a feeling is closer to the one held by today’s kids. I made the movie by thinking what would happen if a kid today was suddenly sent to that time through time machine. So, I didn’t intend it to be retrospective or nostalgic, but mI didn’t express it well enough.
When Seita lost his mother and went on to live with his aunt, he and his sister had to face even more problems as their aunt was mean to them. Later, when they left her, things got even worse as they couldn’t even find some food for themselves.
Ultimately, Setsuko dies due to malnutrition, and a few weeks later, Seita passes away as well. The two Grave of the Fireflies kids dying due to the hardships of war was quite nostalgic for Japanese fans, as the Pacific War also brought death and destruction with it.
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