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Grave of the Fireflies (12A)

Outdoor Cinema 2025 x Animation at War

A young girl stands in a dark landscape surrounded by fireflies.

Isao Takahata’s anti-war masterpiece is an unflinching look at the desperation and horror of survival in war time.

One of Studio Ghibli’s earliest works, the themes of Grave of the Fireflies are timeless and prescient, asking us not to look away when presented with the stark reality faced by Japanese civilians in WWII.

Michio Mamiya’s heartbreaking score washes over this exquisite animation, bringing a rich depth of emotion to the story of Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) and Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), a boy and his younger sister who are left homeless during bombing raids, forced to find ways to survive amidst the devastation.

The innocence of the pair means the drama hits hard, and Takahata pulls no punches when sharply examining the brutal inequalities of the time. The realism of the film is punctuated with stunning, unforgettable moments of beauty, delivering a cinematic spectacle perfect for the setting of Barbican Outdoor Cinema.

£14.40

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Sculpture Court